yawn which shook the walls. The Sodnos heard it below, and
posted themselves, one at the big door and one at the little door at the
back, for they did not know what their enemy would come out at.

The Stalo put out his hand to take his iron mantle from the bed, where
it always lay, but the mantle was no there. He wondered where it could
be, and who could have moved it, and after searching through all the
rooms, he found it hanging over the kitchen fire. But the first touch
burnt him so badly that he let it alone, and went with nothing, except a
stick in his hand, through the back door.

The young Sodno was standing ready for him, and as the Stalo passed the
threshold struck him such a blow on the head that he rolled over with a
crash and never stirred again. The two Sodnos did not trouble about him,
but quickly stripped the younger Stalos of their clothes, in which they
dressed themselves. Then they sat still till the dawn should break
and they could find out from the Stalos' mother where the treasure was
hidden.

With the first rays of the sun the young Sodno went upstairs and entered
the old woman's room. She was already up and dressed, and sitting by the
window knitting, and the young man crept in softly and crouched down on
the floor, laying his head on her lap. For a while he kept silence, then
he whispered gently:

'Tell me, dear mother, where did my eldest brother conceal his riches?'

'What a strange question! Surely you must know,' answered she.

'No, I have forgotten; my memory is so bad.'

'He dug a hole under the doorstep and placed it there,' said she. And
there was another pause.

By-and-by the Sodno asked again:

'And where may my second brother's money be?'

'Don't you know that either?' cried the mother in surprise.

'Oh, yes; I did once. But since I fell upon my head I can remember
nothing.'

'It is behind the oven,' answered she. And again was silence.

'Mother, dear mother,' said the young man at last, 'I am almost afraid
to ask you; but I really have grown so stupid of late. Where did I hide
my own money?'

But at this question the old woman flew into a passion, and vowed that
if she could find a rod she would bring his memory back to him. Luckily,
no rod was within her reach, and the Sodno managed, after a little,
to coax her back into good humour, and at length she told him that the
youngest Stalo had buried his treasure under the very place where she
was sitting.

'Dear mother