there was once on a time a soldier who for many years had served the king faithfully, but when the war came to an end could serve no longer because of the many wounds which he had received. the king said to him, "thou mayst return to thy home, i need thee no longer, and thou wilt not receive any more money, for he only receives wages who renders me service for them." then the soldier did not know how to earn a living, went away greatly troubled, and walked the whole day, until in the evening he entered a forest. when darkness came on, he saw a light, which he went up to, and came to a house wherein lived a witch. "do give me one night’s lodging, and a little to eat and drink," said he to her, "or i shall starve." "oho!" she answered, "who gives anything to a run-away soldier? yet will i be compassionate, and take you in, if you will do what i wish." "what do you wish?" said the soldier. "that you should dig all round my garden for me, tomorrow." the soldier consented, and next day labored with all his strength, but could not finish it by the evening. "i see well enough," said the witch, "that you can do no more to-day, but i will keep you yet another night, in payment for which you must to-morrow chop me a load of wood, and make it small." the soldier spent the whole day in doing it, and in the evening the witch proposed that he should stay one night more.