thou villain cutpurse, and yet I will have thee."

Forthwith he issued a manifesto, stating that the royal mercy would
be extended to so light-fingered a genius, upon condition that he
consented to appear at court and give specimens of his dexterity for
his majesty's amusement.

One afternoon, as the king was standing at his palace window enjoying
the fine prospect of woods and dales, over which a tempest appeared to
be then just gathering, some one suddenly clapped him upon the
shoulder, and on looking round he discovered a very tall, stout,
dark-whiskered man close behind him, who said--

"Here I am."

"Who are you?" inquired the king.

"He whom you look for."

The king uttered an exclamation of surprise, not unmixed with fear, at
such amazing assurance. The stranger continued, "Don't be alarmed.
Only keep your word with me, and I will prove myself quite obedient to
your orders."

This being agreed on, the king acquainted his royal consort and the
whole court that the great sleight-of-hand genius had discovered
himself, and soon, in a full assembly, his majesty proceeded to
question him, and lay on him his commands.

"Mark what I say," he said, "nor venture to dispute my orders. To
begin, do you see yon rustic, not far from the wood, busy ploughing?"

The conjurer nodded assent.

"Then go," continued the king,--"go and rob him of his plough and
oxen without his knowing anything about it."

The king flattered himself that this was impossible, for he did not
conceive how the conjurer could perform such a task in the face of
open day,--and if he fail, thought he, I have him in my power, and
will make him smart.

The conjurer proceeded to the spot, and as the storm appeared to
increase, the rain beginning to pour down in torrents, the countryman,
letting his oxen rest, ran under a tree for shelter, until the rain
should have ceased. Just then he heard some one singing in the wood.
Such a glorious song he had never heard before in all his life. He
felt wonderfully enlivened, and, as the weather continued dull, he
said to himself--

"Well, there's no harm in taking a look. Yes; I'll see what sport is
stirring," and away he slipped into the wood, still further and
further, in search of the songster.

In the meanwhile the conjurer was not idle. He changed places with the
rustic, taking care of the oxen while their master went searching
through the wood. Darting out of the thicket, in a few moments he had
s