are we, too, to risk our lives?" they took counsel as to what they ought to do to prevent the whole town being destroyed. for a long time everything seemed to be of no use, but at length the burgomaster found an expedient. "my opinion," said he, "is that we ought, out of the common purse, to pay for this barn, and whatsoever corn, straw, or hay it contains, and thus indemnify the owner, and then burn down the whole building, and the terrible beast with it. thus no one will have to endanger his life. this is no time for thinking of expense, and niggardliness would be ill applied." all agreed with him. so they set fire to the barn at all four corners, and with it the owl was miserably burnt. let any one who will not believe it, go thither and inquire for himself.