’SuddenlyIrememberedthatmyhairwasverylong。IfIstoodittouchedtheground，althoughifIwassittingitonlyreachedmyears。Iseizedaknifeandcutoffalargelock，whichIplaitedtogether，andwhennightcametieditintoaknot，andpreparedtouseitforapillow。ButwhatwasItodoforafire？A
tinderboxIhad，butnowood。ThenitoccurredtomethatIhadstuckaneedleinmyclothes，soItooktheneedleandsplititinpieces，andlitit，thenlaidmyselfdownbythefireandwenttosleep。Butill—luckstillpursuedme。WhileIwassleepingasparkfromthefirelightedonthehair，whichwasburntupinamoment。IndespairIthrewmyselfontheground，andinstantlysankinitasfarasmywaist。Istruggledtogetout，butonlyfellinfurther;soIrantothehouse，seizedaspade，dugmyselfout，andtookhometheholywater。OnthewayInoticedthattheripefieldswerefullofreapers，andsuddenlytheairbecamesofrightfullyhotthatthemendroppeddowninafaint。
ThenIcalledtothem，\"Whydon’tyoubringoutourmare，whichisastallastwodays，andasbroadashalfaday，andmakeashadeforyourselves？\"MyfatherheardwhatIsaidandjumpedquicklyonthemare，andthereapersworkedwithawillintheshadow，whileIsnatchedupawoodenpailtobringthemsomewatertodrink。WhenIgottothewelleverythingwasfrozenhard，soinordertodrawsomewaterIhadtotakeoffmyheadandbreaktheicewithit。AsIdrewnearthem，carryingthewater，thereapersallcriedout，\"Why，whathasbecomeofyourhead？\"IputupmyhandanddiscoveredthatIreallyhadnohead，andthatImusthaveleftitinthewell。Iranbacktolookforit，butfoundthatmeanwhileafoxwhichwaspassingbyhadpulledmyheadoutofthewater，andwastearingatmybrains。I
stolecautiouslyuptohim，andgavehimsuchakickthatheutteredaloudscream，andletfallaparchmentonwhichwaswritten，\"Thecakeismine，andthebeardlessonegoesempty—handed。\"’
Withthesewordstheboyrose，tookthecake，andwenthome，whilethebeardlessoneremainedbehindtoswallowhisdisappointment。
[VolksmarchenderSerben。]
THESTORYOFTHREEWONDERFULBEGGARS
ThereoncelivedamerchantwhosenamewasMark，andwhompeoplecalled’MarktheRich。’Hewasaveryhard—heartedman，forhecouldnotbearpoorpeople，andifhecaughtsightofabeggaranywherenearhishouse，hewouldordertheservantstodrivehimaway，orwouldsetthedogsathim。
Onedaythreeverypooroldmencamebeggingtothedoor，andjustashewasgoingtoletthefiercedogslooseonthem，hislittledaughter，Anastasia，creptcloseuptohimandsaid:
’Deardaddy，letthepooroldmensleephereto—night，do——topleaseme。’
Herfathercouldnotbeartorefuseher，andthethreebeggarswereallowedtosleepinaloft，andatnight，wheneveryoneinthehousewasfastasleep，littleAnastasiagotup，climbeduptotheloft，andpeepedin。
Thethreeoldmenstoodinthemiddleoftheloft，leaningontheirsticks，withtheirlonggreybeardsflowingdownovertheirhands，andweretalkingtogetherinlowvoices。
’Whatnewsisthere？’askedtheeldest。
’InthenextvillagethepeasantIvanhasjusthadhisseventhson。Whatshallwenamehim，andwhatfortuneshallwegivehim？’saidthesecond。
Thethirdwhispered，’CallhimVassili，andgivehimallthepropertyofthehard—heartedmaninwhoseloftwestand，andwhowantedtodriveusfromhisdoor。’
Afteralittlemoretalkthethreemadethemselvesreadyandcreptsoftlyaway。
Anastasia，whohadheardeveryword，ranstraighttoherfather，andtoldhimall。
Markwasverymuchsurprised;hethought，andthought，andinthemorninghedrovetothenextvillagetotryandfindoutifsuchachildreallyhadbeenborn。Hewentfirsttothepriest，andaskedhimaboutthechildreninhisparish。
’Yesterday，’saidthepriest，’aboywasborninthepooresthouseinthevillage。Inamedtheunluckylittlething\"Vassili。\"Heistheseventhson，andtheeldestisonlysevenyearsold，andtheyhardlyhaveamouthfulamongstthemall。Whocanbegottostandgodfathertosuchalittlebeggarboy？’
Themerchant’sheartbeatfast，andhismindwasfullofbadthoughtsaboutthatpoorlittlebaby。Hewouldbegodfatherhimself，hesaid，andheorderedafinechristeningfeast;sothechildwasbroughtandchristened，andMarkwasveryfriendlytoitsfather。AftertheceremonywasoverhetookIvanasideandsaid:
’Lookhere，myfriend，youareapoorman。Howcanyouaffordtobringuptheboy？GivehimtomeandI’llmakesomethingofhim，andI’llgiveyouapresentofathousandcrowns。Isthatabargain？’
Ivanscratchedhishead，andthought，andthought，andthenheagreed。Markcountedoutthemoney，wrappedthebabyupinafoxskin，laiditinthesledgebesidehim，anddrovebacktowardshome。Whenhehaddrivensomemileshedrewup，carriedthechildtotheedgeofasteepprecipiceandthrewitover，muttering，’There，nowtrytotakemyproperty！’
VerysoonafterthissomeforeignmerchantstravelledalongthatsameroadonthewaytoseeMarkandtopaythetwelvethousandcrownswhichtheyowedhim。
Astheywerepassingneartheprecipicetheyheardasoundofcrying，andonlookingovertheysawalittlegreenmeadowwedgedinbetweentwogreatheapsofsnow，andonthemeadowlayababyamongsttheflowers。
Themerchantspickedupthechild，wrappeditupcarefully，anddroveon。WhentheysawMarktheytoldhimwhatastrangethingtheyhadfound。Markguessedatoncethatthechildmustbehisgodson，askedtoseehim，andsaid:
’That’sanicelittlefellow;Ishouldliketokeephim。Ifyouwillmakehimovertome，Iwillletyouoffyourdebt。’
Themerchantswereverypleasedtomakesogoodabargain，leftthechildwithMark，anddroveoff。
AtnightMarktookthechild，putitinabarrel，fastenedthelidtightdown，andthrewitintothesea。Thebarrelfloatedawaytoagreatdistance，andatlastitfloatedcloseuptoamonastery。Themonkswerejustspreadingouttheirnetstodryontheshore，whentheyheardthesoundofcrying。Itseemedtocomefromthebarrelwhichwasbobbingaboutnearthewater’sedge。Theydrewittolandandopenedit，andtherewasalittlechild！Whentheabbotheardthenews，hedecidedtobringuptheboy，andnamedhim’Vassili。’
Theboylivedonwiththemonks，andgrewuptobeaclever，gentle，andhandsomeyoungman。Noonecouldread，write，orsingbetterthanhe，andhedideverythingsowellthattheabbotmadehimwardrobekeeper。
Now，ithappenedaboutthistimethatthemerchant，Mark，cametothemonasteryinthecourseofajourney。Themonkswereverypolitetohimandshowedhimtheirhouseandchurchandalltheyhad。Whenhewentintothechurchthechoirwassinging，andonevoicewassoclearandbeautiful，thatheaskedwhoitbelongedto。ThentheabbottoldhimofthewonderfulwayinwhichVassilihadcometothem，andMarksawclearlythatthismustbehisgodsonwhomhehadtwicetriedtokill。
Hesaidtotheabbot:’Ican’ttellyouhowmuchIenjoythatyoungman’ssinging。IfhecouldonlycometomeIwouldmakehimoverseerofallmybusiness。Asyousay，heissogoodandclever。Dosparehimtome。Iwillmakehisfortune，andwillpresentyourmonasterywithtwentythousandcrowns。’
Theabbothesitatedagooddeal，butheconsultedalltheothermonks，andatlasttheydecidedthattheyoughtnottostandinthewayofVassili’sgoodfortune。
ThenMarkwrotealettertohiswifeandgaveittoVassilitotaketoher，andthiswaswhatwasintheletter:’Whenthebearerofthisarrives，takehimintothesoapfactory，andwhenyoupassnearthegreatboiler，pushhimin。Ifyoudon’tobeymyordersIshallbeveryangry，forthisyoungmanisabadfellowwhoissuretoruinusallifhelives。’
Vassilihadagoodvoyage，andonlandingsetoffonfootforMark’shome。Onthewayhemetthreebeggars，whoaskedhim:
’Whereareyougoing，Vassili？’
’IamgoingtothehouseofMarktheMerchant，andhavealetterforhiswife，’repliedVassili。
’Showustheletter。’
Vassilihandedthemtheletter。Theyblewonitandgaveitbacktohim，saying:’NowgoandgivethelettertoMark’swife。Youwillnotbeforsaken。’
Vassilireachedthehouseandgavetheletter。Whenthemistressreaditshecouldhardlybelievehereyesandcalledforherdaughter。Intheletterwaswritten，quiteplainly:’Whenyoureceivethisletter，getreadyforawedding，andletthebearerbemarriednextdaytomydaughter，Anastasia。Ifyoudon’tobeymyordersIshallbeveryangry。’
Anastasiasawthebeareroftheletterandhepleasedherverymuch。TheydressedVassiliinfineclothesandnextdayhewasmarriedtoAnastasia。
Induetime，Markreturnedfromhistravels。Hiswife，daughter，andson—in—lawallwentouttomeethim。WhenMarksawVassiliheflewintoaterribleragewithhiswife。’Howdaredyoumarrymydaughterwithoutmyconsent？’heasked。
’Ionlycarriedoutyourorders，’saidshe。’Hereisyourletter。’
Markreadit。Itcertainlywashishandwriting，butbynomeanshiswishes。
’Well，’thoughthe，’you’veescapedmethreetimes，butIthinkI
shallgetthebetterofyounow。’Andhewaitedamonthandwasverykindandpleasanttohisdaughterandherhusband。
AttheendofthattimehesaidtoVassilioneday，’IwantyoutogoformetomyfriendtheSerpentKing，inhisbeautifulcountryattheworld’send。Twelveyearsagohebuiltacastleonsomelandofmine。Iwantyoutoaskfortherentforthosetwelveyearsandalsotofindoutfromhimwhathasbecomeofmytwelveshipswhichsailedforhiscountrythreeyearsago。’
Vassilidarednotdisobey。Hesaidgood—byetohisyoungwife，whocriedbitterlyatparting，hungabagofbiscuitsoverhisshoulders，andsetout。
Ireallycannottellyouwhetherthejourneywaslongorshort。
Ashetrampedalonghesuddenlyheardavoicesaying:’Vassili！
whereareyougoing？’
Vassililookedabouthim，and，seeingnoone，calledout:’Whospoketome？’
’Idid;thisoldwide—spreadingoak。Tellmewhereyouaregoing。’
’IamgoingtotheSerpentKingtoreceivetwelveyears’rentfromhim。’
’Whenthetimecomes，remembermeandasktheking:\"Rottentotheroots，halfdeadbutstillgreen，standstheoldoak。Isittostandmuchlongerontheearth？\"’
Vassiliwentonfurther。Hecametoariverandgotintotheferryboat。Theoldferrymanasked:’Areyougoingfar，myfriend？’
’IamgoingtotheSerpentKing。’
’Thenthinkofmeandsaytotheking:\"Forthirtyyearstheferrymanhasrowedtoandfro。Willthetiredoldmanhavetorowmuchlonger？\"’
’Verywell，’saidVassili;’I’llaskhim。’
Andhewalkedon。Intimehecametoanarrowstraitoftheseaandacrossitlayagreatwhaleoverwhosebackpeoplewalkedanddroveasifithadbeenabridgeoraroad。Ashesteppedonitthewhalesaid，’Dotellmewhereyouaregoing。’
’IamgoingtotheSerpentKing。’
Andthewhalebegged:’Thinkofmeandsaytotheking:\"Thepoorwhalehasbeenlyingthreeyearsacrossthestrait，andmenandhorseshavenearlytrampledhisbackintohisribs。Ishetolietheremuchlonger？\"’
’Iwillremember，’saidVassili，andhewenton。
Hewalked，andwalked，andwalked，tillhecametoagreatgreenmeadow。Inthemeadowstoodalargeandsplendidcastle。Itswhitemarblewallssparkledinthelight，theroofwascoveredwithmothero’pearl，whichshonelikearainbow，andthesunglowedlikefireonthecrystalwindows。Vassiliwalkedin，andwentfromoneroomtoanotherastonishedatallthesplendourhesaw。
Whenhereachedthelastroomofall，hefoundabeautifulgirlsittingonabed。
Assoonasshesawhimshesaid:’Oh，Vassili，whatbringsyoutothisaccursedplace？’
Vassilitoldherwhyhehadcome，andallhehadseenandheardontheway。
Thegirlsaid:’Youhavenotbeensentheretocollectrents，butforyourowndestruction，andthattheserpentmaydevouryou。’
Shehadnottimetosaymore，whenthewholecastleshook，andarustling，hissing，groaningsoundwasheard。ThegirlquicklypushedVassiliintoachestunderthebed，lockeditandwhispered:’ListentowhattheserpentandItalkabout。’
ThensheroseuptoreceivetheSerpentKing。
Themonsterrushedintotheroom，andthrewitselfpantingonthebed，crying:’I’veflownhalfovertheworld。I’mtired，VERY
tired，andwanttosleep——scratchmyhead。’
Thebeautifulgirlsatdownnearhim，strokinghishideoushead，andsaidinasweetcoaxingvoice:’Youknoweverythingintheworld。Afteryouleft，Ihadsuchawonderfuldream。Willyoutellmewhatitmeans？’
’Outwithitthen，quick！Whatwasit？’
’IdreamtIwaswalkingonawideroad，andanoaktreesaidtome:\"Askthekingthis:Rottenattheroots，halfdead，andyetgreenstandstheoldoak。Isittostandmuchlongerontheearth？\"’
’Itmuststandtillsomeonecomesandpushesitdownwithhisfoot。Thenitwillfall，andunderitsrootswillbefoundmoregoldandsilverthanevenMarktheRichhasgot。’
’ThenIdreamtIcametoariver，andtheoldferrymansaidtome:\"Forthirtyyear’stheferrymanhasrowedtoandfro。Willthetiredoldmanhavetorowmuchlonger？\"’
’Thatdependsonhimself。Ifsomeonegetsintotheboattobeferriedacross，theoldmanhasonlytopushtheboatoff，andgohiswaywithoutlookingback。Themanintheboatwillthenhavetotakehisplace。’
’AndatlastIdreamtthatIwaswalkingoverabridgemadeofawhale’sback，andthelivingbridgespoketomeandsaid:\"HerehaveIbeenstretchedoutthesethreeyears，andmenandhorseshavetrampledmybackdownintomyribs。MustIlieheremuchlonger？\"’
’HewillhavetolietheretillhehasthrownupthetwelveshipsofMarktheRichwhichheswallowed。Thenhemayplungebackintotheseaandhealhisback。’
AndtheSerpentKingclosedhiseyes，turnedroundonhisotherside，andbegantosnoresoloudthatthewindowsrattled。
InallhastethelovelygirlhelpedVassilioutofthechest，andshowedhimpartofhiswayback。Hethankedherverypolitely，andhurriedoff。
Whenhereachedthestraitthewhaleasked:’Haveyouthoughtofme？’
’Yes，assoonasIamontheothersideIwilltellyouwhatyouwanttoknow。’
WhenhewasontheothersideVassilisaidtothewhale:’ThrowupthosetwelveshipsofMark’swhichyouswallowedthreeyearsago。’
Thegreatfishheaveditselfupandthrewupallthetwelveshipsandtheircrews。Thenheshookhimselfforjoy，andplungedintothesea。
Vassiliwentonfurthertillhereachedtheferry，wheretheoldmanasked:’Didyouthinkofme？’
’Yes，andassoonasyouhaveferriedmeacrossIwilltellyouwhatyouwanttoknow。’
Whentheyhadcrossedover，Vassilisaid:’Letthenextmanwhocomesstayintheboat，butdoyousteponshore，pushtheboatoff，andyouwillbefree，andtheothermanmusttakeyourplace。
ThenVassiliwentonfurtherstill，andsooncametotheoldoaktree，pusheditwithhisfoot，anditfellover。There，attheroots，wasmoregoldandsilverthanevenMarktheRichhad。
Andnowthetwelveshipswhichthewhalehadthrownupcamesailingalongandanchoredcloseby。OnthedeckofthefirstshipstoodthethreebeggarswhomVassilihadmetformerly，andtheysaid:’Heavenhasblessedyou，Vassili。’Thentheyvanishedawayandheneversawthemagain。
Thesailorscarriedallthegoldandsilverintotheship，andthentheysetsailforhomewithVassilionboard。
Markwasmorefuriousthanever。HehadhishorsesharnessedanddroveoffhimselftoseetheSerpentKingandtocomplainofthewayinwhichhehadbeenbetrayed。Whenhereachedtheriverhesprangintotheferryboat。Theferryman，however，didnotgetinbutpushedtheboatoff……
Vassililedagoodandhappylifewithhisdearwife，andhiskindmother—in—lawlivedwiththem。HehelpedthepoorandfedandclothedthehungryandnakedandallMark’srichesbecamehis。
FormanyyearsMarkhasbeenferryingpeopleacrosstheriver。
Hisfaceiswrinkled，hishairandbeardaresnowwhite，andhiseyesaredim;butstillherowson。
[FromtheSerbian。]
SCHIPPEITARO
ItwasthecustominoldtimesthatassoonasaJapaneseboyreachedmanhoodheshouldleavehishomeandroamthroughthelandinsearchofadventures。Sometimeshewouldmeetwithayoungmanbentonthesamebusinessashimself，andthentheywouldfightinafriendlymanner，merelytoprovewhichwasthestronger，butonotheroccasionstheenemywouldturnouttobearobber，whohadbecometheterroroftheneighbourhood，andthenthebattlewasindeadlyearnest。
Onedayayouthstartedofffromhisnativevillage，resolvednevertocomebacktillhehaddonesomegreatdeedthatwouldmakehisnamefamous。Butadventuresdidnotseemveryplentifuljustthen，andhewanderedaboutforalongtimewithoutmeetingeitherwithfiercegiantsordistresseddamsels。Atlasthesawinthedistanceawildmountain，halfcoveredwithadenseforest，andthinkingthatthispromisedwellatoncetooktheroadthatledtoit。Thedifficultieshemetwith——hugerockstobeclimbed，deepriverstobecrossed，andthornytractstobeavoided——onlyservedtomakehisheartbeatquicker，forhewasreallybraveallthrough，andnotmerelywhenhecouldnothelphimself，likeagreatmanypeople。Butinspiteofallhiseffortshecouldnotfindhiswayoutoftheforest，andhebegantothinkheshouldhavetopassthenightthere。Oncemorehestrainedhiseyestoseeiftherewasnoplaceinwhichhecouldtakeshelter，andthistimehecaughtsightofasmallchapelinalittleclearing。Hehastenedquicklytowardsit，andcurlinghimselfupinawarmcornersoonfellasleep。
Notasoundwasheardthroughthewholeforestforsomehours，butatmidnighttheresuddenlyarosesuchaclamourthattheyoungman，tiredashewas，startedbroadawakeinaninstant。
Peepingcautiouslybetweenthewoodenpillarsofthechapel，hesawatroopofhideouscats，dancingfuriously，makingthenighthorriblewiththeiryells。Thefullmoonlighteduptheweirdscene，andtheyoungwarriorgazedwithastonishment，takinggreatcaretokeepstill，lestheshouldbediscovered。Aftersometimehethoughtthatinthemidstofalltheirshriekshecouldmakeoutthewords，’DonottellSchippeitaro！Keepithiddenandsecret！DonottellSchippeitaro！’Then，themidnighthourhavingpassed，theyallvanished，andtheyouthwasleftalone。Exhaustedbyallthathadbeengoingonroundhim，heflunghimselfonthegroundandslepttillthesunrose。
Themomenthewokehefeltveryhungry，andbegantothinkhowhecouldgetsomethingtoeat。Sohegotupandwalkedon，andbeforehehadgoneveryfarwasluckyenoughtofindalittleside—path，wherehecouldtracemen’sfootsteps。Hefollowedthetrack，andby—and—bycameonsomescatteredhuts，beyondwhichlayavillage。Delightedatthisdiscovery，hewasabouttohastentothevillagewhenheheardawoman’svoiceweepingandlamenting，andcallingonthementotakepityonherandhelpher。Thesoundofherdistressmadehimforgethewashungry，andhestrodeintothehuttofindoutforhimselfwhatwaswrong。Butthemenwhomheaskedonlyshooktheirheadsandtoldhimitwasnotamatterinwhichhecouldgiveanyhelp，forallthissorrowwascausedbytheSpiritoftheMountain，towhomeveryyeartheywereboundtofurnishamaidenforhimtoeat。
’To—morrownight，’saidthey，’thehorriblecreaturewillcomeforhisdinner，andthecriesyouhaveheardwereutteredbythegirlbeforeyou，uponwhomthelothasfallen。’
Andwhentheyoungmanaskedifthegirlwascarriedoffstraightfromherhome，theyansweredno，butthatalargecaskwassetintheforestchapel，andintothisshewasfastened。
Ashelistenedtothisstory，theyoungmanwasfilledwithagreatlongingtorescuethemaidenfromherdreadfulfate。Thementionofthechapelsethimthinkingofthesceneofthepreviousnight，andhewentoverallthedetailsagaininhismind。’WhoisSchippeitaro？’hesuddenlyasked;’cananyofyoutellme？’
’Schippeitaroisthegreatdogthatbelongstotheoverseerofourprince，’saidthey;’andhelivesnotfaraway。’Andtheybegantolaughatthequestion，whichseemedtothemsooddanduseless。
Theyoungmandidnotlaughwiththem，butinsteadleftthehutandwentstraighttotheownerofthedog，whomhebeggedtolendhimtheanimaljustforonenight。Schippeitaro’smasterwasnotatallwillingtogivehiminchargetoamanofwhomheknewnothing，butintheendheconsented，andtheyouthledthedogaway，promisingfaithfullytoreturnhimnextdaytohismaster。
Henexthurriedtothehutwherethemaidenlived，andentreatedherparentstoshutherupsafelyinacloset，afterwhichhetookSchippeitarotothecask，andfastenedhimintoit。Intheeveningheknewthatthecaskwouldbeplacedinthechapel，sohehidhimselfthereandwaited。
Atmidnight，whenthefullmoonappearedabovethetopofthemountain，thecatsagainfilledthechapelandshriekedandyelledanddancedasbefore。Butthistimetheyhadintheirmidstahugeblackcatwhoseemedtobetheirking，andwhomtheyoungmanguessedtobetheSpiritoftheMountain。Themonsterlookedeagerlyabouthim，andhiseyessparkledwithjoywhenhesawthecask。Heboundedhighintotheairwithdelightandutteredcriesofpleasure;thenhedrewnearandundidthebolts。
Butinsteadoffasteninghisteethintheneckofabeautifulmaiden，Schippeitaro’steethwerefastenedinHIM，andtheyouthranupandcutoffhisheadwithhissword。Theothercatsweresoastonishedattheturnthingshadtakenthattheyforgottorunaway，andtheyoungmanandSchippeitarobetweenthemkilledseveralmorebeforetheythoughtofescaping。
Atsunrisethebravedogwastakenbacktohismaster，andfromthattimethemountaingirlsweresafe，andeveryyearafeastwasheldinmemoryoftheyoungwarriorandthedogSchippeitaro。
[JapanischeMarchen。]
THETHREEPRINCESANDTHEIRBEASTS（LITHUANIANFAIRYTALE）
Onceonatimetherewerethreeprinces，whohadastep—sister。
Onedaytheyallsetouthuntingtogether。Whentheyhadgonesomewaythroughathickwoodtheycameonagreatgreywolfwiththreecubs。Justastheyweregoingtoshoot，thewolfspokeandsaid，’Donotshootme，andIwillgiveeachofyouoneofmyyoungones。Itwillbeafaithfulfriendtoyou。’
Sotheprinceswentontheirway，andalittlewolffollowedeachofthem。
Soonaftertheycameonalionesswiththreecubs。Andshetoobeggedthemnottoshoother，andshewouldgiveeachofthemacub。Andsoithappenedwithafox，ahare，aboar，andabear，tilleachprincehadquiteafollowingofyoungbeastspaddingalongbehindhim。
Towardseveningtheycametoaclearinginthewood，wherethreebirchesgrewatthecrossingofthreeroads。Theeldestprincetookanarrow，andshotitintothetrunkofoneofthebirchtrees。Turningtohisbrothershesaid:
’Leteachofusmarkoneofthesetreesbeforewepartondifferentways。Whenanyoneofuscomesbacktothisplace，hemustwalkroundthetreesoftheothertwo，andifheseesbloodflowingfromthemarkinthetreehewillknowthatthatbrotherisdead，butifmilkflowshewillknowthathisbrotherisalive。’
Soeachoftheprincesdidastheeldestbrotherhadsaid，andwhenthethreebirchesweremarkedbytheirarrowstheyturnedtotheirstep—sisterandaskedherwithwhichofthemshemeanttolive。
’Withtheeldest，’sheanswered。Thenthebrothersseparatedfromeachother，andeachofthemsetoutdownadifferentroad，followedbytheirbeasts。Andthestep—sisterwentwiththeeldestprince。
Aftertheyhadgonealittlewayalongtheroadtheycameintoaforest，andinoneofthedeepestgladestheysuddenlyfoundthemselvesoppositeacastleinwhichtherelivedabandofrobbers。Theprincewalkeduptothedoorandknocked。Themomentitwasopenedthebeastsrushedin，andeachseizedonarobber，killedhim，anddraggedthebodydowntothecellar。
Now，oneoftherobberswasnotreallykilled，onlybadlywounded，buthelayquitestillandpretendedtobedeadliketheothers。Thentheprinceandhisstep—sisterenteredthecastleandtookuptheirabodeinit。
Thenextmorningtheprincewentouthunting。Beforeleavinghetoldhisstep—sisterthatshemightgointoeveryroominthehouseexceptintothecavewherethedeadrobberslay。Butassoonashisbackwasturnedsheforgotwhathehadsaid，andhavingwanderedthroughalltheotherroomsshewentdowntothecellarandopenedthedoor。Assoonasshelookedintherobberwhohadonlypretendedtobedeadsatupandsaidtoher:
’Don’tbeafraid。DowhatItellyou，andIwillbeyourfriend。
Ifyoumarrymeyouwillbemuchhappierwithmethanwithyourbrother。Butyoumustfirstgointothesitting—roomandlookinthecupboard。Thereyouwillfindthreebottles。Inoneofthemthereisahealingointmentwhichyoumustputonmychintohealthewound;thenifIdrinkthecontentsofthesecondbottleitwillmakemewell，andthethirdbottlewillmakemestrongerthanIeverwasbefore。Then，whenyourbrothercomesbackfromthewoodwithhisbeastsyoumustgotohimandsay，\"Brother，youareverystrong。IfIweretofastenyourthumbsbehindyourbackwithastoutsilkcord，couldyouwrenchyourselffree？\"
Andwhenyouseethathecannotdoit，callme。’
Whenthebrothercamehome，thestep—sisterdidastherobberhadtoldher，andfastenedherbrother’sthumbsbehindhisback。Butwithonewrenchhesethimselffree，andsaidtoher，’Sister，thatcordisnotstrongenoughforme。’
Thenextdayhewentbacktothewoodwithhisbeasts，andtherobbertoldherthatshemusttakeamuchstoutercordtobindhisthumbswith。Butagainhefreedhimself，thoughnotsoeasilyasthefirsttime，andhesaidtohissister:
’Eventhatcordisnotstrongenough。’