The two men were quite pleased with this idea , and handed him the cloth . He then hastily threw the first piece of stuff round his shoulders and vanished from sight , leaving the two men grieving over their own folly . The young man had not walked far before he saw two more men standing by the road-side , both grasping the same stout staff , and sometimes one seemed on the point of getting it , and sometimes the other . ` What are you quarrelling about ? You could cut a dozen sticks from the wood each just as good as that ! ' said the young man . And as he spoke the fighters both stopped and looked at him . ` Ah ! you may think so , ' said one , ` but a blow from one end of this stick will kill a man , while a touch from the other end will bring him back to life . You wo n't easily find another stick like that ! ' ` No ; that is true , ' answered the young man . ` Let me just look at it , and I will tell you whose it ought to be . ' The men were pleased with the idea , and handed him the staff . ` It is very curious , certainly , ' said he ; ` but which end is it that restores people to life ? After all , anyone can be killed by a blow from a stick if it is only hard enough ! ' But when he was shown the end he threw the stuff over his shoulders and vanished . At last he saw another set of men , who were struggling for the possession of a pair of shoes . ` Why ca n't you leave that pair of old shoes alone ? ' said he . ` Why , you could not walk a yard in them ! '
` Yes , they are old enough , ' answered they ; ` but whoever puts them XXXXX and wishes himself at a particular place , gets there without going . '
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