about it." He took the servant with him, and together they lifted the
door right off its hinges, and down it fell with a bang on the floor.

Nicholas never moved and seemed to hear nothing. "Dear me!" said the
carpenter, "he is certainly mad." He went up and touched him; still
Nicholas did not move. Then the carpenter began to utter a spell:

"Christ and Benedict the saint,
Keep us safe from elvés quaint,
From witches and fairies of the night,
Peter's sister, guard us quite."

As he finished Nicholas began to groan and to 'move about. "Ah, he is
better," said the carpenter. "But what ails you now?" "It is a
terrible thing that I have learnt!" said Nicholas. "Send away your
man and I will tell you all as far as I may." So with many
lamentations he began. "By my art I have learnt that the end of
mankind is at hand. Once more there will be a flood such as there was
in the days of Noah, and this flood will begin no later than the day
after tomorrow." The carpenter began to wail. "Oh, what will become
of us! Must we all drown? Alas, alas!" "There is one way to be
saved," said the scholar, "which I will tell you as it was revealed
to me. Get a tub and hang it from the rafters in the barn, then put
in food and drink for a day. That will be enough, for the flood will
be short. Break open the gable at the end so that you can sail out,
and wait there for the water." "But must I be saved alone?" cried the
carpenter. "What of my wife? What of my servants?" "Your wife I can
save," answered the other, "and myself too; but your servants must
perish--such is the will of heaven. Now go. Get three tubs, one for
each of us, hang them well apart, and make the other preparations;