. Tales of enchantment from Spain . d be alone to think over what course he wouldbetter follow. There was no doubt in his mind thathe still had the gift of a purse under his pillow andthat his wifes aunt stole the money. He decided tostay awake all night to be sure to catch her at hertrick. Just as he made this decision he realized that hewas hungry. Accordingly, he helped himself to a figfrom a fig tree which grew by the wayside. Immedi-ately he was changed into a burro. His appetite was still with him and he ate thegrass which grew by the path. At once he changedback into his own form. This
. Tales of enchantment from Spain . d be alone to think over what course he wouldbetter follow. There was no doubt in his mind thathe still had the gift of a purse under his pillow andthat his wifes aunt stole the money. He decided tostay awake all night to be sure to catch her at hertrick. Just as he made this decision he realized that hewas hungry. Accordingly, he helped himself to a figfrom a fig tree which grew by the wayside. Immedi-ately he was changed into a burro. His appetite was still with him and he ate thegrass which grew by the path. At once he changedback into his own form. This little experience of mine has taught mesomething which may be useful to me, he remarkedto himself with a smile. He went home as soon as he had picked a hatfulof the figs. That night he lay awake, but he pre-tended he was asleep when he saw his wifes auntenter the room. She silently stole to his bed- 54 THE BIRD WHICH LAID DIAMONDS side and extracted the purse from underneath thepillow. The next morning the silversmiths son gave his. They went, mounted on two of the burros. wife, her aunt, and the servant, each one of the figshe had brought home with him. Immediately theywere turned into burros. He carefully bound theirmouths with leather straps so that they could eat nograss. THE BIRD WHICH LAID DIAMONDS 55 Then he went to his place of work and said tohis employer: I have suddenly become so richthat Ill no longer need to work for my living. Incelebration of my good fortune I desire to take apleasure trip out into the country. I invite you tobe my guest. His former master accepted the invitation andthey went, mounted on two of the burros. The onewhich was the aunt they used as a cargo animal andloaded her heavily. After going some distance theanimal became lame and fell to the ground. Withher heavy load she could scarcely travel, but she wascompelled to go the entire distance; and, by the timethey reached home at the end of the day, she wasnearly dead. At night, the silversmiths
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