ng your time and your money drinking in
that tavern, and leaving us to starve! Aren't you ashamed of
yourself?'

'You don't know what you are talking of,' he answered. 'Money? Why, I
have gold and diamonds now, as much as I want. Do you see that cock?
Well, you have only to say to him, "Show what you can do, cock," and
something splendid will happen.'

Neither wife nor children were inclined to put much faith in him after
their last experience; however, they thought it was worth trying, and
did as he told them. The cock flew round the room like a mad thing,
and crowed till their heads nearly split with the noise; but no gold
or diamonds dropped on the brick floor--not the tiniest grain of
either.

Father Grumbler stared in silence for an instant, and then he began to
swear so loudly that even his family, accustomed as they were to his
language, wondered at him.

At last he grew a little quieter, but remained as puzzled as ever.

'Can I have forgotten the words? But I _know_ that was what he said!
And I saw the diamonds with my own eyes!' Then suddenly he seized the
cock, shut it into the basket, and rushed out of the house.

[Illustration: THE HOLY MAN GIVES THE BAG TO FATHER GRUMBLER]

His heavy wooden shoes clattered as he ran along the road, and he made
such haste that the stars were only just beginning to come out when he
reached the cave of the Holy Man.

'Who is that knocking?' asked a voice from within.

'It is me! It is me! Holy Man! you know! Father----'

'But, my good fellow, you really should give some one else a chance.
This is the third time you have been--and at such an hour, too!'

'Oh, yes, Holy Man, I know it is very late, but you will forgive me!
It is your cock--there is something the matter. It is like the basket.
Look!'

'_That_ my cock? _That_ my basket? Somebody has played you a trick, my
good man!'

'A trick?' repeated Father Grumbler, who began to understand what had
happened. 'Then it must have been those two----'

'I warned you not to show them to anybody,' said the Holy Man. 'You
deserve----but I will give you one more chance.' And, turning, he
unhooked something from the wall.

'When you wish to dust your own jacket or those of your friends,' he
said, 'you have only got to say, "Flack, flick, switch, be quick," and
you will see what happens. That is all I have to tell you.' And,
smiling to himself, the Holy Man pushed Father Grumbler out of the
cave.

* *