“Tut, I’m not i’ the humour for thine.  What message, simpleton?”

“None, good mistress; but that they be snug until further orders.”

“’Tis well; to rest; but hark thee, knave, be honest and discreet; thou shall win both gold and great honours thereby.”

“What! shall I ha’ my share o’ the treasure?” inquired Gregory, his eyes glistening in the broad moonlight.

“What treasure, thou greedy gled?”

“Why they say ’tis a mine royal, and”—­

“How! knowest thou our secret?”

“Ay, a body may quess.  I’ve not found the road to the silver mine for nought.  If I get my grip on’t, the king may whistle for his share belike.”

“The king! what knowest thou of the king?” said the maiden sharply.

“Eh! lady, I know not on him forsooth.  Marry it would be hard to say who that be now-a-days; for the clerk towed me”—­

“Peace! whom sawest thou?”

“Why the ugliest brute, saving your presence, lady, that my two een ever lippened on.”

“None else?”

“No, no; I warrant ye, the miners wouldna care to let me get a glint o’ the gowd.  I only had a look at the hobgoblin, who they have set, I guess, to watch the treasure.”

“Oh!  I see,—­ay, truly,” said the maiden thoughtfully; “the mine is guarded, therefore be wary, and reveal not the secret, lest he crush thee.  Remember,” said she at parting, “remember the demon of the cave.  One word, and he will grind thy bones to grist.”

Gregory did remember the power of this mysterious being, who, he began to fancy, partook more of the supernatural than he had formerly imagined.

Wearied with watching, he slept soundly, but his dreams were of wizards and enchanters; heaps of gold and fairy palaces, wherein he roved through glittering halls of illimitable extent, until morning dissipated the illusion.

Some weeks passed on, during which, at times, Gregory was employed by his mistress, doubtless to propitiate this greedy monster, in conveying food secretly to the mouth of the chasm.  He did not usually wait for his appearance, but ran off with all convenient speed when his errand was accomplished.  Still his hankering for the treasure seemed to increase with every visit.  He oft invented some plan for outwitting the demon, thereby securing to himself the product of the mine.  Some of these devices would doubtless have been accomplished had not fear prevented the attempt.  He had no wish to encounter again the hostility of that fearful thing in its unhallowed abode.

His mistress, however, would, at some period or another, no doubt, be in possession of all the wealth in the cave, and he should then expect a handsome share.  He had heard, in old legends, marvellous accounts of ladies marrying with these accursed dwarfs for gold, and if he waited patiently he might perchance have the best of the spoil.

He brooded on this imagination so long that he became fully convinced of its truth; but still the golden egg was long in hatching.