Of a very different stamp was his companion, Brother Timothy, large and
robust with rosy cheeks and bristling red hair. He was tall and broad
shouldered and his robe fitted tightly round his portly form. Brother
Timothy had ever a jest on his lips, and the more sober monks were
sometimes scandalized at the noise and uproar he created in the convent
refectory. Moreover, it was useless to exhort Timothy to cease jesting
and study his Mass-book, for the simple reason that the jovial monk had
never learned to read.

It was a very hot day. The monks' dark robes were covered with dust and
torn by briers, and the two holy men made slow progress owing to the
heavy wallets full of provisions which they were carrying on their
backs. Now, as they passed the outskirts of a lonely wood, to their
surprise they beheld an ass tethered to a tree, and blinking lazily at
the passers-by. This donkey was the property of a certain Farmer
Gilbert, who had come thither to gather faggots. He had wandered deep
into the forest to collect enough wood, leaving his donkey to rest in
the shade.

No sooner did Brother Timothy catch sight of the patient animal than he
cried out: "See, brother, what a piece of good fortune has befallen us!
We will lay our wallets on this creature's back."

This being done, he removed the halter from the ass's neck and proceeded
to tether himself to the same tree where the donkey had been tied.
Brother Anthony looked on at these queer doings in great amazement,
which was not lessened when Brother Timothy broke out into a merry peal
of laughter and cried: "Drive the ass before you with your staff to the
convent, and, when you arrive there, tell the brethren that you were
obliged to leave me at a farm, as I was worn out and ill with fever, and
that the farmer lent you his ass to carry our heavy wallets, which are
filled with provisions for their use."

Brother Anthony knew quite well that it would be fruitless to try and
reason with Brother Timothy when the latter was bent on playing one of
his mad pranks, so he made no reply but obeyed in silence. Driving the
ass before him, he arrived safely with the wallets at the convent and
left his comrade to his fate.

Presently Farmer Gilbert came forth from the wood laden with faggots and
stood aghast to see the ponderous body of the friar fastened to the tree
where he had left his ass. Dropping his load of wood, he stood
open-mouthed and trembling and then hastily crossed