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Once, long ago, in a little town that lay in the midst of high hills and
wild forests, a party of shepherds sat one night in the kitchen of the
inn talking over old times, and telling of the strange things that had
befallen them in their youth.
Presently up spoke the silver-haired Father Martin.
'Comrades,' said he, 'you have had wonderful adventures; but I will
tell you something still more astonishing that happened to myself.
When I was a young lad I had no home and no one to care for me,
and I wandered from village to village all over the country with my
knapsack on my back; but as soon as I was old enough I took
service with a shepherd in the mountains, and helped him for three
years. One autumn evening as we drove the flock homeward ten
sheep were missing, and the master bade me go and seek them in
the forest. I took my dog with me, but he could find no trace of
them, though we searched among the bushes till night fell; and then,
as I did not know the country and could not find my way home in
the dark, I decided to sleep under a tree. At midnight my dog
became uneasy, and began to whine and creep close to me with his
tail between his legs; by this I knew that something was wrong,
and, looking about, I saw in the bright moonlight a figure standing
beside me. It seemed to be a man with shaggy hair, and a long
beard which hung down to his knees. He had a garland upon his
head, and a girdle of oak-leaves about his body, and carried an
uprooted fir-tree in his right hand. I shook like an aspen leaf at the
sight, and my spirit quaked for fear. The strange being beckoned
with his hand that I should follow him; but as I did not stir from the
spot he spoke in a hoarse, grating voice: "Take courage,
fainthearted shepherd. I am the Treasure Seeker of the mountain.
If you will come with me you shall dig up much gold."
'Though I was still deadly cold with terror I plucked up my courage
and said: "Get away from me, evil spirit; I do not desire your
treasures."
'At this the spectre grinned in my face and cried mockingly:
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Fairytales 
