Page:Tales from the Fjeld.djvu/81

Rh that. But it was not worth while talking of the wedding till the bridge was ready.

So one day the bridge stood ready, and Old Nick stood on it to take the toll he had bargained for.

Now Grumblegizzard wanted to take the king with him to try the bridge, but he had no mind to do that. So he got up himself on a horse, and threw the fat milkmaid from the king's grange upon the pommel before him—she looked for all the world like a big fir-stump—and then he rode over till the bridge thundered under him.



"Where is the Sound due? Where have you put the soul?" screamed Old Nick.

"It sits inside this stump. If you want it, spit in your fists and take it," said Grumblegizzard.

"Nay, nay! many thanks," said Old Nick. "If she doesn't take me, I'll not take her. You caught me once, and you shan't catch me again in a cleft stick;" and with that he flew off straight home to his old mother; and since then he has never been seen or heard in those parts.