It would be hard to express the satisfaction of the wanderer at receiving this encouraging reply.  Emboldened by it, he now returns towards a baker’s he had spied, and bravely marching in, flings down all four pennies, and demands bread.  Thinking he would not have any more food till next morning, Israel resolved to eat only one of the pair of two-penny loaves.  But having demolished one, it so sharpened his longing, that yielding to the irresistible temptation, he bolted down the second loaf to keep the other company.

After resting under a hedge, he saw the sun far descended, and so prepared himself for another hard night.  Waiting till dark, he crawled into an old carriage-house, finding nothing there but a dismantled old phaeton.  Into this he climbed, and curling himself up like a carriage-dog, endeavored to sleep; but, unable to endure the constraint of such a bed, got out, and stretched himself on the bare boards of the floor.

No sooner was light in the east than he fastened to await the commands of one who, his instinct told him, was destined to prove his benefactor.  On his father’s farm accustomed to rise with the lark, Israel was surprised to discover, as he approached the house, that no soul was astir.  It was four o’clock.  For a considerable time he walked back and forth before the portal ere any one appeared.  The first riser was a man servant of the household, who informed Israel that seven o’clock was the hour the people went to their work.  Soon after he met an hostler of the place, who gave him permission to lie on some straw in an outhouse.  There he enjoyed a sweet sleep till awakened at seven o’clock by the sounds of activity around him.

Supplied by the overseer of the men with a large iron fork and a hoe, he followed the hands into the field.  He was so weak he could hardly support his tools.  Unwilling to expose his debility, he yet could not succeed in concealing it.  At last, to avoid worse imputations, he confessed the cause.  His companions regarded him with compassion, and exempted him from the severer toil.

About noon the knight visited his workmen.  Noticing that Israel made little progress, he said to him, that though he had long arms and broad shoulders, yet he was feigning himself to be a very weak man, or otherwise must in reality be so.

Hereupon one of the laborers standing by informed the gentleman how it was with Israel, when immediately the knight put a shilling into his hands and bade him go to a little roadside inn, which was nearer than the house, and buy him bread and a pot of beer.  Thus refreshed he returned to the band, and toiled with them till four o’clock, when the day’s work was over.

Arrived at the house he there again saw his employer, who, after attentively eyeing him without speaking, bade a meal be prepared for him, when the maid presenting a smaller supply than her kind master deemed necessary, she was ordered to return and bring out the entire dish.  But aware of the danger of sudden repletion of heavy food to one in his condition, Israel, previously recruited by the frugal meal at the inn, partook but sparingly.  The repast was spread on the grass, and being over, the good knight again looking inquisitively at Israel, ordered a comfortable bed to be laid in the barn, and here Israel spent a capital night.