Next day the Witch led him to the well, and let him down in a basket.
He found the light, and made a sign to be pulled up; but when he was near the top, the Witch put out her hand, and wanted to take it from him.
But he, seeing her evil designs, said: ‘No; I will not give you the light till I have both feet safe on dry land again.’
The Witch flew into a passion, let him fall back into the well again, and went away.
The poor Soldier fell on to the damp ground without taking any harm, and the Blue Light burnt as brightly as ever. But what was the good of that? He saw that he could not escape death.
He sat for some time feeling very sad, then happening to put his hand into his pocket, he found his pipe still half full.
‘This will be my last pleasure,’ he thought, as he lighted it at the Blue Light, and began to smoke.
When the cloud of smoke he made cleared off a little, a tiny black Man appeared before him, and asked: ‘What orders, Master?’
‘What do you mean?’ the Soldier asked in amazement.
‘I must do anything that you command,’ said the Little Man.
‘Oh, if that is so,’ said the Soldier, ‘get me out of this well first.’
The Little Man took him by the hand, and led him through an underground passage; but the Soldier did not forget to take the Blue Light with him.
On the way he showed the Soldier all the treasures the Witch had amassed there, and he took as much gold as he could carry.
When they reached the top he said to the Little Man: ‘Now go, bind the Witch and take her before the Judge.’
Before long she came by riding at a furious pace on a tom cat, and screaming at the top of her voice.
The Little Man soon after appeared, and said: ‘Everything