A TALE OF THE DEAD
They had discharged the soldier home, and he was going on his road, it may be far, it may be a short way, and he at last was nearing his village. Not far from his village there lived a miller in his mill: in past times the soldier had been great friends with him.
Why should he not go and see his friend? So he went.
And the miller met him, greeted him kindly, brought a glass of wine, and they began speaking of all they had lived through and seen. This was towards the evening, and whilst the soldier was the miller's guest it had become dark. So the soldier got ready to go into the village.
But the miller said to him, "Soldier, stay the night with me: it is late and you might come by some mishap."
"What?"
"A terrible sorcerer has died, and at night he rises out of the grave, ranges about the village and terrifies the boldest: why, he might give you trouble."
What was the use of it? Why, the soldier was a State servant, and a soldier cannot be drowned in the sea, nor be burned in the fire! So he answered, "I will go, for I should like to see my relatives as soon as I can."
So he set out; and the road crossed a grave-yard. As he looked he saw a glow on one grave. "What is it?" he said; "I must look at this." So he went up, and beside a fire there sat the sorcerer, sewing shoes. "Hail, brother!" said the soldier.
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