There was once a far-sighted, crafty peasant whose tricks were much talked about. The best story is how he once got hold of the Devil and made a fool of him.
One day, as twilight set in, the peasant was preparing to go home from his field when he saw a heap of burning coals. To his astonishment, a little black devil was sitting on the live coals.
"You sit upon a treasure!" said the peasant.
"Yes," replied the Devil, "a treasure containing more gold and silver than you have ever seen!"
"The treasure lies in my field and belongs to me," said the peasant.
"It is yours," answered the Devil, "if for two years you give me half of everything your field produces. I have enough money, but I desire the fruits of the earth."
The peasant agreed. "To avoid dispute," he said, "everything above ground shall belong to you, and what is under the earth to me." The Devil was satisfied, but the cunning peasant had sown turnips.
At harvest time, the Devil appeared but found only yellow, withered leaves, while the peasant delightfully dug up his turnips.
"You've had the best of it this time," said the Devil, "but next time, what grows above ground shall be yours, and what is under it, mine."
"I am willing," replied the peasant. But when sowing time came, he sowed wheat instead.
When the grain ripened, the peasant cut the full stalks down to the ground. The Devil found nothing but stubble and went away in a fury down into a cleft in the rocks.
"That is the way to cheat the Devil," said the peasant, and he went and fetched the treasure.