The godson had not even thought of this, but the robber’s question reminded him that food would be necessary.
“On what God pleases to give me,” he replied.
The robber said nothing, and rode away.
“Why did I not say anything to him about his way of life?” thought the godson. “He might repent now. Today he seems in a gentler mood, and has not threatened to kill me.” And he shouted to the robber:
“You have still to repent of your sins. You cannot escape from God.”
The robber turned his horse, and drawing a knife from his girdle threatened the hermit with it. The latter was alarmed, and ran away further into the forest.
The robber did not follow him, but only shouted:
“Twice I have let you off, old man, but next time you come in my way I will kill you!”
Having said this, he rode away. In the evening when the godson went to water his stumps—one of them was sprouting! A little apple tree was growing out of it.