At a sign from the mayor, one of the footmen quickly stripped off the cover and exposed to view a howling hideous wolf. Two of the men pushed the church door wide open with their long halberds, and the fourth pushed the wolf skilfully through the open door. A terrible noise arose suddenly within.
The devil had been waiting for his spoil, as a tiger that watches for his prey.
When the wolf entered the devil darted towards it, but seeing that it was only a beast he burst into a wild howl of rage.
He wrung the poor wolf's neck with the quickness of lightning and disappeared suddenly, leaving nothing behind him but a strong smell of sulphur.
A few minutes later the bells rang, and the whole magnificent procession thronged into the church, duly to celebrate its consecration.
While divine service was being held in the new minster and hymns of praise and thanksgiving were offered at God's altar, the devil flew with horrible maledictions over the country.
He swore an oath to punish with the utmost severity the population of Aix-la-Chapelle who had so cunningly outwitted him.
In his flight he came to the sea-shore where he stopped a little, in order to consider how he could best destroy the town. As he looked at the sandy dunes the thought struck him, that he might bury the whole town with all its prelates and abbots under such a hill. With a mighty pull he tore one of the dunes from the shore, piled it on his shoulders, and flew rapidly towards the doomed city. But the way was much longer than Master Satan had thought. He began to perspire very freely under his unwonted burden, and when from time to time the wind blew a rain of loose sand into his eyes, he swore most horribly.
In the valley of the Soers not far from Aix-la-Chapelle he was obliged to rest, as he was very tired after his exertions.