AT LAST THE ROBBERS MANAGED TO ESCAPE
“But at last the robbers managed to escape, though they made a pretty looking sight. Their hats were lost, their clothes were torn and muddy, their heads were bleeding, their eyes were knocked black and blue, and they felt as if there was not a whole bone in their body. They were too frightened to talk, but finally their voices came to them.
“‘What was it hit you?’ says one.
“‘I’m blessed if I know,’ says the other. ‘What hit you?’
“‘Something hard,’ says one.
“‘What did it look like?’
“‘Satan dressed in white, and he had his maul and wedge with him. What did yours look like?’
“‘Satan dressed in black, and he had all his horns and hoofs with him; and I think he must have struck me one or two licks with his forked tail.’
“They went off to the nearest branch, and bathed themselves the best they could, but even then they made a sorry spectacle. Their heads and faces were still swollen, their eyes were nearly closed, and their clothes were split and ripped from heel to collar. They didn’t know where to go. They knew that it wouldn’t do to go back to the tavern and present themselves among the guests, for that would cast suspicion on their companions. Finally, they went outside the village, and hid themselves under a haystack, where they soon fell asleep, and would have slept soundly if their dreams had not been disturbed by visions of a black Satan and a white Satan, both armed with long, hard horns and sharp hoofs.