And louder and faster sounded the fiddle, and faster and higher danced the gipsy, all the thorns were hung with the tatters of his coat. "Mercy, mercy," he screamed at last; "you shall have whatever I can give you, only cease to play. Here, here, take this purse of gold!" "Since you are so ready to pay," said the boy, "I will cease my music; but I must say that you dance well to it--it is a treat to see you." With that he took the purse and departed. The thievish-looking man watched him until he was quite out of sight; then he bawled insultingly after him: "You miserable scraper! you ale-house fiddler! wait till I find you alone. I will chase you until you have not a sole to your shoe; you ragamuffin! stick a farthing in your mouth, and say you are worth six dollars!" And thus he abused him as long as he could find words. When he had sufficiently relieved himself, he ran to the judge of the next town: "Honorable judge," cried he, "I beg your mercy; see how I have been ill-treated and robbed on the open highway; a stone might pity me; my clothes are torn, my body is pricked and scratched, and a purse of gold has been taken from me--a purse of ducats, each one brighter than the other. I entreat you, good judge, let the man be caught and sent to prison!" "Was it a soldier," asked the judge, "who has so wounded you with his sabre?" "No, indeed," replied the gipsy, "it was one who had no sabre, but a gun hanging at his back, and a fiddle from his neck; the rascal can easily be recognized." The judge sent some people after the boy; they soon overtook him, for he had gone on very slowly; they searched him, and found in his pocket the purse of gold. He was brought to trial, and with a loud voice declared: "I did not beat the fellow, nor steal his gold; he gave it to me of his own free will, that I might cease my music, which he did not like." "He can lie as fast as I can catch flies off the wall," cried his accuser. And the judge said, "Yours is a bad defense;" and he sentenced him to be hanged as a highway robber. As they led him away to the gallows, the gipsy bawled after him, triumphantly, "You worthless fellow! you catgut-scraper! now you will receive your reward!" The boy quietly ascended the ladder with the hangman, but, on the last step, he turned and begged the judge to grant him one favor before he died. "I will grant it," replied the judge, "on condition that you do not ask for your life." "I ask not for my life," said the boy, "but to be permitted to play once more on my beloved fiddle!" "Do not let him, do not let him," screamed the ragged rogue. "Why should I not allow him to enjoy this one short pleasure?" said the judge; "I have granted it already; he shall have his wish!" "Tie me fast! bind me down!" cried the gipsy.