Old Eric has n't taken him . I am certain that all the fish are out of the lake , for the yard is just filled with them . ' ` Yes , that 's a bad business , ' said she ; ` you must see if you ca n't get him sent to Purgatory , to demand tribute . ' The squire therefore made his way to the men 's quarters , to speak to Hans , and it took him all his time to push his way along the walls , under the eaves , on account of the fish that filled the yard . He thanked Hans for having fished so well , and said that now he had an errand for him , which he could only give to a trusty servant , and that was to journey to Purgatory , and demand three years tribute , which , he said , was owing to him from that quarter . ` Willingly , ' said Hans ; ` but what road do I go , to get there ? ' The squire stood , and did not know what to say , and had first to go in to his wife to ask her . ` Oh , what a fool you are ! ' said she , ` ca n't you direct him straight forward , south through the wood ? Whether he gets there or not , we shall be quit of him . ' Out goes the squire again to Hans . ` The way lies straight forward , south through the wood , ' said he . Hans then must have his provisions for the journey ; two bakings of bread , two casks of butter , two barrels of ale , and two kegs of brandy . He tied all these up together , and got them on his shoulder hanging on his good walking-stick , and off he tramped southward . After he had got through the wood , there was more than one road , and he was in doubt which of them was the right one , so he sat down and opened up his bundle of provisions . He found he had left his knife at home , but by good chance , there was a plough lying close at hand , so he took the coulter of this to cut the bread with . As he sat there and took his bite , a man came riding past him . ` Where are you from ? ' said Hans . ` From Purgatory , ' said the man .
` Then stop and wait a little , ' said Hans ; but the man was in a hurry , and would not stop , so XXXXX ran after him and caught the horse by the tail .
Eric Hans coulter eaves first left plough right walking-stick years