“Intime,thebrothersreachedarivertoodeeptowadethroughandtoodangeroustoswimacross.However,thesebrotherswerelearnedinthemagicalarts,andsotheysimplywavedtheirwandsandmadeabridgeappearacrossthetreacherouswater.Theywerehalfwayacrossitwhentheyfoundtheirpathblockedbyahoodedfigure.“‘AndDeathspoketothem.Hewasangrythathehadbeencheatedoutofthethreenewvictims,fortravelersusuallydrownedintheriver.ButDeathwascunning.Hepretendedtocongratulatethethreebrothersupontheirmagic,andsaidthateachhadearnedaprizeforhavingbeencleverenoughtoevadehim.“

　　“‘Sotheoldestbrother,whowasacombativeman,askedforawandmorepowerfulthananyinexistence:awandthatmustalwayswinduelsforitsowner,awandworthyofawizardwhohadconqueredDeath!SoDeathcrossedtoaneldertreeonthebanksoftheriver,fashionedawandfromabranchthathungthere,andgaveittotheoldestbrother.”

　　“‘Thenthesecondbrother,whowasanarrogantman,decidedthathewantedtohumiliateDeathstillfurther,andaskedforthepowertorecallothersfromDeath.SoDeathpickedupastonefromtheriverbankandgaveittothesecondbrother,andtoldhimthatthestonewouldhavethepowertobringbackthedead.”

　　“‘AndthenDeathaskedthethirdandyoungestbrotherwhathewouldlike.Theyoungestbrotherwasthehumblestandalsothewisestofthebrothers,andhedidnottrustDeath.SoheaskedforsomethingthatwouldenablehimtogoforthfromthatplacewithoutbeingfollowedbyDeath.AndDeath,mostunwillingly,handedoverhisownCloakofInvisibility.’”

　　“‘ThenDeathstoodasideandallowedthethreebrotherstocontinueontheirway,andtheydidsotalkingwithwonderoftheadventuretheyhadhadandadmiringDeath’sgifts.“

　　“‘Induecoursethebrothersseparated,eachforhisowndestination.”

　　“‘Thefirstbrothertraveledonforaweekmore,andreachingadistantvillage,soughtoutafellowwizardwithwhomhehadaquarrel.Naturally,withtheElderWandashisweapon,hecouldnotfailtowintheduelthatfollowed.Leavinghisenemydeaduponthefloortheoldestbrotherproceededtoaninn,whereheboastedloudlyofthepowerfulwandhehadsnatchedfromDeathhimself,andofhowitmadehiminvincible.”

　　“‘Thatverynight,anotherwizardcreptupontheoldestbrotherashelay,wine-soddenuponhisbed.Thethieftookthewandandforgoodmeasure,slittheoldestbrother’sthroat.”

　　“‘AndsoDeathtookthefirstbrotherforhisown.”

　　“‘Meanwhile,thesecondbrotherjourneyedtohisownhome,wherehelivedalone.Herehetookoutthestonethathadthepowertorecallthedead,andturneditthriceinhishand.Tohisamazementandhisdelight,thefigureofthegirlhehadoncehopedtomarry,beforeheruntimelydeath,appearedatoncebeforehim.”

　　“‘Yetshewassadandcold,separatedfromhimasbyaveil.Thoughshehadreturnedtothemortalworld,shedidnottrulybelongthereandsuffered.Finallythesecondbrother,drivenmadwithhopelesslonging,killedhimselfsoastotrulyjoinher.”

　　“‘AndsoDeathtookthesecondbrotherfromhisown.”

　　“‘ButthoughDeathsearchedforthethirdbrotherformanyyears,hewasneverabletofindhim.ItwasonlywhenhehadattainedagreatagethattheyoungestbrotherfinallytookofftheCloakofInvisibilityandgaveittohisson.AndthehegreetedDeathasanoldfriend,andwentwithhimgladly,and,