was in his power. Although he
pitched some of you downstairs, he didn't cripple any of you. The warm
bath cured your broken limbs long ago, and you had better forgive him
and go home."

The headless dwarfs were easily persuaded by their comrade, and went
quietly away. Hans now recognised his deliverer as the apparition who
had sat in the church-bell at night. The dwarf sat down with Hans under
the pine-tree, and said, "You laughed at me once when I said that a time
might come in which I might be useful to you. That time has now arrived,
and let it teach you not to despise even the smallest creature in the
world." "I thank you with all my heart," returned Hans. "My bones are
almost pulverised with their blows, and I should hardly have escaped
with life if you had not arrived in the very nick of time."

The headless dwarf continued, "My debt is now paid, but I will do more,
and give you something to indemnify you for your thrashing. You need no
longer toil in the service of a stingy parson. When you reach home
to-morrow go straight to the north corner of the church, where you will
find a great stone fixed in the wall, which is not secured with mortar
like the others. It is full moon on the night of the day after
to-morrow. Go at midnight, and take this stone out of the wall with a
lever. Under the stone you will find an inestimable treasure, which many
generations have heaped together; there are gold and silver church
plate, and a large amount of money, which was once concealed in time of
war. Those who hid the treasure have all died more than a hundred years
ago, and not a living soul knows anything about the matter. You must
divide one-third of the money among the poor of the parish, and all the
rest is yours, to do what you like with." At this moment a cock crew in
a distant village, and the headless dwarf vanished as if he had been
wiped out.

Hans could not sleep for a long time for the pain in his limbs, and
thought much of the hidden treasure, but he dropped asleep at last
towards morning.

The sun was high in the heavens when his master returned from town.
"Hans," said the parson, "you were a great fool not to go with me
yesterday. Look here! I've had plenty to eat and drink, and got money in
my pocket into the bargain." Meantime he jingled the money to vex him
more. But Hans answered quietly, "Worthy Mister Parson, you have had to
keep awake all night for that bit of money, but I've earned a hundred
times as