The new moon, said Mammy, was nearly born, and the devil’s time on earth was short. Again he sat by the sluggish water of the bayou and stirred it with a stick, and out of it came the moccasins, the eels, and the toads to do his bidding. He whistled low, and from the trees the bat, the owl, the jay-bird, and the crow answered the call of their master; and there, in his heart, the devil envied Unc’ Caspar and wanted ’Liza.
In the form of a bat he flew down Unc’ Caspar’s chimney, and borrowing Unc’ Caspar’s skin as he slept, he hid the naked body in the hollow of a tree and went back into the hoodoo’s cabin to sleep.
When morning came he stood beside ’Liza as she worked, and hastened her for the wedding; and ’Liza, looking at the wrinkled face and white beard, believed that she was looking at Unc’ Caspar.
So they set the wedding-night, and Bithie’s old man, under the spell of the devil in Unc’ Caspar’s skin, stole four hogs and three sheep from Ole Marse, and made a great barbecue for the wedding-supper.
But ’Liza wept that the time was drawing near, for in her heart she loved Amaziah. Then the devil, in Unc’ Caspar’s skin, raised a heavier mist and showed her greater treasures than Unc’ Caspar had done, until her tears were dried, for ’Liza was part covetous and part hoodoo, said Mammy.
The devil was overstaying his limit by this time, waiting for the wedding. But at last the night came, and there was a gathering from far and near to see the marriage.
Bithie rose as in a dream, and dressed ’Liza in the long satin gown, and the tears gleamed like pearls upon it as they fell from her eyes, for Bithie was sure that something was wrong.
Outside the voice of the parson was calling to ’Liza, and ’Liza passed through the doorway and stood up with the devil in Unc’ Caspar’s skin to be married.
The gathered people held their breath, and the parson raised his hand and spoke. The devil made as if he would answer, but the skin of Unc’ Caspar cried out.
“What’s dat?” asked ’Liza, opening her eyes wide.