The dynamic ergodic divertor (DED) of TEXTOR has been applied to runaway discharges. The runaway electrons (ε < 30 MeV) are developed as probes for investigating the internal magnetic field line structure in the plasma. Complementary diagnostics are used, namely neutron measurements for the loss of the runaways and synchrotron radiation for the detection inside the plasma. During the DED phase, three features of the runaway electrons are found: a sudden loss from the just formed ergodic layer, an enhanced diffusive transport and very sudden loss events which may be related to field line reconnection processes.