march out, on giving up all his valuables and money. As it so happened, the latter was a very considerable sum, sufficient to purchase several pairs of oxen, instead of those which the countryman had lost.
Kibitz now returned home quite rich; and his neighbours being informed of the excellent bargain he had made by his hides, killed their oxen also, and took their skins to the same tanner. But instead of obtaining as much as they expected, they were informed that Kibitz had gotten only an old chest, hardly worth a single hide. Hereupon supposing that they had been maliciously imposed upon by him, in order that they might be induced to kill their cattle, they determined upon putting so envious a fellow to death. Fortunately our good Kibitz received some information of their designs: for a long time he was puzzled in contriving some stratagem whereby to defeat their murderous intent; and, at length conceiving that his poor wife would be quite inconsolable at being left a widow,
