th of it and went to
rouse the Baal Shem.

"Take two cudgels," said he, "and thrash the sack as hard as you can."

After they had given it a sound drubbing, he bade them unbind the sack
and throw it into the street. And so the day dawned, and all was well
with the child. That day they performed the ceremony of Initiation
with great rejoicing, and the Baal Shem was made godfather or
_Sandek_. But before the feasting began, the father of the child
begged the Baal Shem to tarry, "for," said he, "I must needs go first
to the lord of the soil and take him a gift of wine. For he is a cruel
tyrant, and will visit it upon me if I fail to pay him honor on this
joyous occasion."

"Go in peace," said the Baal Shem.

When the man arrived at the seigneur's house, the lackeys informed him
that their master was ill, but had left instructions that he was to be
told when the gift was brought. The man waited, and the seigneur
ordered him to be admitted, and received him very affably, asking him
how business was, and if he had guests at his inn.

"Ay, indeed," answered the innkeeper; "there is staying with me a very
holy man who is from Poland, and he delivered my child from death."

"Indeed!" said the seigneur, with interest, and the man thereupon told
him the whole story.

"Bring me this stranger," commanded the seigneur; "I would speak with
him."

The innkeeper went home very much perturbed.

"Why so frightened an air?" the Baal Shem asked him.

"The seigneur desires thee to go to him. I fear he will do thee a
mischief. I beseech thee, depart at once, and I will tell him thou
hadst already gone."

"I will go to him," said the Baal Shem.

He was ushered into the sick-room. As soon as the seigneur had
dismissed his lackeys he sat up in bed, thus revealing black-and-blue
marks in his flesh, and sneered vengefully--

"Doubtless thou thinkest thyself very cunning to have caught me
unawares."

"Would I had come before thou hadst killed the other four," replied
the Baal Shem.

"Ho! ho!" hissed the magician; "so thou feelest sure thou art a
greater wizard than I. Well, I challenge thee to the test."

"I have no desire to contend with thee," replied the Baal Shem calmly;
"I am no wizard. I have only the power of the Holy Name."

"Bah! My witchcraft against thy Holy Name," sneered the wizard.

"The Name must be vindicated," said the Baal Shem. "I accept thy
challenge. This day a month I will assemble my pupils. Do thou an