When they had gone some way, the one in the rear began
to get curious as to what they were carrying, so he cut an opening in
the mat that was wrapped around the contents. To his great surprise,
he noticed a human toe stick out; and he at once shouted, "Man, man,
man!" The one in front took this shout as a warning that some one was
chasing them, so he ran faster. The other only continued to shout,
"Man, man!" but his companion paid no attention to him. Finally his
foot caught in the root of a tree, and he fell down. When he understood
the situation, the two villains left the bundle and ran away.
(5) Frightening robbers under tree. This incident is widespread, and
has made its way into many Maerchen cycles. It is distinctly comic in
its nature. For references to its occurrence, see Koehler-Bolte, 99
and 341 (sub "Herabwerfen der Thuer"); Crane, 380, note 19; Cosquin,
I : 243 f.; and especially Bolte-Polivka, I : 521-525 (on Grimm,
No. 59), episode F.
(6) Walking on his own soil. This trick of Juan's we have already
met with in "King Tasio," No. 7 (b).
(7) Cooking rice-measures.
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