A woman named Katcha, known for her ill temper and scolding nature, lives alone in a village, unable to find a husband or even workers for her garden. Despite her wealth, her sour disposition alienates everyone. Each Sunday, she attends village dances, longing to dance with a partner, but is consistently ignored. In a moment of frustration, she declares she would dance with the devil if he asked. One Sunday, a mysterious stranger in hunter's green invites her to dance, and she accepts, reveling in the attention. After an evening of dancing and indulgence, the stranger reveals himself as the devil and takes her to hell. Katcha clings to him, refusing to let go, much to the devil's dismay. He seeks the Prince of Darkness for help, but the prince orders him to return to earth with Katcha, as she is too stubborn to release her grip. The devil attempts various tactics to rid himself of Katcha, but she remains steadfast. Eventually, he encounters a shepherd and, in disguise, explains his plight. The shepherd, sympathetic, offers to help. He instructs Katcha to switch her grip to him, and when she does, he throws her into a pond, successfully freeing the devil. The devil, grateful, promises to reward the shepherd. He reveals that he was meant to carry off two corrupt governors and the duke of the land, but they have reformed. The shepherd is instructed to confront the governors when the devil comes for them, demanding gold in exchange for their freedom. The shepherd follows through, successfully extracting wealth from both governors. As the time approaches for the devil to claim the duke, the shepherd, now a trusted advisor, is approached by the duke, who pleads for help. The shepherd agrees to intervene if the duke commits to ruling justly. On the fateful day, the devil arrives to claim the duke, but the shepherd distracts him by mentioning Katcha, causing the devil to flee in fear. The villagers celebrate the shepherd's cleverness, and the duke, grateful for his life, appoints the shepherd as his chief counselor. The shepherd's wisdom leads to a just rule, transforming the land for the better.
By Parker Fillmore · First published 1946 · Genre: Fairy Tale, Fable, Fantasy