Long ago, Boncourt was divided. While the Austrians ruled on one side of the Allaine, the other side was under the authority of the Prince-Bishopric of Basel. It took half a century before they finally agreed to build a bridge across the river. But no sooner was it completed than a storm came and swept the bridge away. 

‘Oh,’ sighed the people of Boncourt, ‘how long will it take this time for a new bridge to be built? We’ll be in our graves before they’ve reached an agreement.’

And indeed, neither side was willing to pay for a new bridge. Even the prior of Bellelay Abbey was unable to mediate.

In despair, the mayor of Boncourt went home, sat down by the fireplace and sighed: ‘Only the Devil can help now.’

At that very moment there was a loud bang, and the Devil stood before him. He was dressed like a nobleman and asked: ‘How can I help?’

The mayor was startled, but then he offered the devil a chair by the fireplace and began to tell his story. The devil listened, warming his feet in the glowing embers. Then he said: ‘I shall build a new bridge tonight. In return, I demand a soul.’

The mayor thought it over but finally agreed. “Very well, the first person to cross the finished bridge shall be yours.”

That very night, the devil built the bridge. When the mayor arrived at the bridge the next day, the devil was standing on the other side and called out: “Now keep your promise!”

The mayor nodded, took a sack from his back and opened it. A large cat leapt out. It ran straight across the bridge. ‘There you have it, your soul,’ shouted the mayor.

When the devil realised he had been outwitted, he wanted to destroy the bridge in his rage. But just then a procession led by priests arrived, who blessed the new bridge and erected a large stone cross right in the middle of it. So, the devil fled and was never seen in Boncourt again.

Fassung D. Jaenike, aus: Joseph Beuret-Frantz, Sous les vieux toits, Légendes et contes jurassiens. Porrentruy, 1949, Übersetzung Lysander Jaenike © Mutabor Verlag