Lord Woodmount hereupon entered into conversation with Ranier, and finding him to be intelligent and prompt in his replies, was much pleased with him.  At last he said: 

“We have had much difficulty in getting ready the timber for the king’s new palace, in consequence of the scarcity of wood-cutters, and the slowness with which they work.  There are over twenty thousand trees yet to be cut and hewn, and for every tree fully finished the king allows a noble of fifty groats, although he allows but a groat for the felling alone.  It is necessary that they should be all ready within a month, though I fear that is impossible.  As you seem to be able to get a number of laborers together, I will allot you a thousand trees, if you choose, should you undertake to have them all ready to be hauled away for the builders’ use, within a month’s time.”

“My lord,” answered Ranier, “I will undertake to have the whole twenty thousand ready before the time set.”

“Do you know what you say?” inquired the ranger, astonished at the bold proposal.

“Perfectly, my lord,” was the reply.  “Let me undertake the work on condition that you will cause the forest to be guarded, and no one to enter save they have my written permission.  Before the end of the month the trees will be ready.”

[Illustration:  Felling the trees.]

“Well,” said Lord Woodmount, “it is a risk for me to run; but from what you have done already, it is possible you may obtain enough woodmen to complete your task.  Yet, beware!  If you succeed, I will not only give you twenty thousand nobles of gold, but also appoint you—­if you can write, as you have told me—­the deputy-ranger here; and for every day less than a month in which you finish your contract I will add a hundred nobles; but, if you fail, I will have you hanged on a tree.  When will you begin?”

“To-morrow morning,” replied Ranier.

The next morning, before daylight, Ranier took his way to the forest, leaving all his money save three groats with his mother, and, after telling her that he might not return for a day or so, passed the guard that he found already set, and plunged into the wood.  When he came to a place where the trees were thickest and loftiest, he whispered to himself what he had to do, and said to the ax:  “Ax! ax! chop! chop! and work for my profit.”  The ax at once went to work with great earnestness, and by night-fall over ten thousand trees were felled, hewn, and thrown into piles.  Then Ranier, who had not ceased before to watch the work, ate some of the provisions which he had brought with him, and throwing himself under a great tree, whose spreading boughs shaded him from the moonlight, drew his scanty mantle around him, and slept soundly till sunrise.

The next morning Ranier arose, and looked with delight at the work already done; then, speaking again to the ax, it began chopping away as before.