epped out of his wagon, and called out: "Good evening,
landlord! has the Stout Ezekiel come yet?" And a deep voice replied:
"Come right in, Peter. We have already set down to the cards, and have
kept a place for you." So Peter entered the public room, put his hand
into his pocket and found that the Stout Ezekiel must be pretty well
provided with money, for his own pocket was crammed full.

He sat down at the table with the others, and played and won, losing
now and then; and so they played until evening came on, and all the
honest folk went home, and then they continued to play by candle-light,
until two other players said: "Come, we've had enough, and must go home
to our wife and children." But Gambler Pete challenged the Stout
Ezekiel to remain. For some time Ezekiel would not consent to do so,
but finally he said: "Very well, I will just count my money and then we
throw for five gulden stakes, for less than that would be child's
play." He took out his purse and counted out one hundred guldens, so
Gambler Pete knew how much money he had without troubling himself to
count. But although Ezekiel had won all the afternoon, he now began to
lose throw after throw, and swore fearfully over his losses. If he
threw threes, Peter would immediately throw fives. At last he flung
down his last five guldens on the table, and said: "Once more, and even
if I lose these I won't quit, for you must lend me from your winnings
Peter; one honest fellow should help another!"

"As much as you like, even if it was a hundred guldens," said the
Emperor of the Ball, pleased with his gains; and the Stout Ezekiel
shook the dice and threw fifteen. "Three fives!" cried he, "now we will
see!" But Pete threw eighteen, and a hoarse well-known voice behind him
said: "There, that was the last!"

He turned about, and behind him stood the giant form of Dutch Michel.
Horrified, he let the money he had just grasped fall from his hand.
Ezekiel, however, did not see Michel, but requested a loan of ten
guldens from Gambler Pete. Quite dazed, Peter put his hand in his
pocket, but found no money there. He searched his other pocket but
found none there; he turned his pockets inside out, but not a farthing
rolled out. Now for the first time he remembered that his first wish
had been to always have as much money in his pocket as the Stout
Ezekiel had. It had all disappeared like smoke.

The landlord and Ezekiel looked on in surprise while he was searching
for hi