" "Ha ha," laughed a thousand demons, and Lucifer himself
opened his tusked jaws some half a yard in scornful laughter. At which
the new comers were sore amazed. "Look ye," said one, "if we have missed
our way in the dark, we will pay for guidance." "Ha ha," cried Lucifer,
"ye shall not hence till ye have paid the uttermost farthing." But on
searching them it was found that they had one and all left their trouser
behind. "Ye went past Paradise on the left above those mountains there,"
said the Evil One, "and although it is easy to descend hither, to return
is next to impossible, so dark and intricate is the country, so many
steep ascents of flaming iron are there on the way, and huge imminent
rocks, overhanging glaciers of insurmountable ice, and here and there, a
headlong cataract, all too difficult to clamber over, if ye have not
nails as long as a devil's. Ho there! convey these blockheads to our
paradise to their companions." Just then I heard voices drawing nigh,
swearing and cursing fearfully. "Fiends' blood! a myriad devils seize me
if ever I go!" and immediately the noisy crew were cast down before the
court.
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