before them.

He looked at them for a moment and laughed. Then he went inside the
tavern, sat down, and said:

"Landlord, bring me a drink!"

Quaking with fright the landlord went to the cellar and drew a pitcher
of beer. Then he called the little herd who was working in the stable.

"Yirik," he said to the boy, "take this beer into the house. There's a
man in there waiting for it. He's a little strange looking but you
needn't be afraid. He won't hurt you."

Yirik took the pitcher of beer and started in. He opened the door and
then, as he caught sight of Peter, he dropped the pitcher and fled.

The landlord scolded him angrily.

"What do you mean," he shouted, "not giving the gentleman his beer? And
breaking the pitcher, too! The price of it will be deducted from your
wages! Draw another pitcher of beer and place it at once before the
gentleman."

Yirik feared Peter but he feared the landlord more. He was an orphan,
poor lad, and served the landlord for his keep and three dollars a year.

So with trembling fingers he drew a pitcher of beer and then, breathing
a prayer to his patron saint, he slowly dragged himself into the tavern.

"There, there, boy," Peter called out kindly. "You needn't be afraid.
I'm not going to hurt you. I'm not the Devil. I'm only his little
brother-in-law."

Yirik took heart and placed the beer in front of Peter. Then he stood
still, not daring to raise his eyes.

Peter began asking him about himself, who he was, how he came to be
working for the landlord, and what kind of treatment he was receiving.
Yirik stammered out his story and as he talked he forgot his fear, he
forgot that Peter looked like a devil, and presently he was talking to
him freely as one friend to another.

Peter was touched by the orphan's story and, pulling out his magic money
bag, he filled Yirik's cap with golden ducats. The boy danced about the
room with delight. Then he ran outside and showed the landlord and the
people who had gathered the present which the strange gentleman had made
him.

"And he says he's not the Devil," Yirik reported, "but only his
brother-in-law."

When the landlord heard that Peter really hadn't any horns or a flaming
tongue, he picked up courage and going inside he begged Peter to give
him, too, a few golden ducats. But Peter only laughed at him.

Peter stayed at the tavern overnight. Just as he fell asleep some one
shook his hand and, as he opened his eyes, he saw his old ma