70
THE MASTER THIEF
the tree, ran by a short cut and got before him, and once more hung himself up on a tree in the road before the man.
'How I should like to know if you really were so sick at heart that you hanged yourself there, or if it is only a hobgoblin that's
before me!' said the man. 'Ah, well! you may hang there for me, whether you are a hobgoblin or not,' and on he went with his ox.
Once more the youth did just as he had done twice already; jumped down from the tree, ran by a short cut through the wood, and again hanged himself in the very middle of the road before him.
