“Are you quite sure that the revelation was from the Lord?”
“Yes; we cannot be mistaken about it.”
“Does your power to raise this man to life again depend upon the particular nature of his disease? or could you now bring any dead man to life?”
“It makes no difference to us; we could bring any corpse to life.”
“Well, if this man had been killed, and one of his arms cut off, could you bring him to life, and also restore to him his arm?”
“Certainly! there is no limit to the power given us by the Lord. It would make no difference, even if both his arms and legs were cut off.”
“Could you restore him, if his head had been cut off?”
“Certainly we could!”
“Well,” said the farmer, with a quiet smile upon his features, “I do not doubt the truth of what such holy men assert; but I am desirous that my neighbours here should be fully converted, by having the miracle performed in the completest manner possible. So, by your leave, if it makes no difference whatever, I will proceed to cut off the head of this corpse.”
Accordingly, he produced a huge and well-sharpened broad axe from beneath his coat, which he swung above his head, and was, apparently, about to bring it down upon the neck of the corpse, when, lo and behold! to the amazement of all present, the dead man started up in great agitation, and swore that, “by hell and jingo,” he would not have his head cut off, for any consideration whatever.