The Soldier and the Devil

A soldier was standing guard, and he longed to visit his homeland.

"Even if," he said, "the devil himself carried me there! And just then, the devil appeared.

"Did you call for me?" he asked.

"I did."

"Very well," said the devil, "give me your soul in exchange!"

"But how can I abandon my duty, how can I leave my post?"

"I'll stand guard for you."

They agreed that the soldier would spend a year in his homeland, while the devil would serve in his place the entire time.

"Alright, take it all off!"

The soldier stripped off everything, and before he knew it, he found himself at home.

Meanwhile, the devil stood guard. A general approached and noticed that everything about him was in order, except for one thing: the straps on his chest weren't crossed, but all on one shoulder.

"What is this?"

"The devil—no matter how he tries, he can't get it right." The general struck him in the teeth, and then ordered a flogging. And so, the devil was flogged every day. Otherwise, he made a good soldier, except for those straps always on one shoulder.

"What has happened to this soldier?" said the officers. "He's no good for anything now, but before, everything was always in order."

The devil was flogged for the entire year.

When the year passed, the soldier returned to relieve the devil. The devil had forgotten all about the soul: as soon as he saw the soldier, he threw everything off.

"To hell with you," he said, "and your soldier's service! How do you endure it?"

And he ran away.

More fairy tales

• The Cat - Gray Forehead, the Goat, and the Ram
• If You Don't Like It, Don't Listen
• The Rooster and the Hen
• Brother and Sister
• How the Fox Learned to Fly