The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

THE COURAGEOUS MAN

IN THE EARLY DAYS, POLAND HAD MANY DEEP FORESTS. THERE
WAS A VERY COURAGEOUS RANCHER WHO WAS TELLING EVERYONE
THAT HE WAS NOT AFRAID OF ANYTHING. ONE DAY, HE
DECIDED TO TAKE A TRIP TO THE NEAREST TOWN, WHICH WAS
MANY MILES AWAY.
HE TOOK ONE OF HIS CARRIAGE DRIVERS AND WENT ON HIS WAY.
THEY WERE DRIVING THROUGH THE FOREST AND SAW A MAN
HANGING ON A TREE. HE STOPPED HIS CARRIAGE AND TOLD
HIS DRIVER TO CUT THE ROPE OFF AND PUT THE MAN IN THE
BACK OF THE CARRIAGE.
EVENING CAME AND THEY NOTICED, FAR AHEAD IN THE FOREST,
THAT THERE WAS A LITTLE COTTAGE. THEY COULD SEE A
LIGHT SHINING THROUGH ITS WINDOW. THE COURAGEOUS MAN
DECIDED TO STOP THERE OVERNIGHT.
WHEN THEY CAME TO THE COTTAGE AND KNOCKED AT THE DOOR
THERE WAS NO ANSWER. HE OPENED THE DOOR AND THERE WAS
A DEAD MAN LAYING ON A BENCH WITH TWO LIGHTED CANDLES
ON EACH SIDE OF HIM.
HE TOOK THE MAN WHO WAS HUNG AND PLACED HIM IN THE
CORNER OF THE COTTAGE. HIS DRIVER WAS SLEEPING IN THE
CARRIAGE. THE COURAGEOUS MAN SLEPT IN THE COTTAGE
WITH THE TWO DEAD MEN. AROUND TEN O'CLOCK, FROM
NOWHERE TWO MEN CAME TO THE COTTAGE. THEY WERE THE
DEVILS. THE COURAGEOUS MAN WAS SLEEPING BEHIND THE
HEATING STOVE IN THE COTTAGE. THEY SEEMED TO NOT
NOTICE HIM THERE. ONE OF THE MEN TOLD THE OTHER THAT
HE WAS GOING TO SKIN THE DEAD MAN AND HE STARTED TO DO
SO. THE COURAGEOUS MAN WAS HALF ASLEEP AND LOOKING
FROM BEHIND THE STOVE. AFTER THE DEAD MAN GOT SKINNED,
ONE OF THE MEN STARTED TO TALK TO THE OTHER, NOT PAYING
ANY ATTENTION TO THE DEAD MAN'S SKIN. THE COURAGEOUS
MAN SNEAKED OUT FROM BEHIND THE STOVE, PULLED THE DEAD
MAN'S SKIN FOR {OVER?} HIMSELF. WHEN THE MEN NOTICED
THAT THERE WAS NO SKIN THEY STARTED TO FIGHT WITH EACH
OTHER. ONE OF THE MEN LOOKED AT THE HUNG MAN IN THE
CORNER AND SMASHED HIM IN THE FACE, SAYING THAT HE
HAD TAKEN THE SKIN. THE HUNG MAN ALL OF A SUDDEN
BECAME ALIVE AND JOINED THE FIGHT. THE DEAD MAN SAT
UP ON THE BENCH AND STARTED TO SCREAM, "WHERE IS MY
SKIN?" THE FIGHT WAS GETTING WORSE AND THE COURAGEOUS
MAN WAS WATCHING FROM BEHIND THE STOVE.
IT WAS CLOSE TO FIVE O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING AND THE
ROOSTER STARTED TO CROW. ALL OF A SUDDEN, ALL THE
SCENERY DISAPPEARED. ALL THE FOUR MEN WERE DEVILS.
THEY DID NOT SCARE THE COURAGEOUS MAN. THE COURAGEOUS
MAN WALKED OUT OF THE COTTAGE, WOKE UP HIS DRIVER AND
THEY CONTINUED ON THEIR WAY TO TOWN. NO ONE COULD
SCARE THEM.

Where learned: POLAND

Date learned: 00-00-1935