erful things were related and
discussed. At last the conversation fell on a castle in the
neighbourhood, about which many strange and marvellous things were told.
One person said that hidden treasure was to be found there; another that
the richest food was always to be had there, although the castle was
uninhabited; and a third, that an evil spirit dwelt within the walls, so
terrible, that anyone who forced his way into the castle came out of it
more dead than alive.

As soon as the three musicians were alone in their bedroom they agreed
to go and examine the mysterious castle, and, if possible, to find and
carry away the hidden treasure. They determined, too, to make the
attempt separately, one after the other, according to age, and they
settled that a whole day was to be given to each adventurer in which to
try his luck.

The fiddler was the first to set out on his adventures, and did so in
the best of spirits and full of courage. When he reached the castle he
found the outer gate open, quite as if he were an expected guest, but no
sooner had he stepped across the entry than the heavy door closed behind
him with a bang, and was bolted with a huge iron bar, exactly as if a
sentinel were doing his office and keeping watch, but no human being was
to be seen anywhere. An awful terror overcame the fiddler; but it was
hopeless to think of turning back or of standing still, and the hopes of
finding gold and other treasures gave him strength and courage to force
his way further into the castle. Upstairs and downstairs he wandered,
through lofty halls, splendid rooms, and lovely little boudoirs,
everything beautifully arranged, and all kept in the most perfect order.
But the silence of death reigned everywhere, and no living thing, not
even a fly, was to be seen. Notwithstanding, the youth felt his spirits
return to him when he entered the lower regions of the castle, for in
the kitchen the most tempting and delicious food was spread out, the
cellars were full of the most costly wine, and the store-room crammed
with pots of every sort of jam you can imagine. A cheerful fire was
burning in the kitchen, before which a roast was being basted by unseen
hands, and all kinds of vegetables and other dainty dishes were being
prepared in like manner. Before the fiddler had time to think, he was
ushered into a little room by invisible hands, and there a table was
spread for him with all the delicious food he had seen cooking in the
ki