of him who lay below, pious man though he was.

On the Tuesday night the Baal Shem and his disciples came to an inn,
where he found the host sitting sadly in a room ablaze festally with
countless candles and crowded with little boys, rocking themselves to
and fro with prayer.

"Can we lodge here for the night?" asked the Baal Shem.

"Nay," answered the host dejectedly.

"Why art thou sad? Perchance I can help thee," said the Baal Shem.

"To-night, as thou seest, is watch-night," said the man; "for
to-morrow my latest-born is to be circumcised. This is my fifth child,
and all the others have died suddenly at midnight, although up to then
there has been no sign of sickness. I know not why Lilith should have
such a grudge against my progeny. But so it is, the devil's mother,
she kills them every one, despite the many charms and talismans hung
round my wife's bed. Every day since the birth, these children have
come to say the _Shemang_ and the ninety-first psalm. And to-night the
elders are coming to watch and study all night. But I fear they will
not cheat Lilith of her prey. Therefore am I not in the humor to lodge
strangers."

"Let the little ones go home; they are falling asleep," said the
Master. "And let them tell their fathers to stay at home in their
beds. My pupils and I will watch and pray."

So said, so done. The Baal Shem told off two of his men to hold a sack
open at the cradle of the child, and he instructed the rest of his
pupils to study holy law ceaselessly, and on no account to let their
eyelids close, though he himself designed to sleep. Should anything
fall into the sack the two men were to close it forthwith and then
awaken him. With a final caution to his disciples not to fall asleep,
the Master withdrew to his chamber. The hours drew on. Naught was
heard save the droning of the students and the sough of the wind in
the forest. At midnight the flames of the candles wavered violently,
though no breath of wind was felt within the hot room. But the
watchers shielding the flames with their hands strove to prevent them
being extinguished. Nevertheless they all went out, and a weird gloom
fell upon the room, the firelight throwing the students' shadows
horribly on the walls and ceiling. Their blood ran cold. But one,
bolder than the rest, snatching a brand from the hearth, relit the
candles. As the last wick flamed again, a great black cat fell into
the sack. The two men immediately tied up the mou