The Hearty Squad Overseer

Once upon a time there lived a squad overseer whose heartiness was second to none had his equal. The “old fellow” himself had praised him, He couldn't find a heartier man in the whole world occurred. That's why the old man often went on the evenings when the... Threshers were not in the barn, were guests of the overseer, and under The time was never long for them to have pleasant conversations. The old The boy said that the supervisor didn't know him, but thought he was him a simple farmer, but the overseer knew him quite well if he didn't notice anything either, and had decided to use the (old one). Horn-bearers) to trick the devil if possible. Than the old one Boy complained one evening about his bachelor life and that he I have no one to knit a stocking or sew a glove for him, asked the overseer: "Why don't you go to the camp, Little brother?" The old fellow replied: "I sometimes have mine Tried to heal, but the girls don't want me. The younger and The more blooming they were, the more they mocked me." The overseer advised him to marry older girls or widows who were much more likely to go astray could be made and would not easily spurn a suitor. After A few weeks later the old boy married an elderly man Girl; But it didn't take long before he came back The squad overseer to complain to him about his distress so that the young woman was full be deceit; She would not let him rest by night or by day, but torture him without ceasing. "What kind of man are you?" he laughed Overseer, “that your wife was allowed to put on her trousers!” You took it once If you were a woman, you had to become master of your wife too!” The old man Boy replied: "I can't cope with her. Get them and That one, I won't set foot in the house again." The squad supervisor tried to comfort him and said that he should still be saved try once, but the old fellow said it was the first one Sample enough, and didn't feel like putting his neck in that for the second time to put the yoke of a woman.

In the autumn of the next year, when the threshing had begun again, the old acquaintance paid the overseer a new visit. The Overseer He immediately noticed that something was on the farmer's mind and he asked but not, but wanted to wait for the other person to deal with the matter themselves would come out. He soon learned of the old fellow's misfortune. In the In the summer he had made the acquaintance of a young widow, which cooed like a dove, so that the little man again Suitor thoughts arose. He married her too, but later found that she was the worst domestic dragon there could be and that she was him would have liked to tear his eyes out of his head so that he could finally see his Glücke thanked him when he freed himself from the evil seven. The Riegenaufseher said: "I can see that you are not suitable for a husband, for you are a hare's foot and do not know how to govern a woman." The old fellow had to agree with him on that point. After they then still “We had chatted for a while about women and marriage,” said the old man Boy: “If you really are such a hearty man that you... dared to tame the worst infernal dragons among the womenfolk do, I want to show you a path on which yours Heartfulness will find a better reward than in taming an evil one woman. You know the ruins of the old castle on the mountain? There lies a great treasure from ancient times that is not yet available to anyone Participated because no one had the courage to accept it lift." The squad supervisor replied with a laugh: "If nothing here If anything is needed other than courage, I already have the treasure as good as I can the bag!” Then the old fellow told the supervisor that he was in I have to go there on a future Thursday night when the moon will be full to dig up the buried treasure, and added: “But be careful not to let not the slightest fear come upon you, for if your heart is afraid, or if even one fiber in your body trembles, you lose not only do you get the treasure you hoped for, but you can also save your life like many others who tried their luck before you. If you If you don't believe me, just go to some farm and leave them People tell what they heard about the walls of the old castle -- Some have probably seen it with their own eyes. Again: if you If your life is dear and you want to get hold of the treasure, beware you from all fear.”

On the morning of the designated Thursday, the squad overseer left on the way, and although he did not feel the slightest fear, so He stopped at the village tavern, hoping to get there To come across people who tell him one thing or another about the old ones Castle walls could report. He asked the innkeeper what kind of old ones they were There would be walls on the mountain, and if people knew anything about them, who performed it and who then destroyed it again. An old Bauer, who had heard the guard's question, gave the following Notice: »According to legend, many hundreds of years ago, a very rich man Landlord lived there, who had vast lands and a large population bid. This gentleman led an iron regiment and treated his His subjects were cruel, but with their sweat and blood raked together immeasurable wealth, including gold and silver the castle came from all sides, where it was deep Cellars were kept from thieves and robbers. In which way the Nobody found out that the rich villain finally met his death. The One morning servants found his bed empty with three drops of blood on it floor, and a large black cat at the head of the bed, which one had never seen before and never saw again afterwards. It was therefore thought The cat was the evil spirit itself that appeared in this form I strangled my master in his bed and then took him to hell, where he was must pay for his crimes. -- Than later on the news of that In the event of death, the lord of the castle's relatives gathered to attend To take possession of the treasure, there was not a single kopeck of money anywhere. At first the servants were thought to be the thieves and brought to trial; but since they were conscious of their innocence, they also confessed on torture Nothing. Meanwhile, many people had one at night Clattering, as if with money, heard deep underground, and made it Court reported it, and when it conducted an investigation and When the statement was confirmed , the servants were released. The strange one The clatter of money at night was often heard later and was also found Some who dug for the treasure, but nothing came to light, and from No one returned to the treasure-diggers; Surely he had them who had brought such a terrible end to the lord of money. Everyone saw so much that something wasn't right here - that's why they trusted it Nobody wants to live in the old castle until finally the roof and the walls decayed with wind and rain, and nothing else remained remained as the old ruins. No one dares to venture out at night close by, even less daring, to look for old treasures there to look for." --Thus said the old farmer.

When the guard had heard his story, he said how half-jokingly: "I would like to try my luck!" who is going Next night with me?" The men made a sign of the cross and protested unanimously that their lives are much dearer to them than all the treasures of the world World that no one can achieve without corrupting their soul. Then they asked the stranger to give up his vain thought, and not give your life over to the devil. Only the bold one Riegenaufseler paid no attention to requests or intimidation, but was determined to seek salvation on his own. He asked himself on In the evening a bundle of pine chips was put out from the Schenkwirth so as not to be in the dark stay, and then asked about the shortest route to the old ones Castle ruins.

One of the farmers, who seemed to have a little more courage than the others, followed him some distance with a lighted lantern as his guide ahead, but turned back when they were still more than half a verst away walls were removed. Because the cloudy night sky can't see anything the guard had to follow his path tentatively. The The whistling of the wind and the shrieking of the night owls were horrifying his ear, but could not frighten his brave heart. As soon as he is in When he was able to make a fire under the protection of the masonry, he ignited it a chip, and looked around for a door or an opening, through which he could descend underground. After a while After searching in vain, he finally saw a hole at the foot of the wall, which led downwards. He put the burning chip into one crack in the wall, and cleared away as much rubble and rubble with his hands, that he could crawl in. After he had gone some distance, He found a stone staircase and the room became wide enough for him could walk upright. The Kienspan waistband on the shoulder and one Burning chip in hand, he went down the steps and came finally to an iron door that was not locked. He pushed the The heavy door opened and was about to enter when a large black one appeared Cat with fiery eyes quickly through the door and to the stairs shot up. The squad overseer thought: she certainly has the master of the Strangled with money, he slammed the door shut, threw the Kienspan bundle to the ground, and then took a closer look at the place. It was a large, wide hall whose walls had doors everywhere; he counted twelve of them, and wondered which of them he should try first. »Seven is “But a lucky number!” he said, and then counted from the front door until the seventh; but this was locked and didn't want to rise up. Meanwhile, when he pushed himself against the door with all his might the rusty lock gave way and the door burst open. As When the squad overseer entered, he found a medium-sized room, which has a long table and a bench on one wall, on the other The wall contained an oven and in front of it a stove; next to the stove There were also logs of wood on the ground. The man now lit the fire and looked by the light of it, a small grape and a bowl of flour were on the stove, and he also found some salt in the salt cellar. "Look!" shouted the overseer. »Here I unexpectedly find supplies and water I brought it with me in a barrel, now I can have a warm soup Cook.” With that he put the grape on the fire and added flour and water in it, sprinkled salt on it, stirred with a splinter, and boiled the soup is done; then he poured them into the bowl and placed them on top Table. The bright fire of the hearth illuminated the room so that he... didn't need to light a chip. The courageous squad supervisor sat down now went to the table, took the spoon and started with the warm soup to fill the empty stomach. Suddenly, when he looked up, he saw the black cat with fiery eyes sitting on the stove; he could I couldn't understand how the animal got there, since he was with it had seen the cat running up the stairs with his own eyes was. Thereupon three loud knocks were made on the door outside, so that The walls and floor shook, but the warden lost his courage not, but called out in a stern voice: "Whoever has a head on his torso "Let me come in!" Instantly the door slammed wide open black cat jumped down from the stove and darted through the door Sparks of fire sprayed from her mouth and eyes. As the cat away After walking, four tall men entered in long white skirts with fire-red caps that sparkled so much that it was as bright as day spread throughout the room. The men carried a stretcher on their shoulders, and on the bier stood a coffin; but that inspired the courageous one Don't be afraid of the squad supervisor. Without saying a word, they asked Men put the coffin on the ground, then went to it one by one out the door and closed it behind them. The cat meowed and scratched at the door, as if she wanted to come in, but the guard was taking care of her didn't care about it, but calmly ate his warm soup. When he was full he got up and looked at the coffin; he broke the lid open and saw a small man with a long white beard. The squad overseer lifted it out and brought it to the hearth to cook it heat. It didn't take long before the old man started to relax and exercise your hands and feet. The courageous squad overseer had not the slightest fear; he took the soup bowl and the spoon from the table and began to feed the old man. But this one It took too long, so he grabbed the bowl with both hands and hastily slurped down all the soup. Then he said: "Thank you, Sonny! that you have mercy on me, the poor, and mine from hunger and You straightened your body, frozen in cold. For this benefit I want I will give you such a princely reward that you won't let me for the rest of your life you should forget. -- There behind the stove you will find pitch torches, light them one of them and come with me. But first close the door tightly, so that the angry cat cannot come in and break your neck would. Later we want to make them so crazy that they no longer have anyone can cause harm.”

With these words the old man lifted a square tile from the width half a fathom out of the ground, and it became apparent that the stone had covered the entrance to a cellar. The old man got up first Down the steps, and the squad overseer followed him fearlessly with the burning pitch torch until it plunges into a horrible depth reached the cave.

In this large, vaulted, cellar-like cave lay a huge Piles of money as high as the largest haystack, half silver, half gold. The old man now took a handful from a closet wax lights, three bottles of wine, a smoked ham and a Loaf of bread out, and then said to the team supervisor: "I'll give you three Days to count and separate this lump of money. You have to Divide the heap into two parts so that both become completely equal and neither The rest remains. While you are busy with this division, I want let me sleep against the wall, but be careful that you don't do that "If you make the slightest mistake, otherwise I'll strangle you." The guard immediately set to work, and the old man lay down. So that no mistake could occur, the team supervisor divided it in such a way that He always took two pieces of money of the same type, they were either thalers or thalers be rubles, gold or silver coins; He then placed one piece of money on the left and the other on the right, so that two piles were created. If him the When his strength threatened to run out, he refreshed himself by taking a sip the bottle, enjoyed some bread and meat, and then sat down refreshed continues his work. Because he only got a short sleep at night In order to promote the work quickly, he was taken away on the evening of The division was finished on the second day, but there was a small piece of silver left free. What to do now? That made the good squad supervisor No need, he pulled his knife out of his pocket and put the edge on it the middle of the coin, and then hit it so hard with a stone on the back of the knife that the coin was split in half became. He then put one half in the pile on the right, and the others to the pile on the left; Then he woke up the old man and invited him to inspect the work. As the old man, the two of them He saw halves of the remaining coin on the right and left, he threw himself around the guard's neck with a shout of joy, stroked his cheeks for a long time and finally said: “A thousand and buts A thousand thanks to you, bold youth, who took me out of my long, long released from captivity. I've had mine for hundreds of years We have to guard the treasure here because no one was found who had the courage or had enough sense to divide the money in such a way that nothing was left. Therefore, according to a sworn vow, I had to take one after the other Strangle others, and since no one returned, he ventured into the last one Two hundred years ago no one came here anymore, although I didn't spend a night let it pass without spending any money. To you, you lucky child! I was destined to become my savior when I had no hope wanted to disappear and I had to fear eternal imprisonment. Thanks to, Thank you so much for your kindness! You get the one pile of money now as a reward for your efforts, but you have to serve the others as poor people distribute, in atonement for my grave sins; because I was when I lived on earth and accumulated this treasure, a great wicked and Villain. You have one more job to do for my benefit and yours accomplish. When you go back up, and the big black cat comes towards you on the stairs, then grab it and hang it up. Here "It's a snare from which she shouldn't pull herself out again." With that he pulled a thick cord braided from fine gold wire a shoelace from her bosom, she gave it to the squad overseer and disappeared as if he had sunk into the ground. But in the same Moments later there was a crash, as if the earth was beneath his feet wanted to burst. The light went out, and around him There was deep darkness, but also this unexpected event didn't make him discouraged. He groped his way until he reached the Stairs came, climbed the steps, and came into the first room, where he had made the soup. The fire had long been on the stove went out, but he found sparks in the ashes, which he turned to the flame could blow on. The coffin was still on the bier, but instead of the old man the big black cat slept in it. The squad supervisor grabbed her Heads, wrapped the gold cord around her neck, hanging from a strong one iron nail in the wall and lay down on the floor to rest.

It wasn't until the next morning that he came out of the walls and took it next way to the tavern where he had previously stopped. As the landlord saw that the stranger had escaped unharmed, knew his joy and his amazement knows no bounds. But the squad overseer said: “Get it me a few dozen sacks worth a ton for good pay rent horses so that I can carry away my treasure.' the innkeeper that the stranger's walk had not been a fruitless one, and immediately fulfilled the rich man's desire. Than then the Riegenaufseher from the people had explored what kind of areas for ages were under the rule of the then castle owner, He allocated the third part of the money intended for the poor to those areas to, handed over the other two thirds to the court for distribution and settled with his own money in a distant country where he Nobody knew. His relatives still have to be there today rich people live and praise the boldness of their ancestor, who treasure had been won.