And though, always good humoredly, he tested its powers
and loaded his guests with princely gifts, yet he rested night after
night more uneasily upon his pillow, remembering the solemn words of the
_geist_:
"The day you part with it your portion shall be ashes, and _mine_
annihilation."
One day, after the space of a year, there came to the woodchopper's door
a captain from far-off lands.
"I am here," he said, "to see the famous wonder-mill that blesses the
house of Koerg."
There was a simplicity about the old tar that completely dismantled
Koerg. With less than ordinary caution he brought forth the mill, and
displayed it, in all its phases, before his astonished guest.
"It is a clever trickster," finally he quoth. "I wonder if it could
grind so common a thing as salt."
Koerg chuckled contemptuously, and speedily spurted right and left such a
briny shower as made the old tar blink spasmodically and walk hurriedly
away.
But, alas! that night Koerg missed the mill from his side; and when, pale
and shivering, he sought the golden treasures hid 'neath the floor, he
found only an ashy heap, heard only the mournful words:
"The mermen and mermaids are dead. The _geists_ have ceased to reign."
Far out on the blue bosom of the sea the jolly captain rode, shouting
uproariously over the treasure he had secured.
"Precious wonder-mill," he sang, "I will try thee in all thy ways. First
salt for savor, then ducks for food, and gold to the end of my days.
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