piano, while the two others danced. Tired as he was,
when he saw this he arose and skipped about with them. After this
entertainment they began to talk with him, speaking of one thing and
another, and finally came round to the question how he might break the
spell that bound them.

They told him the very way and manner of doing it, saying that he had
nothing more nor less to do than to pass the night in a certain room
which they would show him. A ghost would come there and pester him
with all sorts of questions--who he was, how he had come there, and
other things. But he must not say a mortal word to all these
questions, not though the ghost tormented him in all sorts of ways; if
he could only hold out in silence the ghost would vanish, and then he
would feel not the least pain from all the torments he had been
enduring.

Our deserter fell in with the proposition without further words, and
the ladies escorted him, with the sound of music, to the fateful room
and left him there alone. When they were gone he undressed himself,
bolted the door securely, and lay down in bed. But he could not sleep,
for his head throbbed with expectation of what was about to happen.

At eleven o'clock a sudden knock was heard at the door. He dared not
make a sound, for he was firmly resolved to ransom himself, the
ladies, and the enchanted castle; so he kept as still as a mouse.
Again the knocking came, but he made no answer. At the third knock the
door flew open, and in walked a gigantic form all clothed in flames.

The giant placed himself at the bedside and began to ask the man who
he was and why he had come; but the deserter never uttered a word.
Then the giant seized him, threw him upon the floor, and began to
torment him; but no sound passed the sufferer's lips. At the stroke
of twelve the ghost departed, with the words:

"Though you wouldn't tell to-day, you will to-morrow, when we all
three come."

He spoke, the door flew open, closed again, and he was gone. The young
man arose from the floor, lay down upon his bed, and fell sweetly
asleep, without feeling the least harm.

Next morning came the three ladies, all in white up to their knees,
and led him, with sound of music, back to the room where he had been
on the previous day. They placed a chair for him and set a delicious
breakfast before him. When he had plentifully breakfasted he fell
asleep and snored till evening.

When he awoke he asked how late it was. The ladies