Some under-officers were sitting there , who were out to try to get some one enlisted to stand sentry . They had to go in this way , day after day , and hitherto they had always succeeded in finding one or other reckless fellow . But on this day they had , as yet , found no one . It was too well known how all the sentinels disappeared , who were set on that post , and all that they had got hold of had refused with thanks . These sat down beside Christian , and ordered drinks , and drank along with him . Now Christian was a merry fellow who liked good company ; he could both drink and sing , and talk and boast as well , when he got a little drop in his head . He told these under-officers that he was one of that kind of folk who never are afraid of anything . Then he was just the kind of man they liked , said they , and he might easily earn a good penny , before he was a day older , for the king paid a hundred dollars to anyone who would stand as sentinel in the church all night , beside his daughter 's chest . Christian was not afraid of that he was n't afraid of anything , so they drank another bottle of wine on this , and Christian went with them up to the colonel , where he was put into uniform with musket , and all the rest , and was then shut up in the church , to stand as sentinel that night . It was eight o'clock when he took up his post , and for the first hour he was quite proud of his courage ; during the second hour he was well pleased with the large reward that he would get , but in the third hour , when it was getting near eleven , the effects of the wine passed off , and he began to get uncomfortable , for he had heard about this post ; that no one had ever escapeed alive from it , so far as was known . But neither did anyone know what had become of all the sentinels . The thought of this ran in his head so much , after the wine was out of it , that he searched about everywhere for a way of escape , and finally , at eleven o'clock , he found a little postern in the steeple which was not locked , and out at this he crept , intending to run away . At the same moment as he put his foot outside the church door , he saw standing before him a little man , who said , ` Good evening , Christian , where are you going ? ' With that he felt as if he were rooted to the spot and could not move . ` Nowhere , ' said he . ` Oh , yes , ' said the little man , ` You were just about to run away , but you have taken upon you to stand sentinel in the church to-night , and there you must stay . ' Christian said , very humbly , that he dared not , and therefore wanted to get away , and begged to be let go . ` No , ' said the little one , ` you must remain at your post , but I shall give you a piece of good advice ; you shall go up into the pulpit , and remain standing there . You need never mind what you see or hear , it will not be able to do you any harm , if you remain in your place until you hear the lid of the chest slam down again behind the dead ; then all danger is past , and you can go about the church , wherever you please . ' The little man then pushed him in at the door again , and locked it after him .
XXXXX made haste to get up into the pulpit , and stood there , without noticing anything , until the clock struck twelve .
Christian day dollars escape hour night o'clock postern to-night under-officers