BRAVE AGAINST HIS WILL
back of his neck, when he saw an open window in front of him. Gathering all his force in a final jump, he skipped through the window and hastened, as soon as he had reached the ground, back to the entrance, the door of which he closed and bolted.
When he had thus escaped the animal and locked it up safely, he returned to the king and the knights, who greeted him with merry shouts.
"The animal was too small and unimportant for me to fight," said he. "I grasped it by the neck and threw it into the chapel. Now you may amuse yourselves by hunting and killing it. I only desire to receive the three hundred gold pieces, and to be allowed to return home."
His wish was granted at once, and with many thanks and blessings the King of Franconia parted with the great hero.
The tailor reached his native village safe and sound. One evening he was standing outside of his house, thinking how glad his wife would be to see him again, when he heard her voice within, crying for mercy, while a gruff answer followed, and a sound as if some one was beating her. The tailor's heroism at once awoke; he pushed the door open, seized his sword, and rushed into the room, where he found Mads, his wealthy neighbor, standing before the little woman, threatening to beat her with a thick cane. "He will never return home to you!" shouted Mads. "I will beat you until you
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