It was a convenient hiding-place, because when you were in one valley you could not see into the next, and the devil always leaped into the one that you were not in.
As to the pestilence, it was sent as a judgment because the people had these impious dealings with the Evil One; but the devil could put an end to it if he would.
It was strange to see the four gray-haired sisters as they sat in a row against the wall and told him in chiming sentences these tales with full belief.
"And what sort of a disease is it ?" asked Caius, curious to hear more.
"It's the sore throat and the choke, sir," said the eldest sister, "and a very bad disease it is, for if it doesn't stop at the throat, it flies direct to the stomach, sir, and then you can't breathe." Caius pondered this description for a few moments, and then he formed a question which was to the point.
"And where," said he, "is the stomach ?" At which she tapped her chest, and told him it was there.
He had eaten somewhat greedily, and when he found that the linen of his bed was snow-white and the bed itself of the softest feathers, he lay down with great contentment.

Not even the jar and rush of the wind as it constantly assaulted the house, nor the bright moonlight against the curtainless window, kept him awake for a moment.

He slept a dreamless sleep..