the wolf in the forests of Montjoie, and invited the townsmen to the
chase. Towards evening I, and some forty of my followers, retired to
rest in the charcoal huts, provided with wine and brandy. "My lads,"
said I, "it is necessary you should discharge your pieces, and load them
anew; that to-morrow no wolf may escape, and that none of you excuse
yourselves on your pieces missing fire." The guns were reloaded, and
placed in a separate chamber. While they were merry-making, my huntsman
drew the balls, and charged the pieces with powder, several of which he
loaded with double charges. Some of their notched balls I put into my
pocket.

In the morning away went I and my fellows to the chase. Their
conversation turned on my necromancy, and the manner in which I could
envelope myself in a cloud, or make myself bullet-proof. "What is that
you are talking about?" said I.--"Some of these unbelieving folks,"
answered my huntsman, "affirm your honour is unable to ward off
balls."--"Well, then," said I, "fire away, and try." My huntsman fired.
I pretended to parry with my hand, and called, "Let any man that is so
inclined fire, but only one at a time." Accordingly they began, and,
pretending to twist and turn about, I suffered them all to discharge
their pieces. My people had carefully noticed that no man had reloaded
his gun. Some of them received such blows from the guns that were doubly
charged that they fell, terrified at the powers of magic. I advanced,
holding in my hand some of the marked balls. "Let every one choose his
own," called I. All stood motionless, and many of them slunk home with
their guns on their shoulders; some remained, and our sport was
excellent.

On Sunday the monks of Aix-la-Chapelle again began to preach. My black
art became the theme of the whole country, and to this day many of the
people make oath that they fired upon me, and that, after catching them,
I returned the balls.

My invulnerable qualities were published throughout Juliers,
Aix-la-Chapelle, Maestricht, and Cologne, and perhaps this belief saved
my life; the priests having propagated it from their pulpits, in a
country which swarms with highway robbers, and where, for a single ducat,
any man may hire an assassin.

It is no small surprise that I should have preserved my life, in a town
where there are twenty-three monasteries and churches, and where the
monks are adored as deities. The Catholic clergy had been enraged
ag