l roll along better," said he, "and houp-la! now
the fun begins." He played with them and lost some of his money, but
when twelve struck everything vanished before his eyes. He lay down and
slept peacefully. The next morning the King came, anxious for news. "How
have you got on this time?" he asked. "I played ninepins," he answered,
"and lost a few pence." "Didn't you shudder then?" "No such luck," said
he; "I made myself merry. Oh! if I only knew what it was to shudder!"

On the third night he sat down again on his bench, and said, in the most
desponding way: "If I could only shudder!" When it got late, six big men
came in carrying a coffin. Then he cried: "Ha! ha! that's most likely
my little cousin who only died a few days ago"; and beckoning with his
finger he called out: "Come, my small cousin, come." They placed the
coffin on the ground, and he approached it and took off the cover. In
it lay a dead man. He felt his face, and it was cold as ice. "Wait," he
said "I'll heat you up a bit," went to the fire, warmed his hand, and
laid it on the man's face, but the dead remained cold. Then he lifted
him out, sat down at the fire, laid him on his knee, and rubbed his arms
that the blood should circulate again. When that too had no effect it
occurred to him that if two people lay together in bed they warmed each
other; so he put him into the bed, covered him up, and lay down beside
him; after a time the corpse became warm and began to move. Then the
youth said: "Now, my little cousin, what would have happened if I
hadn't warmed you?" But the dead man rose up and cried out: "Now I
will strangle you." "What!" said he, "is that all the thanks I get? You
should be put straight back into your coffin," lifted him up, threw him
in, and closed the lid. Then the six men came and carried him out again.
"I simply can't shudder," he said, "and it's clear I sha'n't learn it in
a lifetime here."

Then a man entered, of more than ordinary size and of a very fearful
appearance; but he was old and had a white beard. "Oh! you miserable
creature, now you will soon know what it is to shudder," he cried, "for
you must die." "Not so quickly," answered the youth. "If I am to die,
you must catch me first." "I shall soon lay hold of you," spoke the
monster. "Gently, gently, don't boast too much, I'm as strong as you,
and stronger too." "We'll soon see," said the old man; "if you are
stronger than I then I'll let you off; come, let's have a try." T