` From Purgatory , ' said the man . ` Then stop and wait a little , ' said Hans ; but the man was in a hurry , and would not stop , so Hans ran after him and caught the horse by the tail . This brought it down on its hind legs , and the man went flying over its head into a ditch . ` Just wait a little , ' said Hans ; ' I am going the same way . ' He got his provisions tied up again , and laid them on the horse 's back ; then he took hold of the reins and said to the man , ` We two can go along together on foot . ' As they went on their way Hans told the stranger both about the errand he had on hand and the fun he had had with Old Eric . The other said but little but he was well acquainted with the way , and it was no long time before they arrived at the gate . There both horse and rider disappeared , and Hans was left alone outside . ` They will come and let me in presently , ' he thought to himself ; but no one came . He hammered at the gate ; still no one appeared . Then he got tired of waiting , and smashed at the gate with his staff until he knocked it in pieces and got inside . A whole troop of little demons came down upon him and asked what he wanted . His master 's compliments , said Hans , and he wanted three years ' tribute . At this they howled at him , and were about to lay hold of him and drag him off ; but when they had got some raps from his walking-stick they let go again , howled still louder than before , and ran in to Old Eric , who was still in bed , after his adventure in the lake . They told him that a messenger had come from the squire at Devilmoss to demand three years ' tribute . He had knocked the gate to pieces and bruised their arms and legs with his iron staff . ` Give him three years ' ! give him ten ! ' shouted Old Eric , ` only do n't let him come near me . ' So all the little demons came dragging so much silver and gold that it was something awful .
Hans filled his bundle with gold and silver coins , put it on his neck , and tramped back XXXXX his master , who was scared beyond all measure at seeing him again .
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