implore his forgiveness. The place to which the two young damsels were conveyed was not famed for its morality, nor were Lembek's daughters the only victims who had met with a similar fate. The place was Tvisel Convent, and it was the monk, the friend of Lembek, who had done this deed. When the sick man had related all that he knew about the two damsels, he sank back on his couch and expired. Although this information made a powerful impression on the old knight, his actions and whole conduct from that day bore a character of great determination. He seemed as if he again had an object in view, a plan to live for. What the dying man had confided to him he never divulged to any one, and whether he placed any reliance on it or not, he continued his intimacy with the monk, who had now become abbot of Tvisel. Lembek was an old man, and appeared to have not many years to live; and, therefore, thought of making his will before he died. On this subject he consulted with the abbot, and informed him, at the same time, that he had resolved on bestowing upon him and the monks of Tvisel all that he possessed, on this condition, that all the brotherhood should come to the castle and perform a mass for the souls of his daughters. Although this was against the rules of the Cistertian order, to which the monks of Tvisel belonged, yet the thoughts of Lembek's great wealth at length triumphed over all obstacles. The abbot promised to come with the whole fraternity to the castle at the appointed time. The mass for the dead was celebrated, and in the evening Lembek executed his last will. When he had finished, he said, "As we have now settled everything which I had at heart, we will go and see the treasures which I have bequeathed to you. They are all preserved in one room. When you have taken a view of them, I will deliver the key to your custody, and after my death you can send for the treasure." The monks were well pleased with this arrangement, and followed Lembek down into the cellar, to a small square room which he had shortly before caused to be constructed. All the walls in this apartment, as well as the roof, were composed of huge blocks of stone, such as may still be seen in old grave-mounds. There was no other ingress than through an aperture, which appeared upon removing a flag-stone in the roof. It had no windows, but only two small air-holes which looked towards the river. One lamp illumined the vault, and the descent to it was by a ladder made fast to the roof. To this place Lembek conducted his future heirs, and let them descend one by one. The last to go down was the abbot. Just as he came to the bottom, the ladder was drawn up, and Lembek, stooping over the aperture, called down to the monks, "Now you can take payment for your mass as well as for all the villany you have perpetrated against my poor daughters." He then called a servant, and, at the same time, ordered a quantity of fine hay to be brought tied in small bundles, which they continued throwing down through the opening, until the space above the monks was nearly filled. He then set the hay on fire, and when assured that it burnt well, he replaced the stone over the aperture, that the smoke might escape only through the two small holes in the thick wall, which also supplied the fire with air enough to keep it burning. In this manner Lembek destroyed nearly all the monks of Tvisel. The following day the news of this event reached the town. Some few of the monks that had remained in the convent induced the peasants from Skærn, Felling and Quistrup, who were vassals of the convent, to avenge the deed. The castle was stormed, and burnt on the 2nd of April, 1434. The nobles in the neighbourhood could not come to the help of Lembek before it was too late; they, however, assembled together, pursued the peasants, and obliged them to take shelter in Varde; when not only the town, but the newly-built church of St. Ib, into which the fugitives had fled for safety, were laid in ashes. 66 THE LITTLE CHICKEN KLUK AND HIS THERE was once a little chicken called Kluk. A nut fell 66 66 66 66 So they ran to the cock, and said : Cocky Locky, run, I think all the world is falling." Who has told thee that, Henny Penny?" 'Little chicken Kluk." 66 66 Who told thee 66 that, little chicken Kluk?" Oh, a nut fell on my back, So they ran to the duck, and said: 66 'Then let "Ducky Lucky§, run, "Who told thee that, "Who has told thee that, Henny Penny?" Little chicken Kluk." told thee that, little chicken Kluk?" "Oh, a nut fell on my back, and struck me so that I rolled on the ground." Then let us run," said the duck. 66 66 So they ran to the goose. all the world is falling." Lucky?” "Cocky Locky." "Who has told thee that, Cocky Locky?" Henny Penny." "Who has told thee that, Henny Penny ?" Little chicken Kluk." "Who has told thee that, little chicken Kluk?” “ Oh, a nut fell on my back, and struck me so, that I rolled on the ground. Then let us run," said the goose. Then they ran to the fox, and said; Foxy Coxy, run, I think all the world is falling." "Who has told thee that, Goosy Poosy?" "Ducky Lucky." "Who has told thee *The above is a pendant to the Scottish story, "The Hen and her Fellow Travellers," printed in Chambers' Popular Rhymes, etc., of Scotland, p. 51. + Dan. Höne Pöne. Dan. Hane Pane. § Dan. And. Svand. Dan. Gaase Paase. Dan. Ræv Skræv. that, Ducky Lucky?" "Cocky Locky." "Who has told thee that, Cocky Locky?" "Henny Penny." "Who has told thee that, Henny Penny?" "Little chicken Kluk." "Who has told thee that, little chicken Kluk?" Oh, a nut fell on my back, and struck me so, that I rolled on the ground." "Then let us run," said the fox. 66 66 So they all ran into the wood. Then the fox said: I must now count and see if I have got you all here. I, Foxy Coxy, one; Goosy Poosy, two; Ducky Lucky, three; Cocky Locky, four; Henny Penny, five; and little chicken Kluk, six; Hei! that one I'll snap up." He then said: "Let us run." So they ran further into the wood. Then said he : "Now I must count and see if I have got you all here. I, Foxy Coxy, one; Goosy Poosy, two; Ducky Lucky, three; Cocky Locky, four; Henny Penny, five; Hei! that one I'll snap up." And so he went on till he had eaten them all up. 423 IV. NORTH GERMAN. STRONG FRANK. From Frestede in Ditmarschen. A PEASANT had two sons, the elder of whom was named Christian, and the younger Frank. But Frank was much taller than his brother, and stronger than his father and brother together, although so much younger. One day the father said to his sons: " Come, let us go to the forest, and fetch some firewood." They went, but could find no good firewood, whereupon Frank, seizing one of the largest trees by the trunk, wrenched it root and all out of the earth, and laid it on his shoulder. He did the like with seven or eight trees besides, and said to his father: "We will at any rate take home a load of wood. and not come out for nothing." So he took all the trees home with him. But the father said: "Thou wilt spoil the whole forest; another time thou must not root up so many." So the next time they were about to fetch firewood, Frank said: I must seek either for another forest or another master; for with you I will not go out again." Frank then started off alone, and penetrated far into the forest. While wandering about, he was met by a little man, named Hermanni, who asked him whether he were in search of employment, and whether he would enter his service. "Yes," answered Frank, "why not, if you will give me good wages?" Hermanni replied: "Thou shalt have four hundred marks wages, and two hundred marks as a gift; thou wilt have nothing more to do than to take care of my brown horse; with anything besides thou needst not trouble thyself." Frank was satisfied with the wages, and the master showed him his castle, which stood on a high mountain. There Frank had to take care of the horse, which he curried daily, and fed, and performed his duty faithfully. When a year had passed, the master came to Frank and asked him whether he wished to stay another year with him "Yes," answered Frank, "but I would gladly have |