The next Sunday he would fain dance again on his rope, but certain good-for-nought lads, being jealous of his nimbleness, had made a nick in the rope, so that after a few bounds the rope broke in sunder and Ulenspiegel tumbled into the water.
Whilst he swam to reach the bank the little fellows that cut the rope shouted to him:
“How is your limber health, Ulenspiegel? Are you going to the bottom of the pond to teach the carps to dance, dancer beyond price?”
Ulenspiegel coming out from the water and shaking himself cried out to them, for they were making off from him for fear of his fists:
“Be not afraid; come back next Sunday, I will show you tricks on the rope and you will have a share in the proceeds.”
On Sunday, the lads had not sliced the cord, but were keeping watch round about it, for fear any one might touch it, for there was a great crowd of people.
Ulenspiegel said to them:
“Each of you give me one of your shoes, and I wager that however big or little they may be I will dance with every one of them.”
“What do you pay if you lose?” they asked.
“Forty quarts of bruinbier,” replied Ulenspiegel, “and ye shall pay me three patards if I win the wager.”