When he reached the summit, Briónes was struck with amazement on seeing the phial borne like a pimple on the nose of the mountain. He took it up, looked through it, and on perceiving the demon, who with years of confinement and fasting, the sun’s rays, and sadness, had dwindled and become as dried as a prune, exclaimed in surprise:-- “Whatever vermin is this? What a phenomenon!” “I am an honourable and meritorious demon,” said the captive, humbly and courteously. “The perversity of a treacherous mother-in-law, into whose clutches I fell, has held me confined here during the last ten years; liberate me, valiant warrior, and I will grant any favour you choose to solicit.” “I should like my demission from the army,” said Briónes. “You shall have it; but uncork, uncork quickly, for it is a most monstrous anomaly to have thrust into a corner, in these revolutionary times, the first revolutionist in the world.” Briónes drew the cork out slightly, and a noxious vapour issued from the bottle and ascended to his brain. He sneezed, and immediately replaced the stopper with such a violent blow from his hand that the cork was suddenly depressed, and the prisoner, squeezed down, gave a shout of rage and pain. “What are you doing, vile earthworm, more malicious and perfidious than my mother-in-law?” he exclaimed. “There is another condition,” responded Briónes, “that I must add to our treaty; it appears to me that the service I am going to do you is worth it.” “And what is this condition, tardy liberator?” inquired the demon. “I should like for thy ransom four dollars daily during the rest of my life. Think of it, for upon that depends whether you stay in or come out.” “Miserable avaricious one!” exclaimed the demon, “I have no money.” “Oh!” replied Briónes, “what an answer from a great lord like you! Why, friend, that is the Minister of War’s answer! If you can’t pay me I cannot help you.” “Then you do not believe me,” said the demon, “only let me out, and I will aid you to obtain what you want as I have done for many others. Let me out, I say, let me out.” “Gently,” responded the soldier, “there is nothing to hurry about. Understand me that I shall have to hold you by the tail until you have performed your promise to me; and if not, I have nothing more to say to you.” “Insolent, do you not trust me then!” shouted the demon. “No,” responded Briónes. “What you desire is contrary to my dignity,” said the captive, with all the arrogance that a being of his size could express. “Now I must go,” said Briónes. “Good-bye,” said the demon, in order not to say _adieu_. But seeing that Briónes went off, the captive made desperate jumps in the phial, shouting loudly to the soldier.