Part 7 (2/2)

'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 c.o.c.k--there is something the matter. It is like the basket.

Look!'

'_That_ my c.o.c.k? _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.

'Ah, I understand now,' muttered the good man, as he took the road home; 'but I think I have got you two rascals!' and he hurried on to the tavern with his basket under his arm, and the c.o.c.k and the switch both inside.

'Good evening, friends!' he said, as he entered the inn. 'I am very hungry, and should be glad if you would roast this c.o.c.k for me as soon as possible. _This_ c.o.c.k and no other--mind what I say,' he went on.

'Oh, and another thing! You can light the fire with this basket. When you have done that I will show you something I have in my bag,' and, as he spoke, he tried to imitate the smile that the Holy Man had given _him_.

These directions made the innkeeper's wife very uneasy. However, she said nothing, and began to roast the c.o.c.k, while her husband did his best to make the man sleepy with wine, but all in vain.

After dinner, which he did not eat without grumbling, for the c.o.c.k was very tough, the man struck his hand on the table, and said: 'Now listen to me. Go and fetch my c.o.c.k and my basket, at once. Do you hear?'

'Your c.o.c.k, and your basket, Father Grumbler? But you have just----'

'_My_ c.o.c.k and _my_ basket!' interrupted he. 'And, if you are too deaf and too stupid to understand what that means, I have got something which may help to teach you.' And opening the bag, he cried: 'Flack!

flick! switch, be quick.'

And flack! flick! like lightning a white switch sprang out of the bag, and gave such hearty blows to the innkeeper and his wife, and to Father Grumbler into the bargain, that they all jumped as high as feathers when a mattress is shaken.

'Stop! stop! make it stop, and you shall have back your c.o.c.k and basket,' cried the man and his wife. And Father Grumbler, who had no wish to go on, called out between his hops: 'Stop then, can't you?

That is enough for to-day!'

But the switch paid no attention, and dealt out its blows as before, and _might_ have been dealing them to this day, if the Holy Man had not heard their cries and come to the rescue. 'Into the bag, quick!'

said he, and the switch obeyed.

'Now go and fetch me the c.o.c.k and the basket,' and the woman went without a word, and placed them on the table.

'You have all got what you deserved,' continued the Holy Man, 'and I have no pity for any of you. I shall take my treasures home, and perhaps some day I may find a man who knows how to make the best of the chances that are given him. But that will never be _you_,' he added, turning to Father Grumbler.

[From _Contes Populaires_.]

_THE STORY OF THE YARA_

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