gel that the master gave
you, and I'll do the job for you."

Well, the smith paid the money, and Babo bade him blow the bellows. When
the fire roared up good and hot, he caught up the old mother, and, in
spite of her scratching and squalling, he laid her upon the embers.
By-and-by, when he thought the right time had come, he took her out and
dipped her in the tank of water; but instead of turning young, there she
lay, as dumb as a fish and as black as coal.

When the blacksmith saw what Babo had done to his mother, he caught him
by the collar, and fell to giving him such a dressing down as never man
had before.

"Help!" bawled Babo. "Help! Murder!"

Such a hubbub had not been heard in that town for many a day. Back came
Simon Agricola running, and there he saw, and took it all in in one
look.

"Stop, friend," said he to the smith, "let the simpleton go; this is not
past mending yet."

"Very well," said the smith; "but he must give me back my golden angel,
and you must cure my mother, or else I'll have you both up before the
judge."

"It shall be done," said Simon Agricola; so Babo paid back the money,
and the doctor dipped the woman in the water. When he brought her out
she was as well and strong as ever--but just as old as she had been
before.

"Now be off for a pair of scamps, both of you," said the blacksmith;
"and if you ever come this way again, I'll set all the dogs in the town
upon you."

Simon Agricola said nothing until they had come out upon the highway
again, and left the town well behind them; then--"Born a fool, live a
fool, die a fool!" says he.

Babo said nothing, but he rubbed the places where the smith had dusted
his coat.

The fourth day of their journey they came to a town, and here Simon
Agricola was for trying his tricks of magic again. He and Babo took
up their stand in the corner of the market-place, and began bawling,
"Doctor Knowall! Doctor Knowall! Who has come from the other end of
Nowhere! He can cure any sickness or pain! He can bring you back from
the gates of death! Here is Doctor Knowall! Here is Doctor Knowall!"

Now there was a very, very rich man in that town, whose daughter lay
sick to death; and when the news of this great doctor was brought to his
ears, he was for having him try his hand at curing the girl.

"Very well," said Simon Agricola, "I will do that, but you must pay me
two thousand golden angels."

"Two thousand golden angels!" said the rich man; "that i