nothing. So they sailed back to the
palace, and told the king what strange things had happened. Meanwhile
the young man's vessel reached home in safety.

'Well, here you are once more' said the hermit; 'and now you can fulfil
the promise you made me to give me the half of all you had.'

'That will I do with all my heart,' answered the youth, and began to
divide all his treasures, putting part on one side for himself and
setting aside the other for his friend. 'Good father, it is finished,'
said he at length; 'there is nothing more left to divide.'

'Nothing more left!' cried the hermit. 'Why, you have forgotten the best
thing of all!'

'What can that be?' asked he. 'We have divided everything.'

'And the king's daughter?' said the hermit.

Then the young man's heart stood still, for he loved her dearly. But he
answered, 'It is well; I have sworn, and I will keep my word,' and drew
his sword to cut her in pieces. When the hermit saw that he held his
honour dearer than his wife he lifted his hand and cried, 'Hold! she
is yours, and all the treasures too. I gave you my help because you had
pity on those that were in need. And when you are in need yourself, call
upon me, and I will come to you.'

As he spoke he softly touched their heads and vanished.

The next day the wedding took place, and the two brothers came to the
house, and they all lived happily together, but they never forgot the
holy man who had been such a good friend.

The Water of Life

Cuentos Populars Catalans, per lo Dr. D. Francisco de S. Maspous y
Labros. Barcelona, 1885.

Three brothers and one sister lived together in a small cottage, and
they loved one another dearly. One day the eldest brother, who had never
done anything but amuse himself from sunrise to sunset, said to the
rest, 'Let us all work hard, and perhaps we shall grow rich, and be able
to build ourselves a palace.'

And his brothers and sister answered joyfully, 'Yes, we will all work!'

So they fell to working with all their might, till at last they became
rich, and were able to build themselves a beautiful palace; and everyone
came from miles round to see its wonders, and to say how splendid it
was. No one thought of finding any faults, till at length an old woman,
who had been walking through the rooms with a crowd of people, suddenly
exclaimed, 'Yes, it is a splendid palace, but there is still something
it needs!'

'And what may that be?'

'A church.'

When