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 carve a three-legged chair and a three-legged table for me. The man to whom you sold me was the Evil One. who has already prepared a seat for me in his dwelling. You must use no other tool than a knife, and have the two articles ready before my next birthday. The Evil One's table and chair will become smaller and smaller as you carve mine, and when your work is finished they will have vanished entirely."

His father at once went to work, cutting and carving diligently, and when the year came round the chair and the table were finished. On the boy's fourteenth birthday the two went into the woods. Here the boy made a circle on the earth, bidding his father seat himself within it, for as long as he stayed there no one could hurt a hair of his head, and if he remained there one whole day he would be free—the Evil One would have no power over him.

"It is much more difficult with me," said the boy, "although the Evil One cannot cross the circle which I shall draw around myself. I must stay there until a beautiful maiden is willing to save me. She must come and carry me away with her; but until the news of my fate can reach the world, and she can be found, I must stay within the circle, otherwise I shall become the property of the Enemy."

Leaving his father in the circle which he had drawn around him he went away a short distance