A long time ago there was an old man who had a big lump on the right side of
his face. One day he went into the mountain to cut wood, when the rain began to
pour and the wind to blow so very hard that, finding it impossible to return
home, and filled with fear, he took refuge in the hollow of an old tree. While
sitting there doubled up and unable to sleep, he heard the confused sound of
many voices in the distance gradually approaching to where he was. He said to
himself: "How strange! I thought I was all alone in the mountain, but I hear the
voices of many people." So, taking courage, he peeped out, and saw a great crowd
of strange-looking [pg
138] beings. Some were red, and dressed in green clothes; others were
black, and dressed in red clothes; some had only one eye; others had no mouth;
indeed, it is quite impossible to describe their varied and strange looks. They
kindled a fire, so that it became as light as day. They sat down in two
cross-rows, and began to drink wine and make merry just like human beings. They
passed the wine cup around so often that many of them soon drank too much. One
of the young devils got up and began to sing a merry song and to dance; so also
many others; some danced well, others badly. One said: "We have had uncommon fun
to-night, but I would like to see something new."
Then the old man, losing all fear, thought he would like to dance, and
saying, "Let come what will, if I die for it, I will have a dance, too," crept
out of the hollow tree and, with his cap slipped over his nose and his ax
sticking in his belt, began to dance. The devils in great surprise jumped up,
saying, "Who is this?" but the old man advancing and receding, swaying to and
fro, and posturing this way and that way, the whole crowd laughed and enjoyed
the fun, saying: "How well the old man dances! You must always come and join us
in our sport; but, for fear you might not come, you must give us a pledge that
you will." So the devils consulted together, and, agreeing that the lump on his
face, which was a token of wealth, was what he valued most highly, demanded that
it should be taken. The old man replied: "I have had this lump many years, and
would not without good reason part with it; but you may have it, or an eye, or
my nose either if you wish." So the devils laid hold of it, twisting and
pulling, and took it off without giving him any pain, and put it away as a
pledge that he would come back. Just then the day began to dawn, and the birds
to sing, so the devils hurried away.
The old man felt his face and found it quite smooth, and not a trace of the
lump left. He forgot all about cutting wood, and hastened home. His wife, seeing
him, exclaimed in great surprise, "What has happened to you?" So he told her all
that had befallen him. [pg
139]
Now, among the neighbors there was another old man who had a big lump on the
left side of his face. Hearing all about how the first old man had got rid of
his misfortune, he determined that he would also try the same plan. So he went
and crept into the hollow tree, and waited for the devils to come. Sure enough,
they came just as he was told, and they sat down, drank wine, and made merry
just as they did before. The second old man, afraid and trembling, crept out of
the hollow tree. The devils welcomed him, saying: "The old man has come; now let
us see him dance." This old fellow was awkward, and did not dance as well as the
other, so the devils cried out: "You dance badly, and are getting worse and
worse; we will give you back the lump which we took from you as a pledge." Upon
this, one of the devils brought the lump, and stuck it on the other side of his
face; so the poor old fellow returned home with a lump on each side.
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