Page:Popular Tales and Romances of the Northern Nations (Volume 2).djvu/69

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The Spectre Barber.
57

tect himself against the coolness of the morning.

“Sir knight,” said Frank, “your supper was too good to allow me to relish my breakfast; but, with your leave, I will fill my pockets to be provided against hunger when it comes.” He accordingly took the best and richest that was on the table, and crammed his pockets well. When his horse, well cleaned, bridled and saddled, was brought to the door, he drank in a glass of cordial to the health and welfare of his host, expecting that would be the signal for his being seized on and soundly beat.

But, to his great astonishment, the knight shook him as kindly by the hand as when he first met him, wished him a good journey, and the servants opened the gates. He mounted his horse, spurred him rapidly on, and was in a few minutes outside of the gate, without a hair on his head being injured.

A heavy load fell from his heart when he saw himself at liberty, without having received the expected beating. He could not conceive why his host should have spared him contrary