And truly, uncle, this is an
approved and excellent charm of ripe antiquity, kept as a solemn secret
among the wolves, and thou art the first not of our holy nation to whom
it hath been given." So they parted.
Now Lox trudged on, and as he went westwards kept thinking of this
great secret of the pious and peculiar people, and wondering if it were
even as the Wolf said, or only a deceit; for however kindly he was
treated by people, he always suspected that they mocked him to scorn,
or were preparing to do so; for as he ever did this thing himself to
every condition of mankind or beasts, he constantly awaited to have it
done to him. And being curious withal, and anxious to see some new
thing, he had not walked half an hour ere he said, "Tush! let me try
it. Yea, and I will!" So building up the sticks, he jumped over them,
and at once they caught fire and blazed up, and it came to pass even as
the Wolf had prophesied.
Now having solaced himself by the heat, Lox went on. And anon it grew
cold again, and he began to think how pleasant it was to be warm; and
being, like most evil people, wanting in a corner of wisdom, he at once
put the sticks together again and jumped over them, and as before there
rose a blaze, and he was happy. And this was the second fire, and he
had still three cold nights before him before he could reach his home.
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