The version my brothers and I heard around the campfire from our father was as follows:

Twas a deep, dark, damp dismal night in the middle of the Hartz Mountains.
Twelve bandits were seated around the fire.
One Bandit, speaking suddenly said: "Scuddy, tell us a funny story".
And Scuddy, seating himself on the window sill, told the following tale.

My daughters were raised on it, much to their chagrin.