Part 51 (1/2)

”'Well! well!' said the Troll, 'if you can get me again the horse which my nearest neighbour has stolen from me, you shall get off with your life.'

”'But where shall I find him?' asked the king's son.

”'Oh! he lives three hundred miles beyond yon big fell that looks blue in the sky.'

”So the king's son gave his word to do his best. But when he met the fox, Reynard was not altogether in a soft temper.

”'Now you have behaved badly,' he said. 'Had you done as I bade you, we should have been on our way home by this time.'

”So they had to make a fresh start, as life was at stake, and the prince had given his word, and after a long, long time they got to the spot.

And when the prince was to go and take the horse, the fox said:

”'When you come into the stable, you will see many bits hanging on the stalls, both of silver and gold; them you shall not touch, for then the Troll will come out and slay you on the spot; but the ugliest and poorest, that you shall take.'

”Yes! the king's son gave his word to do that; but when he got into the stable he thought it was all stuff, for there was enough and to spare of fine bits; and so he took the brightest he could find, and it shone like gold; but in a trice out came the Troll, so cross that sparks of fire flashed from him.

”'WHO IS IT WHO TRIES TO STEAL MY HORSE AND MY BIT?' he roared out.

”'Thieves think every man a thief,' said the kings son; 'but none are hanged but those who don't steal right.'

”'Well! all the same,' said the Troll, 'I'll kill you on the spot.'

”But the king's son said he must spare his life.

”'Well! well!' said the Troll, 'if you can get me back the lovely maiden my nearest neighbour has stolen from me I'll spare your life.'

”'Where does he live, then?' said the king's son.

”'Oh! he lives three hundred miles behind that big fell that is blue, yonder in the sky,' said the Troll.

”Yes! the king's son gave his word to fetch the maiden, and then he had leave to go, and got off with his life. But when he came out of doors the fox was not in the very best temper, you may fancy.

”'Now you have behaved badly again. Had you done as I bade you, we might have been on our way home long ago. Do you know, I almost think now I won't stay with you any longer.'

”But the king's son begged and prayed so prettily from the bottom of his heart, and gave his word never to do anything but what the fox said, if he would only be his companion. At last the fox yielded, and they became fast friends again, and so they set off afresh, and after a long, long time they came to the spot where the lovely maiden was.

”'Yes!' said the fox, 'you have given your word like a man, but for all that, I dare not let you go in to the Troll's house this time. I must go myself.'

”So he went in, and in a little while he came out with the maiden, and so they travelled back by the same way that they had come. And when they came back to the Troll who had the horse, they took both it and the grandest bit; and when they got to the Troll who owned the linden and the bird, they took both the linden and the bird, and set off with them.

”So when they had travelled awhile, they came to a field of rye, and the fox said: