“Why didn’t I say anything to him about his life?” the godson thought. “He may be repentant now. He seemed softer of manner and did not threaten to kill me to-day.” And he called to the robber saying, “It is time you repented. You cannot get away from God.” The robber turned his horse round, seized a knife from his girdle and brandished it aloft. The godson took fright and ran away into the wood. The robber did not trouble to go after him, he merely said, “I have let you off twice, old man; take care not to come my way a third time, or I’ll kill you.” With these words the robber rode away. That evening the godson went to water his pieces of charcoal and behold! one of the pieces had sprouted! A young apple-tree had shot forth. XII The godson hid himself from the eyes of men and began to live alone. His rusks were all gone. “I must hunt for some roots,” he thought, but he had no sooner gone out than he saw a bag of rusks hanging on the branch of a tree. He took the bag and began to eat. When that was all gone he found another bag in the very same place. Thus the godson lived. He had only one care--his fear of the robber. When he heard him coming he hid himself, thinking, “If he kills me I shall not be able to atone for my sins.” Another ten years passed. One apple-tree grew up, the other pieces of charcoal remained as they were before. One day the godson went out early to do his watering. He moistened the soil around the stumps until he was tired and sat down to rest. As he rested he thought, “I have sinned greatly in fearing death. If it be God’s will I will atone for my sins by death even.” The thought had no sooner occurred to him than he heard the robber come along cursing at some one. And the godson thought, “Besides God no one can do me either good or evil.” And he went to meet the robber. He saw that the robber was not alone. On the saddle, behind him, was another man, and this man’s hands were bound and his mouth was gagged. The man made no sound and the robber kept on abusing him. The godson approached the robber and stopped before his horse. “Where are you taking this man to?” he asked. “Into the wood. He is a merchant’s son and won’t tell me where his father’s money is hidden. I will keep him prisoner until he tells me.” The robber was about to go on, but the godson would not let him, seizing the horse by the bridle. “Let the man go,” he said. The robber grew angry and raised his arm to strike him. “Do you want to share his fate? I told you I would kill you. Let go!” The godson was not afraid. “I won’t let go,” he said. “I’m not afraid of you; I only fear God. He tells me not to let go. Set the man free.” The robber frowned; he seized the knife from his girdle, cut the cords and released the merchant’s son. “Be gone, the two of you!” he said, “and don’t come across my path a second time!”