DANISH FAIRY AND FOLK TALES
sooner had the dusting begun than such a yelling and shouting was heard that every one thought the world had come to its end. "Don't mind that," said the soldier, "but knock as hard as you can." The men complied, but the knapsack did not seem to suffer the least by their mad hammering.
At length the soldier bid them stop, and asked the two strong men to go and empty the dust into the sea. His order was obeyed; and when the knapsack was opened a large pile of a black, evil-smelling powder fell out. It was the bodies of the three devils which had been beaten into dust.
When the soldier had paid the men well for their services, he accompanied the landlord back to the inn, telling him all that had happened. As soon as the oven was torn down the money came to light. One-half of it was the soldier's share.
Our friend now built a fine little house near the city, was married to his sweetheart, and had enough as long as he lived. The old knapsack followed him everywhere, obtaining for him all that he wished.
But he and his wife always thought their success might be due to the grace and the goodness of God even more than to the old knapsack.
