The White Flame

Once upon a time, a group of gypsies set up camp on a vast, uninhabited plain. After everyone had had their fill of food and drink, they lay down in their tents and could soon be heard snoring, fast asleep. Only Taru, the poorest boy in the whole clan, could not sleep.

Once upon a time, a group of gypsies set up camp on a vast, uninhabited plain. After everyone had had their fill of food and drink, they lay down in their tents and could soon be heard snoring, fast asleep. Only Taru, the poorest boy in the whole clan, could not sleep. This was because he was in love with Esta, the chief's beautiful daughter, who also liked him very much.

Alas, when Taru asked for her hand in marriage, the old chief said, 'You are the poorest man in our whole clan. You may not have my daughter.'

The boy felt greatly grieved.

Later that night, as he sat outside with the horses, he saw a white flame flare up nearby and disappear again three times. He fetched a hatchet and began to dig in the place where it had appeared. After a while, he hit against a small iron door — which he opened with great effort. He then stepped into the dark room beyond.

He groped around in the darkness until a gnome-like voice said to him, 'Free me from these chains and I will make you rich.'

'First tell me who you are and why you have been chained up.'

The voice replied, 'I am a leprechaun and live with my brothers high up in the mountains. One day, while we were out on a hunt, we stole the weasel king's treasure. When the weasel king discovered this, he lurked in wait for me and then locked me in here.'

'If this is true,' said Taru, 'I will gladly be of service to you in your time of need.'

And so he freed the little man who then danced around with joy.

After a while, the leprechaun said, 'I must leave now because the weasel king will be back any moment. Take this ring and put it on the middle finger of your left hand. If it is gold you wish for, turn it once from left to right and each time you will find a gold coin in your hand.'

Then the leprechaun gave the boy the magic ring and left.

Taru went back to his tent and turned the ring so many times that in the morning he was able to present the chief with an enormous pile of gold coins for his beautiful daughter, Esta. Shortly thereafter, Taru took Esta as his wife and they lived many happy years together.

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