Séadna 5; the Devil Returns

Can be read alongside:

Séadna 5; an Fear Dubh ar ais.

The thirteen years went by very quickly.

On the last day Séadna was certain that the Devil would come at midnight.

Séadna was sitting in his by the fireside when he heard the terrible noise accompanied by an awful stink.

Standing in front of him was the Devil.

'It's for you I'ver come! Come with me now you useless rogue, The time is up.'

'Hold on now, a mhic ó, the time isn't up yet. Don't you remember that I didn't have the purse for a couple of hours when it was stolen at the Fair - I still have time.

But you must be very tired after your long journey - sit here in the súgán chair and take your rest.'

'Well, you're right. No doubt I am tired. I'll take a rest and have a fistful of the oatmeal to chew on'

The Devil sat in the súgán chair and reached his fist into the bag of oatmeal.

If he did, he couldn't pull his fist back out and his arse was stuck tight in the súgán chair.

'Let me out,' the Devil screeched as he struggled, twisting and turning like an eel on a hot stone.

Séadna in stitches nearly fell out of his standing.

The Devil was banging his crúbs on the floor; his beard swinging from side to side; his horns going every which way.

Séadna waited until there was a bit of quiet on him.

'I could keep you here forever, if I wanted.'

'What do you want?'

'I don't want much at all. Well, maybe thirteen years extra. What do you think?'

After some thought:

'OK, you Rogue, let it be a bargain.'

'On oath?, said Séadna.

'On oath thirteen years extra.

But look, Séadna, you will not play this kind of trick on me again. You will be coming with me next time without fail. I promise you.'

Séadna threw a cup of holy water on the Devil. In one flash he exploded through the roof, smoke and fire coming from his arse. There was a big hole in the thatch, and there was only an ugly black crow to be seen flying across the sky.

Next day the whole town was talking.

'Séadna, what happened to you last night? It was like the roaring of a bull. We thought you were being burnt alive!'

Séadna didn't say a word.