you who dares smoke tobacco; either cutting up
the leaves and putting them in his pipe, or laying them on the fire
and breathing the smoke that rises?"

"There is not anybody, my lord; we do not know this food."

"See to it, that no one tries to learn it; for if anybody is caught
doing it, by decision of the states the pipe will be thrust through
his nose and the guilty man led through the entire market place."

The fourth question was:

"Is there any one among the peasants here who wears cloth dress,
marten cap, or morocco boots?"

"Why not," replied the judge, "if our poverty would permit? not that
we long for dyed cloth and morocco."

"It is not allowed; the states of the country have forbidden the
peasants to wear clothes fitting their masters."

Now came the fifth question:

"Who were the people who acted contrary to the decision of the states
that the peasants should exterminate the sparrows, and mocked those
who were appointed to collect the sparrows' heads?"

The judge advanced humbly toward the Lieutenant:

"Believe me, my great and good lord, on account of the drought the
sparrows have all left the country. Say to the Prince that we have not
been able to find one single one all summer long."

"That is a lie," said Clement.

"It is just as I say," persisted the judge, seizing Clement by the
hand and skilfully pressing into it two silver groschen.

"It is not impossible," said the Lieutenant, appeased. "Finally,
answer this question: Has any one of you seen wandering about in this
region, foreign animals, beasts of prey from other countries?"

"Yes, indeed, my lord, we have seen them in great numbers."

"And what kind of animals were they?" asked Clement, in joyful
curiosity.

"Why, dog-headed Tartars"--

"You fool! I am not asking for them. I wish to know whether in your
wanderings through the forest you have not seen a foreign, four-footed
beast of prey with striped skin."

The judge shook his head incredulously, looked at his people and
answered with a shrug of his shoulders:

"We have seen no such strange animal. It may be that Sanga-moarta has
seen it, for he is forever wandering through the woods and ravines in
his foolish way."

"Who is this Sanga-moarta? Summon him."

"Ah, my lord, he is hard to find; he rarely comes into the village.
His mother may be here."

"Here she is! Here she is," cried several peasants, and pushed forward
an old woman with sunken features, whose head