DANISH FAIRY AND FOLK TALES
A fresh hubbub was heard, followed by the appearance of two other devils, the one uglier than the other, and both more hideous than the first.
"Be seated," said the soldier, pointing to three chairs, "and make yourselves at home." The three devils followed the invitation, but soon they began to approach him. One reached for his nose, another began to pull his ears with his claws, and the third grasped him by the throat As he considered this rather forward in them, he cried, "In the knapsack with all of you!" Whether they would or not, they were obliged to creep into the narrow space, and soon only a faint cracking and hissing was heard from within.
"You might have behaved better," said the soldier, talking into the corner where he had thrown his knapsack "But now you will please tell me why you always haunt this room at night."
They answered that it was because there was standing a large pot under the oven filled with old gold coin.
"Very well," said the soldier again; "I will see that you do not come here in the future, disturbing and even killing blameless people in their sleep." Upon this he undressed and went to bed.
Next morning the landlord came and knocked at the door. As the soldier did not answer, he glanced through the key-hole and saw him lying in bed, quiet and immovable. Thinking that he had suffered the same fate as all others who had slept in this room,
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