_How Owlglass appears as Dentist and Doctor._
Owlglass visited Schomberg, where he had notices posted that he was
a celebrated dentist and doctor; that he could not only cure the
toothache without extracting the tooth, but that the most inveterate
disease would immediately yield to his remedies.
He met with a wag who was willing to join him in cheating the good
people of Schomberg, afterwards to share the plunder with him; and
for this purpose his accomplice pretended to suffer intolerable pain
from toothache, but immediately that Owlglass had administered a pill
to him, which was nothing more than simple bread, he professed to be
perfectly cured.
This wonderful cure took place before all the people, whereat they
were greatly astonished, and they crowded to him to be cured of every
imaginable pain; but Owlglass appointed all to meet him on the
following day, at a stated time, for he was in treaty to restore the
patients of the hospital to health, and that before that great work was
accomplished, he could not undertake any fresh case. The master of the
hospital, on hearing Owlglass's announcement that he could cure all
diseases, had applied to him, for he had the hospital full of patients,
and was most anxious to be rid of as many as possible. He agreed to pay
fifty pounds, Owlglass engaging that the next day the hospital should
be free of patients.
Now this is the way he set about the serious task. He went to the
hospital and asked each patient separately what ailed him or her, after
which he said:--
"You must now solemnly swear that you will not reveal to any living
being what I am about to tell you." And having received the required
promise, he continued:--"The only way in which I can cure you is by
taking one of your number, and burning him to powder, give a portion to
each of the others. Therefore, I shall take that one amongst you who is
most seriously affected, in order that the others may be saved. Now to
find out which is most hopelessly ill, I shall place the master of
the hospital at the door, who will cry with a loud voice, 'Let those
who are well come out;' and then the one that remains behind I shall
burn to powder. Do not forget what I now tell you, for I should be
sorry to have you sacrificed."
[Illustration: _Owlglass administers a Pill._]