replied the soldier, who knew very well who was standing by him. "if it does, i’ll have nothing to do with it." "thou wilt look to that for thyself," answered greencoat; "thou shalt for the next seven years neither wash thyself, nor comb thy beard, nor thy hair, nor cut thy nails, nor say one paternoster. i will give thee a coat and a cloak, which during this time thou must wear. if thou diest during these seven years, thou art mine; if thou remainest alive, thou art free, and rich to boot, for all the rest of thy life." the soldier thought of the great extremity in which he now found himself, and as he so often had gone to meet death, he resolved to risk it now also, and agreed to the terms. the devil took off his green coat, gave it to the soldier, and said, "if thou hast this coat on thy back and puttest thy hand into the pocket, thou wilt always find it full of money." then he pulled the skin off the bear and said, "this shall be thy cloak, and thy bed also, for thereon shalt thou sleep, and in no other bed shalt thou lie, and because of this apparel shalt thou be called bearskin." after this the devil vanished.