THE KNAPSACK
the landlord cried for help, and tried to force the door open with his broad shoulders. The soldier, who was awakened by this noise, called and asked what had happened.
"Gracious!" exclaimed the stout landlord, panting for breath, "are you alive yet?"
"Go away from the door!" shouted the young man. "How dare you disturb me with such nonsense?"
"I thought—" began the landlord.
"Leave me alone!" roared the soldier. "If you do not go away I will break every bone in your body." On hearing this the landlord fled in terror.
Later in the morning our friend arose. After breakfast he asked for a blacksmith who could beat the dust out of his knapsack. "I have walked so long with it on my back," said he, "that it has become very dusty. It needs a good beating."
Two strong men were now ordered to carry the knapsack to the blacksmith's shop. In the beginning they wondered why one could not do this alone, but soon they found that their burden became as heavy as four bushels of wheat, and they were wellnigh exhausted when at length they reached their destination. The landlord could not think but that the soldier had lost his wits, so he took the blacksmith aside, and told him to order three of his strongest men to beat the dust out of the knapsack with their largest hammers. The blacksmith gave orders according to these instructions, but no
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