in the tavern to enjoy themselves. "If I do not soon have
a stroke of luck, I shall be doing myself some harm. Oh, if I were only
as rich and feared as Fat Ezekiel, or as bold and strong as the Lanky
Schlurker, or as famous as the Dance King, throwing thalers instead of
kreuzers to the musicians, as he does! Where the fellow gets his money
from is a mystery to me!" He turned over in his mind all possible means
of earning money, but none attracted him; at last, he fell to
reflecting on the stories which he had heard of people who in bygone
times had become rich through the aid of Dutch Michael or the
Glassmanikin. While his father was alive, other poor folk would often
pay him visits, and the conversation would turn on rich people and how
they had gained their wealth. In these stories the Glassmanikin often
played a part. Indeed, after some striving, Peter was able to recall a
portion of the little rhymed incantation which had to be pronounced in
the depths of the forest before the Glassmanikin would appear. It began
thus:

"Guardian of gold in the pine-tree wold,
Art many hundred ages old.
Lord of all lands where pine-trees grow."

But tax his memory as he might, he could not recollect any more of the
rhyme. He often felt inclined to question this or that old man how the
little incantation ran, but a certain shyness always prevented him from
betraying the drift of his thoughts. He came also to the conclusion
that not many could be acquainted with the story of the Glassmanikin,
and but few could know the incantation, as there were hardly any rich
people in the forest, and--but why had not his father and other poor
folk tried their luck? At last, he coaxed his mother to talk of the
Glassmanikin; but she could only tell him what he already knew, being
able to quote only the first line of the rhymed incantation, although
she informed him, at length, that the goblin showed himself only to
those born on a Sunday between the hours of eleven and two. He himself,
having been born at noon on a Sunday, was, therefore, one of the elect,
if he but knew the incantation.

When Charcoal-Peter Munk heard this he could scarcely contain himself
with joy and eagerness to make the adventure. Because he knew a part of
the incantation and was born on Sunday, he conjectured that the
Glassmanikin would surely show himself. One day, therefore, having sold
all his charcoal he kindled no fresh fires in his kilns, but dressed