Section 1
Once upon a time, there lived a girl who had an overwhelming passion for dancing, whenever she heard the lively tunes of a fiddle, she would become so enthralled that she was on the verge of losing her sanity.
She possessed remarkable dancing skills, and it was difficult to find a girl who could match her in twirling or kicking her heels with such finesse, despite wearing shoes made of birch-bark and knitted leggings on her feet, she moved so swiftly that the air whistled around her like a spinning top. Her agility and speed were truly extraordinary.
She might have whirled round still more quickly and lightly, of course, if she had had leather shoes. But how was she to get them, when she had no money to pay for them? For she was very poor, this girl, and could ill afford them."
So, on one day when the fair was taking place at Amberg Heath, to her surprise, she encountered Old Nick! It was no wonder that he was there to witness the amusement of the fair, as one can expect all kinds of wanderers, vagabonds, watch-dealers, and rogues to gather at such events. Wherever such individuals are present, others of similar disposition tend to congregate as well.
"What is occupying your thoughts?" inquired Old Nick, who was well aware of the girl's situation.
"I am contemplating how I can obtain a pair of leather shoes to dance in," replied the girl. "Unfortunately, I don't have any money to purchase them," she added
"Is that the only obstacle? We can easily overcome that," remarked Old Nick, as he revealed a pair of leather shoes to the girl. "Do you fancy these?" he inquired.
The girl stood in awe, her eyes fixed on the shoes. She could hardly believe that such exquisite and magnificent shoes existed. These were not ordinary shoes sewn with basic thread, but genuine German shoes with welted soles, exuding a French elegance that surpassed her wildest expectations.
"Is there also a spring in them?" she inquired.
"Certainly, you can be sure of that," replied Old Nick. "Do you desire them?"
Indeed, the girl was undoubtedly interested in the shoes, leaving no room for doubt, consequently, they commenced bargaining and negotiating the terms of payment until they eventually reached an agreement. The agreement stipulated that she would receive the shoes for an entire year without any cost, on the condition that she would dance for Old Nick's benefit. Subsequently, after the agreed period, she would belong to him.
She didn't exactly strike a favorable deal, but bargaining with Old Nick is not an easy feat. However, he promised that the shoes would possess such a remarkable spring that no human being would be able to whirl around in a dance or kick higher than she could. If the shoes failed to meet her expectations, he assured her that he would take them back without any cost, and she would be set free.
With their agreement settled, they went their separate ways.
From that moment on, the girl's mind was consumed by the thought of attending dances wherever they were held, night after night. She danced tirelessly, losing track of time, until the year had passed in the blink of an eye. As the year drew to a close, Old Nick arrived to claim what was owed to him.
"These shoes you gave me were of poor quality," expressed the girl. "There was no spring in them at all," she declared.
"Are you saying there was no spring in the shoes? That's quite peculiar," remarked Old Nick.
"No, there wasn't!" retorted the girl. "In fact, my shoes made of bark are far superior, and I can move much faster in them than in these miserable things."
"You twist and turn as if you were dancing," commented Old Nick. "But now, I believe you will have to dance away with me after all."
"Considering your skepticism towards my statement, perhaps witnessing it firsthand will convince you," she expressed. "Put on your magnificent shoes and experience them yourself," she suggested. "As for me, I'll wear my humble bark shoes, and we'll engage in a race to demonstrate their capabilities," she proposed, aiming to demonstrate their effectiveness.
He considered the proposal to be quite reasonable, and he likely believed that there was minimal risk in attempting it. Consequently, they reached an agreement to race to the far end of Lake Fryken and return, with each participant taking a different side of the lake. It's worth noting that Lake Fryken is recognized for its considerable length, the stipulations were set: if she emerged victorious, she would gain her freedom, but if she finished last, she would become his possession.
