There he stood on the bleak height, and above him circled the iron-beaked crows, which evidently regarded him as their prey. He recalled the events that led to his being in his present plight, and it occurred to him how the lovely damsel had given him the flint and steel he had in his pocket. “She told me to use them if ever I was in great danger,” said he. “I will try them now.”
He took them out and struck a spark from the flint with the steel. Immediately there appeared before him two stout young men. “What do you want?” they asked.
“I will first fill my pockets with gold,” said he, “and then I would like to go from this mountain to the seashore.”
As soon as he was ready they lifted him and carried him away through the air to the seashore. Then they vanished. While he was walking about there he saw a ship not far distant sailing by the island. “Ho! good ship-folk!” he shouted, “take me with you.”
“No, brother,” they responded, “to stop would cause us to lose too much time.”
The mariners went on, but soon contrary winds began to blow, and they were presently beset by a hurricane. “Alas!” said they, “the person who hailed us from that island was no ordinary man. He has brought this storm on us for a punishment, and we shall perish unless we return and take him on the ship.”
So they went back and got him and conveyed him to his native town. The gold he had brought from the mountain supported him for a time, but when it was gone he again took a spade and went to the market-place to wait for some one to hire him. By and by the same noble who had hired him before came to the market-place in his gilded coach. The men waiting for employment all scattered in every direction and hid, except the merchant’s son. The noble spoke to him and said, “Will you come and work for me?”
“Willingly,” replied the youth, “if you will pay me two hundred pieces of silver a day.”
“Isn’t that rather dear, eh?” said the noble.