rage and trust in God, you may make your first
trial to-night, and we will conclude our bargain to-morrow."

Hans was quite content, and went into the servants' room without
troubling his head about his new employment. The parson was a miser, and
was always vexed when his servants ate too much, and generally came into
the room during their meals, hoping that they would eat less in his
presence. He also encouraged them to drink as much as possible, thinking
that the more they drank, the less they would be able to eat. But Hans
was more cunning than his master, for he emptied the jug at one draught,
saying, "That makes twice as much room for the food." The parson thought
this was really the case, and no longer urged his people to drink,
while Hans laughed in his sleeve at the success of his trick.

It was about eleven o'clock at night when Hans entered the church. He
found the interior lighted up, and was rather surprised when he saw a
numerous company, who were not assembled for purposes of devotion. The
people were sitting at a long table playing cards. But Hans was not a
bit frightened, or, if he secretly felt a little alarm, he was cunning
enough to show nothing of it. He went straight to the table and sat down
with the players. One of them noticed him, and said, "Friend, what
business have you here?" Hans gave him a good stare, and presently
answered, "It would be better for a meddler like you to hold his tongue.
If anybody here has a right to ask questions, I think I'm the man. But
if I don't care to avail myself of my right, I certainly think it would
be more polite of you to hold your jaw." Hans then took up the cards,
and began to play with the strangers as if they were his best friends.
He had good luck, for he doubled his stakes, and emptied the pockets of
many of the other players. Presently the cock crew. Midnight must have
come; and in a moment the lights were extinguished, and the players,
with their table and benches, vanished. Hans groped about in the dark
church for some time before he could find the door which led to the
belfry.

When Hans had nearly reached the top of the first flight, he saw a
little man without a head sitting on the top step. "Oho, my little
fellow! what do you want here?" cried Hans, and, without waiting for an
answer, he gave him a good kick and sent him rolling down the long
flight of stairs. He found the same kind of little sentinel posted on
the top stair of the second, third,