Two or three hundred years ago, when people were far from being so
crafty and cunning as they are now-a-day, an extraordinary event took
place in a little town. By some mischance one of the great owls, called
horned owls, had come from the neighboring woods into the barn of one
of the townsfolk in the night-time, and when day broke did not dare to
venture forth again from her retreat, for fear of the other birds, which
raised a terrible outcry whenever she appeared. In the morning when the
man-servant went into the barn to fetch some straw, he was so mightily
alarmed at the sight of the owl sitting there in a corner, that he ran away
and announced to his master that a monster, the like of which he had
never set eyes on in his life, and which could devour a man without the
slightest difficulty, was sitting in the barn, rolling its eyes about in its head.
"I know you already," said the master, "you have courage enough to chase
a blackbird about the fields, but when you see a dead hen lying, you have
to get a stick before you go near it. I must go and see for myself what
kind of a monster it is," added the master, and went quite boldly into the
granary and looked round him. When, however, he saw the strange grim
creature with his own eyes, he was no less terrified than the servant had
been. With two bounds he sprang out, ran to his neighbours, and begged
them imploringly to lend him assistance against an unknown and dangerous
beast, or else the whole town might be in danger if it were to break loose out
of the barn, where it was shut up. A great noise and clamour arose in all the
streets, the townsmen came armed with spears, hay-forks, scythes, and axes,
as if they were going out against an enemy; finally, the senators appeared
with the burgomaster at their head. When they had drawn up in the market-
place, they marched to the barn, and surrounded it on all sides. Thereupon
one of the most courageous of them stepped forth and entered with his spear
lowered, but came running out immediately afterwards with a shriek and as
pale as death, and could not utter a single word. Yet two others ventured in,
but they fared no better. At last one stepped forth; a great strong man who
was famous for his warlike deeds, and said, "You will not drive away the
monster by merely looking at him; we must be in earnest here, but I see that
you have all tuned into women, and not one of you dares to encounter the
animal." He ordered them to give him some armour, had a sword and spear
brought, and armed himself. All praised his courage, though many feared
for his life. The two barn-doors were opened, and they saw the owl, which
in the meantime had perched herself on the middle of a great cross-beam. He
had a ladder brought, and when he raised it, and made ready to climb up, they
all cried out to him that he was to bear himself bravely, and commended him
to St. George, who slew the dragon. When he had just got to the top, and the
owl perceived that he had designs on her, and was also bewildered by the crowd
and the shouting, and knew not how to escape, she rolled her eyes, ruffled her
feathers, flapped her wings, snapped her beak, and cried, "Tuwhit, tuwhoo,"
in a harsh voice. "Strike home! strike home!" screamed the crowd outside
to the valiant hero. "Any one who was standing where I am standing,"
answered he, "would not cry, strike home!" He certainly did plant his foot
one rung higher on the ladder, but then he began to tremble, and half-fainting,
went back again.
And now there was no one left who dared to put himself in such danger.
"The monster," said they, "has poisoned and mortally wounded the very
strongest man among us, by snapping at him and just breathing on him!
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.
