to which he pointed, and there they would find him they sought in a grove
under an oak-tree, where the old man had just left him; "he will not try
to hide himself for all your boasting. And so may God the Redeemer save
you and amend you!" And when he had spoken, all the three rioters ran
till they came to the tree. But what they found there was a treasure of
golden florins--nearly seven bushels of them as they thought. Then they
no longer sought after Death, but sat down all three by the shining gold.
And the youngest of them spoke first, and declared that Fortune had given
this treasure to them, so that they might spend the rest of their lives in
mirth and jollity. The question was how to take this money--which clearly
belonged to some one else--safely to the house of one of the three
companions. It must be done by night; so let them draw lots, and let him
on whom the lot fell run to the town to fetch bread and wine, while the
other two guarded the treasure carefully till the night came, when they
might agree whither to transport it.

The lot fell on the youngest, who forthwith went his way to the town.
Then one of those who remained with the treasure said to the other: "Thou
knowest well that thou art my sworn brother, and I will tell thee
something to thy advantage. Our companion is gone, and here is a great
quantity of gold to be divided among us three. But say, if I could manage
so that the gold is divided between us two, should I not do thee a
friend's turn?" And when the other failed to understand him, he made him
promise secrecy and disclosed his plan. "Two are stronger than one. When
he sits down, arise as if thou wouldest sport with him; and while thou art
struggling with him as in play, I will rive him through both his sides;
and look thou do the same with thy dagger. After which, my dear friend,
we will divide all the gold between you and me, and then we may satisfy
all our desires and play at dice to our hearts' content."