"They are the four winds; and when they whistle, down falls the ripest.

But others can shake besides the winds, as I will show thee if thou hast any doubts in the matter." And as he spoke he sprang to catch the other boy, who ran from him; and they chased each other down the hill, and the hermit heard no more.
But as he turned to go home he said, "The thief was not far away when thou stoodst near.

Nevertheless, I will have patience.

It needs not that I should go to seek thee, for what saith the Scripture?
_Thy sin_ will find thee out." And he made conserve of such apples as were left, and said nothing.
Now after a certain time a plague broke out in the hamlet; and it was so sore, and there were so few to nurse the many who were sick, that, though it was not the wont of the hermit ever to leave his place, yet in their need he came down and ministered to the people in the village.

And one day, as he passed a certain house, he heard moans from within, and entering, he saw lying upon a bed a boy who tossed and moaned in fever, and cried out most miserably that his throat was parched and burning.