However, toward evening time, just at the spot where the sun was about to set, the Bohemian appeared, and that, not by himself, but accompanied by a human figure whom he drove in front of him on a rope. All rushed out toward him with shouts of joy. But at the sight of the figure they became silent; it was dwarfed, monkey-like, hairy, black and dressed in wolf skin.
"In the name of the Father and Son tell me; what is this figure you have brought," shouted Macko.
"How do I know?" replied the Bohemian. "He said that he was a man and a pitch-burner, but I don't know whether he told me the truth."
"Oh, he is not a man, no," said Wit.
But Macko ordered him to be quiet; then he looked carefully around him and suddenly said: "Cross yourself. We are accustomed to cross ourselves when with the spirits...."
"Praised be Jesus Christ!" exclaimed the prisoner, and crossed himself as fast as he could. He breathed deeply, looked with great confidence at the group and said: "Praised be Jesus Christ. I too, O Jesus, was uncertain whether I was in Christian or in the devil's power."
"Fear not, you are among Christians, who attend the holy Mass. What are you then?"
"I am a pitch-burner, sir, dwelling in a tent. There are seven of us who dwell in tents with our families."
"How far are you from here?"
"Not quite ten furlongs."
"How do you get to town?"
"We have our private road along the 'Devil's Hollow.'"
"Along what? The Devil's?... then cross yourself again."
"In the name of the Father, Son, and the Holy Ghost. Amen."
"Very well. Is that road practicable for vehicles?"
"Now there is quagmire everywhere, although there is less near the Hollow than upon the regular road; owing to the access of the wind the mud is quickly dried up. But farther on to Buda the road is bad. But those who know the track push through it slowly."
"Will you lead us for a florin or two?"
The pitch-burner accepted the offer willingly, but begged for half a loaf of bread, which he said is very scarce in the woods and he had seen none for some time past. It was arranged that they should start very early the next morning, because it was "not good to travel in the evening," he said. "There at Boruca ghosts storm terribly, but they do no harm. But being jealous for the Lenczyca principality they chase away other devils into the bushes. It is only bad to meet them during the night, especially when a man is drunk, but the sober need not be afraid."