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take to bring me here, twelve years hence, whatever meets you first on your going home, and I will give you as much gold as you please." The merchant thought this was no great thing to ask; that it would most likely be his dog, or his cat, or something of that sort, but forgot his little boy Heinel: so he agreed to the bargain, and signed and sealed the bond, to do what was asked of him.

But as he drew near home, his little boy was so glad to see him that he crept behind him, and laid fast hold