“Well, I will hazard letting him out,” the scholar thought, “for he may after all keep his word.”
Then he addressed the goblin, saying: “I will release you. See to it that you do as you have promised.”
So he removed the stopper and the goblin jumped out and soon became as big as before. “Now you shall have your reward,” the monster said, and he reached the scholar a little piece of rag. “Apply that to a wound, and the wound will at once heal,” he explained; “or touch it to iron and the iron will change to silver.”
“I will try it,” the scholar responded, and he went to the oak tree and slashed off a piece of bark with his ax. Then he touched the place with the rag, and immediately the wound closed up as if the bark had never been gashed at all.
“That is quite satisfactory,” the scholar said. “Now we can separate.”
“I thank you for releasing me,” the goblin remarked as he turned away.
“And I thank you heartily for your present,” the scholar said.
IV—A SCHOLAR’S FORTUNE
After parting from the goblin, the young man went back to his father, who asked:
“Where have you been roaming so long? You have neglected your work. I was quite certain you would do nothing of this kind well.”