r once
peeped under the lids of his three cauldrons.

At last he began to grow homesick for the world and one day he asked the
Devil how much longer he had still to serve.

"Tomorrow," the Devil told him, "your seven years are up."

The next day while Peter was piling fresh logs under the cauldrons, the
Devil came to him and said:

"Today, Peter, you are free. You have served me faithfully and well and
I am going to reward you handsomely. Money would be too heavy for you to
carry, so I am going to give you this bag which is a magic bag.
Whenever you open it and say: 'Bag, I need some ducats,' the bag will
always have just as many as you need. Good luck go with you, Peter.
However, I don't believe you'll have a very good time at first for
people will think you're a devil. You know you do look pretty black for
you haven't washed for seven years and you haven't cut your hair or
nails."

"That's true," said Peter. "I just remember I haven't washed ever since
I've been down here. I certainly must take a bath and get my hair cut
and my nails trimmed."

The Devil shook his head.

"No, Peter, one bath won't do it. Water won't wash off the kind of black
you get down here. I know what you must do but I won't tell you just
yet. Go up into the world as you are and, if ever you need me, call me.
If the people up there ask you who you are, tell them you're the Devil's
little brother-in-law. This isn't a joke. It's true as you'll find out
some day."

Peter then took leave of all the little black apprentices and the Devil,
lifting him on his back, whisked him up to earth and set him down in the
forest on exactly the same spot where they had met seven years before.

The Devil disappeared and Peter, stuffing the magic bag in his pocket,
walked to the nearest village.

His appearance created a panic. On sight of him the children ran
screaming home, crying out:

"The Devil! The Devil is coming!"

Mothers and fathers ran out of the houses to see what was the matter but
on sight of Peter they ran in again, barred all the doors and windows,
and making the sign of the cross prayed God Almighty to protect them.

Peter went on to the tavern. The landlord and his wife were standing in
the doorway. As Peter came toward them, they cried out in fright:

"O Lord, forgive us our sins! The Devil is coming!"

They tried to run away but they tripped over each other and fell down,
and before they could scramble to their feet Peter stood