196 Peik The king wondered at this, and vvas so tåken up with the wonderful pot that he forgot what he had come there for. " Whatdoyouwantforthatpot?" saidhe. "I can't spare it very well,"said Peik. "Whycan'tyouspareit?"saidtheking; "Filmakeitworth your wliile to seil it." "Well, it saves me both money and trouble, chopping and carrying," said Peik. " Never mmd, I ll give you a hundred dollars for it," said the king ; " you did me out of horse and saddle the other day, and the bridle too, but Fil let bygones be bygones, if I get the pot." " Well, I suppose you must have it then," said Peik. When the king came back to the palace he sent out invitations to a great feast, but the meat was to be boiled in the new pot, which was put in the midd le of the floor. The gueststhoughtthe king was out of his mmd, and went about nudging each other and laughing at hirn, But he walked round the pot and cackled and chuckled to himself, saying all the time, "All right, all right! wait a bit ! it will boil directly ; " but there was no sign of any boiling. So the king guessed that Peik had been playing a trick upon him again, and he set out to kili him. When the king came to his place Peik was standing by the barn. " Wouldn't it boil ? " he said. " No, it would not," said the king ; " but now you shall suffer for it," he said, and was going to get his knife ready. " I believe you there," said Peik, " for you did not have the block." " I shouldn't wonder if you are telling a lic again," said the king. " It's all for the want of the block," said Peik ; " the pot won't boil without it." Well, what was he going to have for it ? " It was worth three hundred dollars at least, but for his sake it should go for two," said Peik. So the king got the block, and set off for home. He invited
