d Boy thought that the first trial was enough, and
had no inclination to put his neck under a woman's yoke again.

In the autumn of the following year, when threshing had begun again, the
old acquaintance of the barn-keeper paid him another visit. The latter
saw that the peasant had something on his mind, but he asked no
questions, thinking it best to wait till the other broached the matter
himself. He had not long to wait before he heard all the old fellow's
misfortunes. During the summer he had made the acquaintance of a young
widow who cooed like a dove, so that the little man again thought of
courtship. In short, he married her, but discovered afterwards that she
was a shocking scold at home, who would gladly have scratched his eyes
out of his head, and he had cause to thank his stars that he had escaped
from her hands. The barn-keeper remarked, "I see you're good for nothing
as a husband, for you are chicken-hearted, and don't know how to manage
a wife." The Old Boy was forced to acknowledge that it was true. After
they had talked awhile about women and marriage, the Old Boy said, "If
you are really such a bold man as you pretend, and could tame the most
hellish[60] woman that exists, I will show you a way by which you can
turn your courage to better account than by subduing a violent woman.
Do you know the ruins of the old castle on the mountain? A great
treasure lies there since ancient times, which no one has been able to
get at, just because nobody has had enough courage to dig it up." The
barn-keeper said, smiling, "If nothing more is needed than courage, the
treasure is already as good as in my pocket." Then the Old Boy told him
that he must go to dig up the treasure next Thursday night, when the
moon would be full; but added, "Take good care that you are not a bit
afraid, for if your heart fails you, or if only a muscle of your body
trembles, you will not only lose the expected treasure, but may even
lose your life, like many others who have tried their luck before you.
If you don't believe me, you may go into any farmhouse, and the people
will tell you what they have heard about the walls of the old castle.
Many people even profess to have seen something with their own eyes. But
once more, if you value your life, and wish to possess the treasure,
beware of all fear."

On the morning of the appointed Thursday, the barn-keeper set out, and
although he did not feel the slightest fear, he turned into the villag