“Well,” said Smetse, “since I have combed him down with oaken staves we will now louse him with hammers and bars.”
“Mercy, Smetse, mercy!” cried the devil; hammers and bars, this is too much; thou hast the seven years, smith.”
“Make haste,” said Smetse, “and write me the quittance.”
“Here it is,” said he.
The smith took it, saw that it was in good order, and said: “I desire that thou come down.”
But the devil was so weak and enfeebled by the blows he had had that when he tried to leap he fell on his back. And he went off limping, shaking his fist at Smetse, and saying: “I await thee, in seven years, in hell, smith.”
“So you may,” said Smetse.
XI. Wherein the workmen hold fair speech with Smetse.
While the devil was making off, Smetse, watching his workmen, saw that they were looking at one another strangely, spoke together in low voices, and seemed awkward in their manner, like people who would speak out, but dare not.