"

The men said--

"We are not thieves. We met an old soldier on the road, and he made us
a present of the goose."

"You are not going to hoax me in that way," said the host. "The
soldier has been here, but went out of the door like an honest fellow.
I took care of that. You are the thieves, and you shall pay for the
geese."

However, as the men had no money to pay him with, he took a stick and
beat them out of doors.

Meanwhile, as Brother Merry journeyed on, he came to a place where
there was a noble castle, and not far from it a little public-house.
Into this he went, and asked for a night's lodging, but the landlord
said that his house was full of guests, and he could not accommodate
him.

"I wonder," said Brother Merry, "that the people should all come to
you, instead of going to that castle."

"They have good reason for what they do," said the landlord, "for
whoever has attempted to spend the night at the castle has never come
back to show how he was entertained."

"If others have attempted it, why shouldn't I?" said Merry.

"You had better leave it alone," said the host; "you are only
thrusting your head into danger."

"No fear of danger," said the soldier, "only give me the key and
plenty to eat and drink."

The hostess gave him what he asked for, and he went off to the castle,
relished his supper, and when he found himself sleepy, laid himself
down on the floor, for there was no bed in the place. He soon went to
sleep, but in the night he was awoke by a great noise, and when he
aroused himself he discovered nine very ugly devils dancing in a
circle which they had made around him.

"Dance as long as you like," said Brother Merry; "but don't come near
me."

But the devils came drawing nearer and nearer, and at last they almost
trod on his face with their misshapen feet.

"Be quiet," said he, but they behaved still worse.

At last he got angry, and crying--

"Holla! I'll soon make you quiet," he caught hold of the leg of a
stool and struck about him.

Nine devils against one soldier were, however, too much, and while he
laid about lustily on those before him, those behind pulled his hair
and pinched him miserably.

"Ay, ay, you pack of devils, now you are too hard for me," said he;
"but wait a bit. I wish all the nine devils were in my knapsack,"
cried he, and it was no sooner said than done.

There they were. Then Brother Merry buckled it up close, and threw it
into a corner, and as al