The Evil Spirit and His Grandmother
There was once upon a time a mighty war, and the King of a certain country had many Soldiers engaged in it; but he gave them such very small pay that they had scarce enough to live upon. At length three of the Soldiers agreed to run away, and one of them asked the others what they should do; for, supposing they were caught again, they would be hung upon the gallows. “Do you see yon great corn-field?” said the other, “there we will conceal ourselves, and nobody will find us; for the army will not dare to come there, and to-morrow they will march on.” So they crept into the corn; but the army did not move, but remained encamped in the same place. The three Soldiers were obliged, therefore, to pass two days and two nights in the corn, and they became so hungry they thought they must die; but it was certain death if they returned to the army. They said to one another, “What avails our deserting? we shall now certainly perish miserably from hunger.” While they were talking a great fiery Dragon came flying over their heads, and, alighting near the spot where they were, asked why they had concealed themselves. “We are three Soldiers,” they replied, “and have deserted because our pay was so small: and now we shall die from hunger if we stay here, or be hung on the gallows if we return.”
“If you will serve me seven years,” said the Dragon, “I will carry you through the midst of the army, so that no one shall observe you.”
“We have no choice and so must consent to your proposal,” replied the Soldiers. The Dragon thereupon caught them up by his claws, and carried them through the air, over the heads of their comrades; and presently set them down. Now, this Dragon was the Evil Spirit; and he gave the Soldiers a whip each, and then said, “If you crack this well, as much money as you require will instantly appear before you; and you can then live like lords; keep your own horses and carriages; but at the end of seven years you will be mine.” With these words he handed them a book in which they had to write their names, while the Evil Spirit told them he would give them one chance when the time was up of escaping his power by answering a riddle which he would propose. Then the Dragon flew away from them; and the three Soldiers each cracked their whips, and cracked their whips for as much money as they required, with which they bought fine clothes and travelled about like gentlemen. Wherever they went they lived in the greatest splendour, driving and riding about, and eating and drinking to their hearts’ content; but no bad action could be laid to their charge. The time passed quickly by; and as the end of the seven years approached two of the three Soldiers became very unhappy and dispirited; but the third treated the matter very lightly, saying, “Fear nothing, my brothers! I have got a plan in my head, and I will solve the riddle.” Soon afterwards they went into the fields, where they sat down, and two of them made very wry faces. Presently an old Woman came by, and asked them why they were so sorrowful. “Alas!” said they, “alas! what does it signify? you cannot help us.” “Who knows that?” she replied; “confide your griefs to me.” So they told her they had become the servants of the Evil One, nearly seven years back, and thereby they came into possession of money as fast as they liked; but they had signed the deed, and if they could not guess a riddle which he would propose to them they were lost. “If you wish to be helped,” replied the old Woman, “one of you must go into the forest, and there he will find a rock overthrown, and made into the form of a hut; into this he must enter, and there he will meet with help.” The two low-spirited Soldiers thought this would not help them; but the merry one got up, and, going into the forest, came soon to the rocky cave. In this place sat a very old Woman, who was Grandmother to the Evil Spirit; and she asked the Soldier when he entered whence he came, and what his business was. He told her everything that had happened; and because his manners pleased her she took compassion on him, and said she could assist him. Thereupon she raised a large stone, under which was the cellar, wherein she bade the Soldier conceal himself, and he would hear all that transpired. “Only sit still and keep very quiet,” said she, “and then when the Dragon returns I will ask him about the puzzle, and you must mind what answers he makes.” About twelve o’clock at night the Dragon flew in, and desired his dinner. His Grandmother, therefore, covered the table with food and drink; and they ate and drank together till they were satisfied. Then she asked him what success he had met with that day, and how many souls he had secured? “Things did not go well to-day,” replied the Dragon; “but yet I have caught three Soldiers safe enough.” “Ah! three Soldiers!” said the old Woman, “and I suppose you have set them something to do, that they may not escape you.” “They are mine, they are mine!” cried the Evil One gleefully, “for I have set them a riddle which they will never guess.”
“What is this riddle?” asked his Grandmother.
“I will tell you!” replied her Grandson.
“In the great North Sea lies a dead sea-cat, that shall be their roast meat; the rib of a whale shall be their silver spoon; and an old hollow horse’s hoof shall be their wineglass.” As soon as the Dragon had said this he went to bed, and the old Woman raised the stone and let out the Soldier. “Have you attended perfectly to all that was said?” inquired the old Woman. “Yes,” he replied, “I know well enough how to help myself now.”
Then he had to slip secretly out of the window, and by another road regain his companions with all the haste he could. He told them how craftily the old Grandmother had overreached the Dragon, and had laid bare to him the solution of the riddle. When he had finished his story the two other Soldiers recovered their spirits; and, all taking their whips, flogging for themselves so much money that it lay in heaps all around them.
Not long after this the seven years came to an end, and the Evil Spirit made his appearance with the book, and, pointing to their signatures, said to the Soldiers, “Now I will take you into my dominions, and there you shall have a meal; but, if you can tell me what meat you shall have, you shall be at liberty to go where you like and keep your whips.”
“In the great North Sea lies a dead sea-cat, and that shall be the roast meat,” replied the first Soldier.
The Evil Spirit was very much put out with this ready answer; hemmed and hawed, and asked the second man what should be the spoon? “The rib of a whale shall be the silver spoon!” replied the second Soldier.
The Evil Spirit now drew a longer face than before, began to grumble and swear, and asked the third Soldier, “Do you know what your wine-glass will be?”
“An old horse’s hoof!” he replied.
At this reply the Evil Spirit flew away with a loud outcry, for he had no longer any power over the three Soldiers, who, taking up their whips, procured all the money they wanted, and thereon lived happily and contentedly to a good old age.