“Oh, bother the dog! When he opens his jaws to bark, I’ll pitch in a good bit of hard cheese. That’ll keep him quiet.”

Said and done again. The next morning the magician found a still greater disappearance of broccoli from his garden.

“The thing is becoming serious,” he said. “To-night I will watch myself.”

With that he went to his gate and remained there, looking closely at all those who passed by. So he said to the first:

“What is your trade?”

“I’m a carpenter.”

“Pass on,” replied the magician. “You’re not the man I want.”

There came another.

“What’s your calling?”

“I’m a tailor.”