east india was besieged by an enemy who would not retire until he had received six hundred dollars. then the townsfolk caused it to be proclaimed by beat of drum that whosoever was able to procure the money should be burgomaster. now there was a poor fisherman who fished on the lake with his son, and the enemy came and took the son prisoner, and gave the father six hundred dollars for him. so the father went and gave them to the great men of the town, and the enemy departed, and the fisherman became burgomaster. then it was proclaimed that whosoever did not say, "mr. burgomaster," should be put to death on the gallows.