Then the demon was glad.  He said to the farmer, “You must squeeze the stone when you wish to become invisible; and must put it in your mouth when you wish to return to human form.”

The man tried the power of the magic stone.  He squeezed it, and instantly became invisible to the demon; but he bade him farewell, and promised to meet him in the same place at the appointed time.

In this invisible form the man crossed the water that washed the shore of the island on which he lived.  There he found a people who lived in communities.  He wanted something to eat, so he went into the shops; but he found that a restaurant owned by a Chinaman was the one to which most people of the city went.  He put the stone in his mouth, thus appearing in visible form, and, entering the restaurant, ordered the best food he could find.  He finished his meal quickly and went out.  The waiter, perceiving that he did not pay, followed him.  The man had no money; so he squeezed the stone and shot up into the air without being seen.  The Chinaman, alarmed by the cry of the waiter, came out and ran in all directions, trying to find and catch the man.  No one could find him; and the people thought he must indeed be a fast runner to escape so quickly, for they did not know of the gift of the demon.

Not far from that place he saw groups of men and women going in and out of a large building.  It was a bank.  The farmer went in to see what he could find.  There he saw bags of money, gold and silver.  He chuckled with joy at this opportunity.  In order to use his hands freely, he put the stone in his mouth; but before he could fill all his pockets with money, he was discovered by the two guards, who began to pound him on the head.  He struggled to save his life, and finally took the stone out of his mouth and squeezed it.  Instantly he vanished from their sight; but he was vexed at the beating he had received, so he carried off all the gold they had in the bank.  The people inside as well as outside the building became crazy.  They ran about in all directions, not knowing why.  Some called the firemen, thinking the bank was on fire; but nothing had happened, except that the farmer was gone and the two guards were “half dead frightened.”  They danced up and down the streets in great excitement, but could not utter a word.

Straight home went the farmer, not stopping by the way.  His wife and children were awaiting him.  He gave them the money, and told them all about the fortune which he had gotten from the man on their own island,—­told all his secrets.  Prosperous they became, and with the money which he had brought they purchased all they needed from the city just opposite them.

The time passed so pleasantly that the man was surprised to discover that his promise would be due in two more days.  He made preparations to go back to the land of his master.  Arrived there, he met the same monster under the same tree.  The demon was displeased to see the old man alone, without the family which also had been promised.  He told the man that he would shut him in a cave and then would go and capture those left at home.