This was the story There were three young men who did very
many bad and foolish things. They drank too
much, and they did no work. They tried to get
money in evil ways.
While they were sitting drinking one morn- ing, they heard a bell. It was ringing in front of
the body of a dead man.
A boy had just brought them more to drink.
They asked the boy, “Whose body is that?”
“He was a friend of yours,” said the boy. He
was killed last night while he was drinking here.
He was killed by that quiet thief called Death.
Death kills all the people in this country. Death
killed your friend and went away. He has killed
thousands and thousands of people. You should
get ready to meet Death.”
“I am not afraid to meet him!” cried one of the
three young men. Then he jumped up. “I’ll find
him! I’ll look for him in every field and wood and
town. Listen!” he cried to the other two. “Let’s
hold up our hands and promise to be brothers,
and we’ll find and kill Death because Death has
killed so many of our friends.”
“I’ll go with you,” said the second man.
“And so will I,” said the third man. They had
both already drunk a great deal.
They said, “We will kill this dangerous person
called Death, before night comes.”
So they went off at once to find him.
They walked a little way, and they saw an old
man. The old man spoke to them kindly. He said,