Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 4 1886.djvu/350

 342 carrying off his lady. The evil spirit is, of course, outwitted. Christic then determines to go to Home to see the city and the pope. By the way he meets an old monk, accompanied by a boy of his own age, who also are going to Rome. In this variant the house saved from robbers is an inn; and the innkeeper himself calls attention to the noise made by the dogs. The robbers seek entrance as the Forty did into Ali Baba's dwelling. At midnight a man disguised as a rich tradesman arrives, with ten horses laden each with two hampers. By Christic's advice assistance is obtained from the neighbouring town, and the robbers are caught. The three travellers next meet a child's funeral. The hero, while others weep, bursts out laughing, and explains that by the child's death three souls have been saved; for, had he lived, the salvation alike of himself and his parents would have been imperilled by their pride in him. Towards evening the monk and his companions come to a country house, where, however, Christic refuses to lodge, foretelling that it will be burnt during the night; and they go to rest in the wood which surrounds the house. The great hall rings out into the night with riot and blasphemy, until the thunder falls upon it and all is reduced to ashes. The next day the hero weeps at a monk's funeral, for the loss of his soul, while every one else is joyous, convinced that the departed has gone straight to Paradise. At Rome he refuses to cap to a rich man as others do. He asks the monk what he will give him if he (the monk) becomes pope. The monk replies that the youth shall be his swineherd if he likes, otherwise he shall go away. The younger fellow-traveller promises to make him his vicar. The next day there is to be a procession, candles in hand; and he whose candle lights of itself will be the pontiff. Christic, who has no money to buy a candle, carries a peeled hazel-wand, like the pilgrims who go to the "pardons" of Lower Brittany. His wand takes fire; but he is declared a sorcerer, and the fire extinguished. The next day, and the next, the procession is repeated with the same result; and Christic is at length seated in St. Peter's chair. He bestows the office of vicar on his younger fellow-traveller, and that of swineherd on the monk. Meanwhile, his parents confess their sin, and can find none to absolve them. They seek the pope. After hearing their confession separately, he exhorts them to have confidence