section 53 of popular tales from the north. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org popular tales from the north by Sir George Webb Dacent. Section 53 Big Peter and Little Peter. Once on a time there were two brothers both named Peter and so the elder was called Big Peter and the younger Little Peter.  To a better he should go out into the world and do something for himself. Yes Little Peter thought that's not to be a bad plan so he bought himself a fine horse and a load of butter and cheese and set off to the town and with the money he got for his goods he bought brandy and wine and beer and as soon as ever he got home again it was one round of holiday keeping and merry making. He treated all his old friends and neighbors and they treated him again and so he lived in fun and frolic so long as his money lasted.  When the spring came he turned out the calf and let it graze on Big Peter's middle. Then Big Peter got cross and killed the calf at one blow but Little Peter he fled the calf and hung the skin up in the bathroom till it was thoroughly dry. Then he rolled it up stuffed it into a sack and went about the country trying to sell it but wherever he came they only laughed at him and said they had no need of smoked calf skin. So when he had worked on a long way he came to a farm and there he turned in and asked for a night's lodging. May may said the goodie I can't give you lodging for my husband is up at the shilling on the hill and I'm alone in the house.  So as Little Peter passed by the power window he saw that there was a priest in there with whom the goodie was making merry and she was serving him up ale and brandy and a grid bowl of custard but just as the priest had sat down to eat and drink back came the husband and as soon as ever the goodie heard him in the passage she was not slow she took the bowl of custard and put it under the kitchen grits and the ale and brandy into the cellar and as for the priest she locked him up in a great chest which today all this Little Peter stood outside and saw and as soon as the husband was well inside Little Peter went up to the door and asked if he might have a night's lodging yes to be sure said the man will take you in and so he begged Little Peter to sit down at the table and eat yes Little Peter sat down and took his calfskin with him and laid it down at his feet so when they had sat a little while Little Peter began to mutter to his skin what are you saying now can't you hold your tongue said Little Peter who is it you're talking with asked the man oh answered Little Peter it's only a spare maiden whom I've got in my calfskin and pray what does she speak asked the man again why she says that no one can say there isn't a bowl of custard standing under the grate said Little Peter she may spare as much as she pleases answered the man but we haven't had custards in this house for a year and a day but Peter begged him only to look and he did so and he found the custard bowl so they began to make merry with it but just as they sat and took their ease Peter muttered something again to the calfskin hush he said can't you hold your jaw and pray what does this payment insane now asked the man oh she says no one can say there isn't brandy and ale standing just under the trap door which goes down into the cellar and said Peter well if she never paid wrong in her life she's pays wrong now said the man brandy and ale why I can't call to mind the day when we had such things in the house just look said Peter and the man did so and there sure enough he found the drink and you may fancy how merry and jolly he was what did you give for that spade maiden said the man for I must have her whatever you ask for her she was left me by my father said Peter and so she didn't cost me much to tell you the truth I have no great mind to part with her but all the same you may have her if you let me have instead of her that old chest that stands in the palo yonda the chest locked and the key lost screamed the old name then I'll take it without the key that I will say Peter and so he and the man soon struck the bargain Peter got a rope instead of the key and the man helped him to get the chest up on his back and then off his stomach with it so when he had walked a bit he came onto a bridge and under the bridge ran a river in such a headlong stream it leapt and formed and made such a roar that the bridge shook again ah said Peter that brandy that brandy now I can feel I've had a drop too much what's the good of my dragging this chest about if I hadn't been drunk and mad I shouldn't have gone and swapped away my spare made in for it but now this chest shall go out into the river this very minute and with that he began to untie the rope oh do for God's sake set me free the priest life is a stake he it is whom you have gotten the chest screamed out someone inside this must be the devil himself said Peter who wants to make me believe he has turned priest but whether he makes himself priest or clerk out he goes into the river oh no oh no roared out the priest the parish priest is a stake he was on a visit to the goodie for her source health but her husband is rough and wild and so she had to hide me in the chest here I have a gold watch and a silver watch in my fork you shall have them both and eight hundred dollars beside if you will only let me out me me said Peter is it really your reverence after all and with that he took up his tone and knocked the lead of the chest to pieces then the priest got out and off he set home to his passage both fast and light for he no longer had his watches and money to weigh him down as for little Peter he went home again and said to big Peter there was a good sale today for calf skins at the market why what did you get for your tartar one now asked big Peter why it as much as it was what I got eight hundred dollars for it but bigger and stouter calf skins fetched twice as much said little Peter and showed his dollars to as well you told me this and said big Peter who went and slaughtered all his kind and calves and set off on the road to town with their skins and heights so when he got to the market and the tanners asked what he wanted for his height big Peter said he must have eight hundred dollars for the small ones and so on more and more for the big ones but all the folk only laughed and made game of him and said he ought to come there he'd better turn into the madhouse for a better baguette and so he soon found out how things had gone and that little Peter had played him a trick but when he got home again he was not very soft spoken and he swore and cursed so help him if he wouldn't strike little Peter dead that very night all this little Peter stood and listened to and so when he had gone to bed with his mother and the night had worn on a little he begged her to change sides with him for he was well knife frozen he said and might be towards warmer next the wall yes she did that and in a little while big Peter came with an axe in his hand and crept up to the bedside and at one blow chopped off his mother's head next morning in went little Peter into big Peter's sitting room having better and help you he said you who have chopped our mother's head off the sheriff would not be over pleased to hear that you pay mother's dower in this way then big Peter got so afraid he begged little Peter for god's sake to say nothing about what he knew if he would only do that he should have eight hundred dollars well little Peter swept up the money set his mother's head on her body again put her on a hand sledge and so drew her to market there he set her up with an apple basket on each arm and an apple in each hand by and by came a skipper walking along he thought she was an apple woman and asked if she had apples to sell and how many he might have for a penny but the old woman made no answer so the skipper asked again no she hadn't a word to say for herself how many may I have for a penny he bought the third time but the old dame sat both upright as though she neither saw him nor heard what he said then the skipper flew into such a rage that he gave her one under the ear and so a way rolled her head across the marketplace at that moment up came little Peter with a bound he felt a weeping and bewailing and threatened to make the skipper smart for it for having dealt his old mother had dealt blow dear friend only hold your tongue about what you know said the skipper and you shall have 800 dollars and so they made it up when little Peter got home again he said to big Peter old women fetch a fine price at market today I got 800 dollars for mother just look and so he showed him the money twice well I came to know this said big Peter now you must know he had an old step mother so he took and killed her out of hand and strode off to sell her but when they had how he went about trying to sell dead bodies the neighbors were all for handing him over to the sheriff and it was as much as he could do to get out of the scrape when big Peter got home again he was so wrought and mad against little Peter he threatened to strike him dead there and then he needed hope for mercy die he must well well said little Peter that's the way we must all trudge and be tweaked today and tomorrow there's only a night to come but if I must set off now I've only one thing to ask stuff me into that sack that hangs yonder and take and toss me into the river well big Peter had nothing to say against that he stuffed him into the sack and set off but he hadn't gone far on his way before it came into his mind that he had forgotten something which he must go back to fetch meanwhile he set the sack down by the roadside just then came a man driving a fine fat flock of sheep to kingdom come to paradise to kingdom come to paradise roared out little Peter who lay inside the sack and that he kept balling and bellowing out meant I get leave to go with you ask the man who drove the ship of course you may say little Peter if you only untie the sack and creep into it in my stead you will soon get there and as for me I don't mind biding here till next time that I don't but you must keep on calling out the words I bowled out else you'll not go to the right place then the man untied the sack and got into it in little Peter's place Peter tied the sack up again and the man began to ball out to kingdom come to paradise to kingdom come to paradise and to that text he stuck when Peter had got him well into the sack he wasn't slow off he went with the flock of sheep and soon put a good bit of the road behind him meantime back came big Peter took the sack on his shoulders and bore it across the country to the river and all the while he went the driver sat inside balling out to kingdom come to paradise to kingdom come to paradise hey hey said big Peter try now to find the way for yourself and with that he tossed him out into the stream so when big Peter had done that and was going back home home should he overtake but his brother who went along driving the flock of sheep before him big Peter could cast believe his eyes and asked how little Peter had got out of the river and whence the fine flock of sheep came ah said little Peter that just was a good brotherly turn you did me when you threw me into the river I sank right down to the bottom like a stone and there I just did see flocks of sheep you'd cast believe now that they go about down there by thousands one flock bigger than the other and just look here here a fleece is for you well said big Peter I'm very glad you told me so off he ran home to his old team made her come with him to the river crept into a sack and made her make his to tie it up and toss him over the bridge I'm going after a flock of sheep he said but if I stay too long and you think I can't get along with the flock by myself just jump over and help me do you hear well don't stay too long say this wife for my heart is set on seeing those sheep there she stood and waited a while but then she thought perhaps her husband couldn't skip the flock well together and so down she jumped after him and so little Peter was rid of them all and the farm and fields came to him as air and horses and cattle too and besides he had money in his pocket to buy much kind to tether in his bra end of section 53 section 54 of popular tales from the Norse this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org popular tales from the Norse by Sir George Webb Dacent section 54 tatterhood once on a time there was a king and a queen who had no children and that gave the queen much grief she scarce had one happy hour she was always bewailing and bemoaning herself and saying how dull and lonesome it was in the palace if we had children there'd be life enough she said wherever she went in all her realm she found God's blessing in children even in the vilest hut and wherever she came she heard the goodies scolding the barons and saying how they had done that and that wrong all this the queen heard and thought it would be so nice to do as other women did at last the king and queen took into their palace a stranger lassie to rear up that they might have her always with them to love her if she did well and scold her if she did wrong like their own child so one day the little lassie whom they had taken as their own ran down into the palace yard and was playing with a gold apple just then an old beggar wife came by who had a little girl with her and it wasn't long before the little lassie and the beggar's baron were great friends and began to play together and to toss the gold apple about between them when the queen saw this as she sat at a window in the palace she tapped on the pain for her foster daughter to come up she went at once but the beggar girl went up too and as they went into the queen's bower each held the other by the hand then the queen began to scold the little lady and to say you ought to be above running about and playing with the tattered beggar's brat and so she wanted to drive the lassie downstairs if the queen only knew my mother's power she'd not drive me out said the little lassie and when the queen asked what she meant more plainly she told her how her mother could get her children if she chose the queen wouldn't believe it but the lassie held her own and said every word of it was true and bade the queen only to try and make her mother do it so the queen sent the lassie down to fetch up her mother do you know what your daughter says asked the queen of the old woman as soon as ever she came into the room no the beggar wife knew nothing about it well she says you can get me children if you will answered the queen queen shouldn't listen to beggar lassie's silly stories said the old wife and strode out of the room then the queen got angry and wanted again to drive out the little lassie but she declared it was true every word that she had said let the queen only give my mother a drop to drink said the lassie when she gets married she'll soon find out a way to help you the queen was ready to try this so the beggar wife was fetched up again once more and treated both with wine and mead as much as she chose and so it was not long before her tongue began to wag then the queen came out again with the same question she had asked before one way to help you perhaps I know said the beggar wife your majesty must make them bring in two pails of water some evening before you go to bed in each of them you must wash yourself and afterwards throw away the water under the bed when you look under the bed next morning two flowers will have sprung up one fair and one ugly the fair one you must eat the ugly one you must let stand but mind you don't forget the last that was what the beggar wife said yes the queen did what the beggar wife advised her to do she had the water brought up in two pails washed herself in them and emptied them under the bed and low when she looked under the bed next morning there stood two flowers one was ugly and foul and had black leaves but the other was so bright and fair and lovely she had never seen it's like so she ate it up at once but the pretty flower tasted so sweet that she couldn't help herself she ate the other up too for she thought it can hurt or help one much either way i'll be bound well sure enough after a while the queen was brought to bed first of all she had a girl who had a wooden spoon in her hand and rode upon a goat lowly and ugly she was and at the very moment she came into the world she balled out mama if i'm your mama said the queen god give me grace to mend my ways oh don't be sorry said the girl who rode on the goat for one will soon come after me who was better looking so after a while the queen had another girl who was so fair and sweet no one had ever set eyes on such a lovely child and with her you may fancy the queen was very well pleased the elder twin they called tatterhood because she was always so ugly and ragged and because she had a hood which hung about her ears in tatters the queen could scarce bear to look at her and the nurses tried to shut her up in a room by herself but it was all no good where the younger twin was there she must also be and no one could ever keep them apart well one christmas eve when they were half grown up there rose such a frightful noise and clatter in the gallery outside the queen's bower so tatterhood asked what it was that dashed and crashed so out in the passage oh said the queen it isn't worth asking about but tatterhood wouldn't give over till she found out all about it and so the queen told her it was a pack of trolls and witches who would come there to keep christmas so tatterhood said she'd just go out and drive them away and in spite of all they could say and however much they begged and prayed her to let the trolls alone she must and would go out to drive the witches off but she begged the queen to mind and keep all the doors closed shut so that not one of them came so much as the least bit ajar having said this off she went with her wooden spoon and began to hunt and sweep away the hags and all this while there was such a bother out in the gallery the like of it was never heard the whole palace creaked and groaned as if every joint and beam were going to be torn out of its place now how it was i'm sure i can't tell but somehow or other one door did get the least bit ajar then her twin sister just peeped out to see how things were going with tatterhood and put her head a tiny bit through the opening but pop up came an old witch and whipped off her head and stuck a calf's head on her shoulders instead and so the princess ran back into the room on all fours and began to move like a calf when tatterhood came back and saw her sister she scolded them all round and was very angry because they hadn't kept better watch and asked them what they thought of her heedlessness now when her sister was turned into a calf but still i'll see if i can't set her free she said then she asked the king for a ship in full trim and well fitted with stores but captain and sailor she wouldn't have no she would sail away with her sister all alone and as there was no holding her back at last they let her have her own way then tatterhood sailed off and steered her ship right under the land where the witches dwelt and when she came to the landing place she told her sister to stay quite still on board the ship but she herself rode on her goat up to the witches castle when she got there one of the windows in the gallery was open and there she saw her sister's head hung up on the window frame so she leapt her goat through the window into the gallery snapped up the head and set off with it after her came the witches to try to get the head again and they flocked about her as thick as a swarm of bees or a nest of ants but the goat snorted and puffed and butted with his horns and tatter had beat and banged them about with her wooden spoon and so the pack of witches had to give up so tatterhood got back to her ship took the calf's head off her sister and put her own on again and then she became a girl as she had been before after that she sailed a long long way to a strange king's realm now the king of that land was a widower and had an only son so when he saw the strange sail he sent messengers down to the strand to find out once it came and who owned it but when the king's men came down there they saw never a living soul on board but tatterhood and there she was riding round and round the deck on her goat at full speed till her elf lock streamed again in the wind the folk from the palace were all amazed at the site and asked were there not more on board yes there were she had a sister with her said tatterhood her too they wanted to see but tatterhood said no no one shall see her unless the king comes himself she said and so she began to gallop about on her goat till the deck thundered again so when the servants got back to the palace and told what they had seen and heard down at the ship the king was for setting out at once that he might see the lassi that rode on the goat when he got down tatterhood let out her sister and she was so fair and gentle the king fell overhead and ears in love with her as he stood he brought them both back with him to the palace and wanted to have the sister for his queen but tatterhood said no the king couldn't have her in any way unless the king's son chose to have tatterhood that you may fancy the prince was very loath to do such an ugly hussy as tatterhood was but at last the king and all the others in the palace talked him over and he yielded giving his word to take her for his queen but it went sore against the grain and he was a doleful man now they said about the wedding both with brewing and baking and when all was ready they were to go to church but the prince thought it was the weirdest churching he had ever had in all his life first the king drove off with his bride and she was so lovely and so grand all the people stopped to look after her all along the road and they stared at her till she was out of sight after them came the prince on horseback by the side of tatterhood who trotted along on her coat with her wooden spoon in her fist and to look at him it was more like going to a burial than a wedding and that his own so sorrowful he seemed and with never a word to say why don't you talk asked tatterhood when they had written a bit why what should I talk about answered the prince well you might at least ask me why I ride upon this ugly goat said tatterhood why do you ride on that ugly goat asked the prince is it an ugly goat why it's the grandest horse bride ever rode on answered tatterhood and in a trice the goat became a horse and that the finest the prince had ever set eyes on then they rode on again a bit but the prince was just as woeful as before and couldn't get a word out so tatterhood asked him again why he didn't talk and when the prince answered he didn't know what to talk about she said you can at least ask me why I ride with this ugly spoon in my fist why do you ride with that ugly spoon asked the prince is it an ugly spoon why it's the loveliest silver wand bride ever bore said tatterhood and in a trice it became a silver wand so dazzling bright the sunbeams glistened from it so they rode on another bit but the prince was just as sorrowful and said never a word in a little while tatterhood asked him again why he didn't talk and bade him ask why she wore that ugly gray hood on her head why do you wear that ugly gray hood on your head asked the prince is it an ugly hood why it's the brightest golden crown bride ever wore answered tatterhood and it became a crown on the spot now they rode on a long while again and the prince was so woeful that he sat without sound or speech just as before so his bride asked him again why he didn't talk and bade him ask now why her face was so ugly and ashen gray ah said the prince why is your face so ugly and ashen gray i ugly said the bride you think my sister pretty but i am ten times prettier and lo when the prince looked at her she was so lovely he thought there never was so lovely a woman in all the world after that i shouldn't wonder if the prince found his tongue and no longer rode along hanging down his head so they drank the bridal cup both deep and long and after that both prince and king set out with their brides to the princess's father's palace and there they had another bridal feast and drank anew both deep and long there was no end to the fun and if you make haste and run to the king's palace i daresay you'll find there's still a drop of the bridal ale left for you end of section 54 recording by jennifer 13 chicago illinois section 55 of popular tales from the north this is a librivox recording all librivox recordings are in the public domain for more information auto volunteer please visit librivox.org popular tales from the north by sir george webb dascent section 55 the cock and hand that went to the dover fell once on a time there was a hand that had flown up and perched on a nook tree for the night when the night came she dreamt that unless she got to the dover fell the world would come to an end so that very minute she jumped down and set out on her way when she had walked a bit she met a cock good day cocky locky save the hand good day honey penny save the cock with her way so early oh i'm going to the dover fell that the world may not come to an end save the hand who told you that honey penny save the cock i set in the oak and dreamt it last night save the hand i'll go with you save the cock well they walked on a good bit and then they met a duck good day cocky locky save the cock good day cocky locky save the duck with her way so early oh i'm going to the dover fell that the world may not come to an end save the cock who told you that cocky locky honey penny save the cock who told you that honey penny save the duck i set in the oak and dreamt it last night save the hand i'll go with you save the duck so they went off together and after a bit they met a goose good day goosey pussy save the duck good day ducky locky save the goose with her way so early i'm going to the dover fell that the world may not come to an end save the duck who told you that ducky locky asked the goose cocky locky who told you that cocky honey penny how you do know that honey penny save the goose i set in the oak and dreamt it last night goosey pussy save the hand i'll go with you save the goose now when they had all walked along four bits a fox met them good day foxy coxy save the goose good day goosey pussy with her way foxy coxy with her way yourself goosey pussy i'm going to the dover fell that the world may not come to an end save the goose who told you that goosey pussy asked the fox ducky locky who told you that ducky locky cocky locky who told you that cocky locky honey penny how do you know that honey penny i set in the oak and dreamt last night that if we don't get to the dover fell the world will come to an end save the hand stuff and nonsense save the fox the world won't come to an end if you don't get the either no come home with me to my earth that's far better for its warm and jolly there well they went home with the fox to his earth when they got in the fox laid on lots of fuel so that they all got very sleepy the duck and the goose they settled themselves down in a corner but the cock and hen flew upon a post so when the goose and duck were well asleep the fox took the goose and laid him on the embers and roasted him the hen smelled the strong roast meat and sprang up to a higher peg and said half asleep far what a nasty smell what a nasty smell horse tough said the fox it's only the smoke driven down the chimney go to sleep again and hold your tongue so the hen went tough to sleep again now the fox had hardly got the goose well down his throat before he did the very same with the duck he took and laid him on the embers and roasted him for a dainty bit then the hen woke up again and sprung up to a higher peg still far what a nasty smell what a nasty smell she said again and then she got her eyes open and came to see how the fox had eaten both the twain goose and duck so she flew up to the highest peg of all and perched there and peeped up through the chimney nay nay just see what a lovely lot of geese flying yonder she said to the fox out ran rain out to fetch a fat roast but while he was gone the hen woke up the cock and told him how it had gone with goosey poosey and ducky lucky and so cocky lucky and honey penny flew out through the chimney and if they hadn't got to the dover fell it surely would have been all over with the world end of section 55 read by iswa in belgium in september 2008 section 56 of popular tales from the north this is a libervox recording all libervox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit libervox.org read by kalinda popular tales from the north by sir george webb dason section 56 katie wooden cloak once on a time there was a king who had become a widower by his queen he had one daughter who was so clever and lovely there wasn't a cleverer or lovelier princess in all the world so the king went on a long time sorrowing for the queen whom he had loved so much but at last he got weary of living alone and married another queen who was a widow and had two and only daughter but this daughter was just as bad and ugly as the other was kind and clever and lovely the stepmother and her daughter were jealous of the princess because she was so lovely but so long as the king was at home they didn't do her any harm he was so fond of her well after a time he fell into war with another king and went out to battle with his host and then the stepmother thought she might do as she pleased and so she both starved and beat the princess and was after her in every hole and corner of the house at last she thought everything too good for her and turned her out to herd cattle so there she went about with the cattle and herded them in the woods and on the fells as for food she got little or none and she grew thin and won and was always sobbing and sorrowful now in the herd there was a great done bull which always kept himself so neat and sleek and often and often he came up to the princess and let her pat him so one day when she sat there sad and sobbing and sorrowful he came up to her and asked her outright why she was always in such grief she answered nothing but went on weeping ah said the bull i know all about it quite well though you won't tell me you weep because the queen is bad to you and because she is ready to starve you to death but food you've no need to fret about for in my left ear lies a cloth and when you take it and spread it out you may have as many dishes as you please so she did that took the cloth and spread it out on the grass and low it served up the nicest dishes one could wish to have there was wine too and mead and sweet cake well she soon got up her flesh again and grew so plump and rosy and white that the queen and her scrawny chip of a daughter turned blue and yellow for spite the queen couldn't at all make out how her stepdaughter got to look so well on such bad fair so she told one of her maids to go after her in the wood and watch and see how it all was for she thought some of the servants in the house must give her food so the maid went after her and watched in the wood and then she saw how the stepdaughter took the cloth out of the bull's ear and spread it out and how it served up the nicest dishes which the stepdaughter ate and made good cheer over all this the maid told the queen when she went home and now the king came home from war and had won the fight against the other king with whom he went out to battle so there was great joy throughout the palace and no one was gladder than the king's daughter but the queen shamed sick and took to her bed and paid the doctor a great fee to get him to say she could never be well again unless she had some of the done bulls flesh to eat both the king's daughter and the folk in the palace asked the doctor if nothing else would help her and prayed hard for the bull for everyone was fond of him and they all said there wasn't that bull's match in all the land but now he must and should be slaughtered nothing else would do when the king's daughter heard that she got very sorrowful and went down into the buyer to the bull there too he stood and hung down his head and looked so downcast that she began to weep over him what are you weeping for asked the bull so she told him how the king had come again and how the queen had shamed sick and got the doctor to say she could never be well and sound again unless she got some of the done bulls flesh to eat and so now he was to be slaughtered if they get me killed first said the bull they'll soon take your life too now if you're of my mind we'll just start off and go away tonight well the princess thought it bad you may be sure to go and leave her father but she thought it's still worse to be in the house with the queen and so she gave her word to the bull and to come to him at night when all had gone to bed the princess stole down to the buyer to the bull and so he took her on his back and set off from the homestead as fast as ever he could and when the folk got up at cock crow next morning to slaughter the bull while he was gone and when the king got up and asked for his daughter she was gone too he sent out messengers on all sides to hunt for them and gave them out in all the paris churches but there was no one who had caught a glimpse of them meanwhile the bull went through many lands with the king's daughter on his back and so one day they came to a great copper wood where both trees and branches and leaves and flowers and everything were nothing but copper but before they went into the wood the bull said to the king's daughter now when we get into this wood mind you take care not to touch even a leaf of it else it's all over both with me and you for here dwells a troll with three heads who owns this wood no bless her she'd be sure to take care not to touch anything well she was very careful and linked this way and that to miss the bows and put them gently aside with her hands but it was such a thick wood to as scarce possible to get through and so with all her pains somehow or other she tore off a leaf which she held in her hand oh oh what have you done now said the bull there's nothing for it now but to fight for life or death but mind you keep the leaf safe soon after they got to the end of the wood and a troll with three heads came running up who is it that touches my wood said the troll it's just as much mine as yours said the bull ah roared the troll we'll try a fall about that as you choose said the bull so they rushed at one another and fought and the bull he budded and gored and kicked with all his might and main but the troll gave him as good as he brought and it lasted the whole day before the bull got the mastery and then he was so full of wounds and so worn out he could scarce lift a leg then they were forced to stay there a day to rest and then the bull bade the king's daughter to take the horn of ointment which hung at the troll's belt and rub him with it then he came to himself again and the day after they trudged on again so they traveled many many days until after a long time they came to a silver wood where both the trees and branches and leaves and flowers and everything were silver before the bull went into the wood he said to the king's daughter now when we get into this wood for heaven's sake mind you take good care you mustn't touch anything and not pluck off so much as one leaf else it is all over both with me and you for here is a troll with six heads who owns it and him i don't think i should be able to master no so the king's daughter i'll take good care and not touch anything you don't wish me to touch and when they got into the wood it was so close and thick they could scarce get along she was as careful as careful could be and linked to this side and that to miss the boughs and put them on one side with her hands but every minute the branches struck her across the eyes and in spite of all her pains it so happened she tore off a leaf oh oh what have you done now said the bull there's nothing for it now but to fight for life and death for this troll has six heads and is twice as strong as the other but mind you keep the leaf safe and don't lose it just as he said that up came the troll who is this he said that touches my wood it's as much mine as yours said the bull that will try a fall about roared the troll as you choose said the bull and rushed at the troll and gored out his eyes and drove his horns right through his body so that the entrails gushed out but the troll was almost a match for him and it lasted three whole days before the bull got the life gored out of him but then he too was so weak and wretched it was as much as he could do to stir a limb and so full of wounds that the blood streamed from him so he said to the king's daughter she must take the horn of ointment that hung at the troll's belt and rub him with it then she did that and he came to himself but they were forced to stay there a week to rest before the bull had strength enough to go on at last they set off again but the bull was still poorly and they went rather slowly at first so to spare time the king's daughter said as she was young in light of foot she could very well walk but she couldn't get leave to do that no she must see herself up on his back again so on they traveled through many lands a long time and the king's daughter did not know in the least whether they went but after a long long time they came to a gold wood it was so grand the gold dropped from every twig and all the trees and boughs and flowers and leaves were of pure gold here too the same thing happened as had happened in the silver wood and copper wood the bull told the king's daughter she mustn't touch it for anything for there was a troll with nine heads who owned it and he was much bigger and stouter than both the others put together and he didn't think he could get the better of him no she'd be sure to take heed not to touch it that he might know very well but when they got into the wood it was far thicker and closer than the silver wood and the deeper they went into it the worse it got the wood went on getting thicker and thicker and closer and closer and at last she thought there was no way at all to get through it she was in such an awful fright of plucking off anything that she sat and twisted and turned herself this way and that and hither and thither to keep clear of the boughs and she put them on one side with her hands but every moment the branches struck her across the eyes so that she couldn't see what she was clutching at and lo before she knew how it came about she had a golden apple in her hand then she was bitterly sorry and she burst into tears and wanted to throw it away but the bull said she must keep it safe and watch it well and comforted her as well as he could but he thought it would be a hard tussle and he doubted how it would go just then up came the troll with the nine heads and he was so ugly the king's daughter scarcely dared to look at him who is it that touches my wood he roared it's just as much mine as yours said the bull that will try a fall about roared the troll again just as you choose said the bull and so they rushed at one another and fought and it was such a dreadful sight the king's daughter was ready to swoon away the bull gored out the troll's eyes and drove his horns through and through his body till the entrails came tumbling out but the troll fought bravely and when the bull got one head gored to death the rest breathed life into it again and so it lasted a whole week before the bull was able to get the life out of them all but then he was utterly worn out and wretched he couldn't stir a foot and his body was all one wound he couldn't so much as ask the king's daughter to take the horn of ointment which hung at the troll's belt and rub it over him but she did it all the same and then he came to himself by little and little but they had to lie there and rest three weeks before he was fit to go on again then they set off at a snail's pace for the bull said they had still a little further to go and so they crossed over many high hills and thick woods so after a while they got upon the fells do you see anything asked the bull no i see nothing but the sky and the wild fell said the king's daughter so when they clump higher up the fell got smoother and they could see further off do you see anything now asked the bull yes i see a little castle far far away said the princess that's not so little though said the bull after a long long time they came to a great cairn where there was a spur of the fell that stood sheer across the way do you see anything now asked the bull yes now i see the castle close by said the king's daughter and now it is much much bigger thither you are to go so the bull right underneath the castle is a pig's die where you are to dwell when you come thither you'll find a wooden cloak all made of strips of lathe that you must put on and go up to the castle and say your name is katie wooden cloak and ask for a place but before you go you must take your pen knife and cut my head off and then you must play me and roll up the hide and lay it under the wall of rock yonder and under the hide you must lay the copper leaf and the silver leaf and the golden apple yonder up against the rock stands a stick and when you want anything you've only got to knock on the wall of rock with that stick at first she wouldn't do anything of the kind but when the bull said it was the only thanks he would have for what he had done for her she couldn't help herself so however much it grieved her heart she hacked and cut away with her knife at the big beast till she got both his head and his hide off and then she laid the hide up under the wall of rock and put the copper leaf and the silver leaf and the golden apple inside it so when she had done that she went over to the pig's die but all the while she went she sobbed and wept there she put on the wooden cloak and so went up to the palace when she came into the kitchen she begged for a place and told them her name was katie wooden cloak yes the cook said she might have a place she might have leave to be there in the scullery and wash up for the lassie who did that work before had just gone away but as soon as you get weary of being here you'll go your way too i'll be bound no she was sure she wouldn't do that so there she was behaving so well and washing up so handily the sunday after there were to be strange guests at the palace so katie asked if she might have leave to carry up water for the prince's bath but all the rest laughed at her and said what should you do there do you think the prince will care to look at you you who are such a fright but she wouldn't give it up and kept on begging and praying and at last she got leave so when she went up the stairs her wooden cloak made such a clatter the prince came out and asked pray who are you oh i was just going to bring up water for your royal highness's bath said katie do you think now said the prince i'd have anything to do with the water you bring and with that he threw the water over her so she had to put up with that but then she asked leave to go to church well she got that leave too for the church lay close by but first of all she went to the rock and knocked on its face with the stick which stood there just as the bull had said and straight away out came a man who said what's your will so the princess said she had got leave to go to church and hear the priest preach but she had no clothes to go in so he brought out a curdle which was as bright as the copper wood and she got a horse and saddle beside now when she got to the church she was so lovely and grand all wondered who she could be and scarce one of them listened to what the priest said for they looked too much at her as for the prince he fell so deep in love with her he didn't take his eyes off her for a single moment so as she went out of church the prince ran after her and held the church door open for her and so he got hold of one of her gloves which was caught in the door when she went away and mounted her horse the prince went up to her again and asked once she came oh i'm from bath said katie and while the prince took out the glove to give it to her she said bright before and dark behind clouds come rolling on the wind that this prince may never see where my good steed goes with me the prince had never seen the like of that glove and went about far and wide asking after the land whence the proud lady who rode off without her glove said she came but there was no one who could tell where bath lay next sunday someone had to go up to the prince with a towel oh may i have leave to go up with it said katie what's the good of your going said the others you saw how it fared with you last time but katie wouldn't give in she kept on begging and praying till she got leave and then she ran up the stairs so that her wooden cloak made a great clatter out came the prince and when he saw it was katie he tore the towel out of her hand and threw it into her face pack yourself off you ugly troll he cried do you think i'd have a towel which you have touched with your smutty fingers after that the prince set off to church and katie begged for leave to go to they all asked what business she had at church she who had nothing to put on but that wooden cloak which was so black and ugly but katie said the priest was such a brave man to preach what he said did her so much good and so she at last got leave now she went again to the rock and knocked and so out came the man and gave her a curtain far finer than the first one it was all covered with silver and it shone like the silver wood and she got besides a noble steed with a saddlecloth broidered with silver and a silver bit so when the king's daughter got to church the folk were still standing about in the church yard and all wondered and wondered who she could be and the prince was soon on the spot and came and wished to hold her horse for her while she got off but she jumped down and said there was no need for her horse was so well broke it stood still when she bit it and came when she called it so they all went into church but there was scarce a soul that listened to what the priest said for they looked at her a deal too much and the prince fell still deeper in love than the first time when the sermon was over and she went out of church and was going to mount her horse up came the prince again and asked her when she came oh i'm from towel land said the king's daughter and as she said that she dropped her riding whip and when the prince stooped to pick it up she said right before and dark behind clouds come rolling on the wind that this prince may never see where my good steed goes with me so away she was again and the prince couldn't tell what had become of her he went about far and wide asking after the land when she said she came but there was no one who could tell him where it lay and so the prince had to make the best he could of it next Sunday someone had to go up to the prince with a comb katie begged for leave to go up with it but the others put her in mind how she had fared the last time and scolded her for wishing to go before the prince such a black and ugly fright as she was in her wooden cloak but she wouldn't leave off asking till they let her go up to the prince with his comb so when she came clattering up the stairs again out came the prince and took the comb and threw it at her and bat her be off as fast as she could after that the prince went to church and katie begged for leave to go to they asked again what business she had there she who was so foul and black and who had no clothes to show herself in might be the prince or someone else would see her and then both she and all the others would smart for it but katie said they had something else to do than to look at her and she wouldn't leave off begging and praying till they gave her leave to go so the same thing happened now as had happened twice before she went to the rock and knocked with a stick and then the man came out and gave her a kirtle which was far grander than either of the others it was almost all pure gold and studded with diamonds and she got besides a noble steed with a gold broidered saddlecloth and a golden bit now when the king's daughter got to the church there stood the priest and all the people in the churchyard waiting for her up came the prince running and wanted to hold her horse but she jumped off and said no thanks there's no need for my horses so well broke it stands still when I bid him so they all hastened into the church and the priest got into the pulpit but no one listened to a word he said for they all look too much at her and wondered when she came and the prince he was far deeper in love than either of the former times he had no eyes or ears or sense for anything but just to sit and stare at her so when the sermon was over and the king's daughter was to go out of the church the prince had got a f***ing of pitch poured out in the porch that he might come and help her over it but she didn't care a bit she just put her foot right down in the midst of the pitch and jumped across it but then one of her golden shoes stuck fast in it and as she got on her horse up came the prince running out of the church and asked when she came I'm from Comeland said Katie but when the prince wanted to reach her the golden shoe she said bright before and dark behind clouds come rolling on the wind that this prince may never see where my good steed goes with me so the prince couldn't tell still what had become of her and he went about a weary time all over the world asking for Comeland but when no one could tell him where it lay he ordered it to be given out everywhere that he would wed the woman whose foot could fit the gold shoe so many came of all sorts from all sides fair and ugly alike but there was no one who had so small a foot as to be able to get on the gold shoe and after a long long time who should come but Katie's wicked stepmother and her daughter too and her the gold shoe fitted but ugly she was and so lowly she looked the prince only kept his words sore against his will still they got ready the wedding feast and she was dressed up and decked out as a bride but as they rode to church a little bird sat upon a tree and sang a bit of her heel and a bit of her toe Katie wooden cloaks tiny shoe is full of blood that's all I know and sure enough when they looked to it the bird told the truth for blood gushed out of the shoe then all the maids and women who were about the palace had to go up to try on the shoe but there was none of them whom it would fit at all but where's Katie wooden cloak asked the prince when all the rest had tried the shoe for he understood the song of birds very well and bore in mind what the little bird had said oh she think of that said the rest it's no good her coming forward why she's legs like a horse very true I dare say said the prince but since all the others have tried Katie may as well try to Katie he balled out through the door and Katie came trampling upstairs and her wooden cloak clattered as if a whole regiment of dragoons were charging up now you must try the shoe on and be a princess you too said the other maids and laughed and made a game of her so Katie took up a shoe and put her foot into it like nothing and threw off her wooden cloak and so there she stood in her gold curdle and it shone so that the sunbeams glistened from her and low on her other foot she had the fellow to the gold shoe so when the prince knew her again he grew so glad he ran up to her and threw his arms around her and gave her a kiss and when he heard she was a king's daughter he got gladder still and then came the wedding feast and so snip snip snover this story is over end of section 56 section 57 of popular tales from the north this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org popular tales from the north by Sir George Webb Dacent section 57 Thumbikin once on a time there was a woman who had an only son and he was no taller than your thumb and so they called him Thumbikin now when he had come to be old enough to know right and wrong his mother told him to go out and woo him a bride for now she said it was a high time he thought about getting a wife when Thumbikin heard that he was very glad so they got their driving gear in order and set off and his mother put him into her bosom now they were going to a palace where there was a no fully big princess but when they had gone a bit of the way Thumbikin was lost and gone his mother hunted for him everywhere and bowled to him and wept because he was lost and she couldn't find him again beep beep said Thumbikin here I am and he had hidden himself in the horse's mane so he came out and had to give his word to his mother that he wouldn't do so anymore but when they had driven a bit further on Thumbikin was lost again his mother hunted for him and called him and wept but gone he was and gone he stayed beep beep said Thumbikin at last and then she heard how he laughed and titted but he couldn't find him at all for the life of her beep beep why here I am now said Thumbikin and came out of the horse's ear so he had to give his word that he wouldn't hide himself again but they had scarce driven a bit further before he was gone again he couldn't help it as for his mother she hunted and wept and called him by name but gone he was and gone he stayed and the more she hunted the less she could find him in any way beep beep here I am then said Thumbikin but she couldn't make out at all where he was his voice sounded so dull and muffled so she hunted and he kept on saying beep here I am and laughed and chuckled but she couldn't find him but all at once the horse snorted and it snorted Thumbikin out for he had crept up one of his nostrils then his mother took him and put him into a bag she knew no other way for she saw well enough he couldn't help hiding himself so when they came to the palace the match was soon made for the princess thought him a pretty little chap and it wasn't long before the wedding came on two now when they were going to sit down to the wedding feast Thumbikin sat at the table by the princess side but he had worse than no seat for when he was to eat he couldn't reach up to the table and so if the princess hadn't helped him up onto it he wouldn't have got a bit to eat now it went good and well so long as he had to eat off a plate but then there came a great ball of porridge that he couldn't reach up to but Thumbikin soon found out a way to help himself he climbed up and sat on the lip of the bowl but then there was a pat of melting butter right in the middle of the bowl and that he couldn't reach to dip his porridge into it and so he went on and took his seat at the edge of the melting butter but just then who should come but the princess with a great spoonful of porridge to dip it into the butter and alas she went too near to Thumbikin and tipped him over and so he fell overhead and ears and was drowned in the melted butter end of section 57 read by Eswa in Belgium in september 2008 section 58 of popular tales from the north this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org popular tales from the north by Sir George Webb Dacent section 58 doll in the grass once on a time there was a king who had 12 sons when they were grown big he told them they must go out into the world and win themselves wives but these wives must each be able to spin and weave and sew a shirt in one day else he wouldn't have them for daughters-in-law to each he gave a horse and a new suit of mail and they went out into the world to look after their brides but when they had gone a bit of the way they said they wouldn't have boots their youngest brother with them he wasn't fit for anything well boots had to stay behind and he didn't know what to do or without to turn and so he grew so downcast he got off his horse and sat down in the tall grass to weep but when he had sat a little while one of the tufts in the grass began to stir and move and out of it came a little white thing and when it came nearer boots saw it was a charming little lassie only such a tiny bit of a thing so the lassie went up to him and asked if he would come down below and see doll in the grass yes he'd be very happy and so he went now when he got down there said doll in the grass on a chair she was so lovely and so smart and she asked boots whether he was going and what was his business so he told her how there were 12 brothers of them and how the king had given them horses and mail and said they must each go out into the world and find them a wife who could spin and weave and sew a shirt in a day but if you'll only say at once you'll be my wife I'll not go a step further say boots to doll in the grass well she was willing enough and so she made haste and span and wove and sewed the shirt but it was so tiny tiny little it wasn't longer than so long so boots set off home with it but when he brought it out he was almost ashamed it was so small still the king said he should have her and so boots set off glad and happy to fetch his little sweetheart so when he got to doll in the grass he wished to take her up before him on his horse but she wouldn't have that for she said she would sit and drive along in a silver spoon and that she had two small white horses to draw her so off they set he on his horse and she on her silver spoon and the two horses that drew her were two tiny white mice but boots always kept the other side of the road he was so afraid lest he should ride over her she was so little so when they had gone a bit of the way they came to a great piece of water here boots horse got frightened and shied across the road and upset the spoon and doll in the grass tumbled into the water then boots got so sorrowful because he didn't know how to get her out again but in a little while up came a merman with her and now she was as well and full grown as other men and women and far lovelier than she had been before so he took her up before him on his horse and rode home when boots got home all his brothers had come back each with his sweetheart but these were also ugly and foul and wicked that they had done nothing but fight with one another on the way home and on their heads they had a kind of hat that was dubbed over with tar and suit and so the rain had run down off the hats onto their faces till they got far uglier and nastier than they had been before when his brothers saw boots and his sweetheart they were all as jealous as jealous could be of her but the king was so overjoyed with them both that he drove all the others away and so boots held his wedding feast with doll in the grass and after that they lived well and happily together a long long time and if they're not dead why their life still end of section 58 section 59 of popular tales from the north this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recorded by Didier popular tales from the north by Sir George Webdescent section 59 the lad and the deal once on a time there was a lad who was walking along a road cracking nuts so he found one that was warm eaten and just at that very moment he met the deal is it true now said the lad what they say that the deal can make himself as small as he chooses and thrust himself in through a pinhole yes it is said the deal oh it is is it then let me see you do it and just creep into this nut said the lad so the deal did it now when he had crept well in through the warmth hole the lad stopped it up with a pin now I've got you safe he said and put the nut into his pocket so when he had walked on a bit he came to a smithy and he turned in and asked the smith if it'd be good enough to crack that nut for him I that'll be an easy job said the smith and took his smallest hammer led the nut on the anvil and gave it a blow but it wouldn't break so he took another hammer a little bigger but that wasn't heavy enough either then he took one beer still but it was still the same story and so the smith got rough and grasped his great sledgehammer now I'll crack you to bits he said and let drive at the nut with all his might and man and so the nut flew to pieces with a bang that blew off half the roof of the smithy and the whole house creaked and ground I thought it were ready to fall wow if I don't think the deal must have been in that nut said the smith so he was you're quite right said the lad as he went away laughing and of section 59 section 60 of popular tales from the Norse this is a LibriVox recording or LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org reading by Lars Rolander popular tales from the Norse by Sir George Webb Dacent section 60 the cock and hen are nutting once on a time the cock and the hen went out into the hazelwood to pick nuts and so the hen got a nutshell in her throat and lay on her back flapping her wings off went the cock to fetch water for her so he came to the spring and said dear good friend spring give me a drop of water that I may give it to dame partly my mate to lies at death's door in the hazelwood but the spring answered you'll get no water from me until I get leaves from you so the cock ran to the linden and said dear good friend linden give me some of your leaves the leaves I'll give to the spring and the spring will give me water to give to dame partly my mate who lies at death's door in the hazelwood you'll get no leaves from me said the linden until I get a red ribbon with a golden edge from you so the cock ran to the virgin Mary dear good virgin Mary give me a red ribbon with a golden edge and I'll give the red ribbon to the linden the linden will give me leaves the leaves I'll give to the spring the spring will give me water and the water I'll give to the dame partly my mate who lies at death's door in the hazelwood you'll get no red ribbon from me answered the virgin Mary until I get shoes from you so the cock ran to the shoemaker and said dear good friend shoemaker give me shoes and I'll give the shoes to the virgin Mary the virgin Mary'll give me a red ribbon the red ribbon I'll give to the linden the linden will give me leaves the leaves I'll give to the spring the spring will give me water the water I'll give to dame partly my mate who lies at death's door in the hazelwood you'll get no shoes from me said the shoemaker until I get bracelets from you so the cock ran to the sew and said dear good friend so give me bristles the bristles I'll give to the shoemaker the shoemaker will give me shoes the shoes I'll give to the virgin Mary the virgin Mary will give me the red ribbon the red ribbon I'll give to the linden the linden will give me a leaves the leaves I'll give to the spring the spring will give me water the water I'll give to to deem partlet my mate, who lies at death's door in the haze of wood. "'You'll get no bristles from me,' said the sow, "'until I get corn from you.' So the cock ran to the thresher and said, "'Dear good friend thresher, give me corn. The corn I'll give to the sow. The sow will give me bristles. The bristles I'll give to the shoemaker. The shoemaker will give me shoes. The shoes I'll give to the Virgin Mary. The Virgin Mary will give me a red ribbon. The red ribbon I'll give to the linden. The linden will give me leaves. The leaves I'll give to the spring. The spring will give me water. The water I'll give to deem partlet my mate, who lies at death's door in the haze of wood. "'You'll get no corn from me,' said the thresher, "'until I get a bannock from you.' So the cock ran to the baker's wife and said, "'Dear good friend, Mrs. Baker, give me a bannock. The bannock I'll give to the thresher. The thresher will give me corn. The corn I'll give to the sow. The sow will give me bristles. The bristles I'll give to the shoemaker. The shoemaker will give me shoes. The shoes I'll give to the Virgin Mary. The Virgin Mary will give me a red ribbon. The red ribbon I'll give to the linden. The linden will give me leaves. The leaves I'll give to the spring. The spring will give me water. The water I'll give to Dane Partlett, my mate, who lies at death's door in the Hazel wood." "'You'll get no banock from me,' said the baker's wife, until I get wood from you.' So the cock ran to the wood-cutter and said, "'Dear good friend wood-cutter, give me wood. The wood I'll give to the baker's wife. The baker's wife will give me a banock. The banock I'll give to the thresher. The thresher will give me corn. The corn I'll give to the sow. The sow will give me bristles. The bristles I'll give to the shoemaker. The shoemaker will give me shoes. The shoes I'll give to the virgin Mary. The virgin Mary will give me red ribbon. The red ribbon I'll give to the linden. The linden will give me leaves. The leaves I'll give to the spring. The spring will give me water. The water I'll give to Dane Partlett, my mate, Who lies at death's door in the hazel wood?" "'You'll get no wood from me,' answered the woodcutter, "'until I get an axe from you.' So the cock ran to the smith and said, "'Dear good friend smith, give me an axe. The axe I'll give to the woodcutter. The woodcutter I'll give the wood. The wood I'll give to the baker's wife. The baker's wife will give me a bannock. The bannock I'll give to the thresher. The thresher will give me corn. The corn I'll give to the sow. The sow will give me bristles. The bristles I'll give to the shoemaker. The shoemaker will give me shoes. The shoes I'll give to the virgin Mary. The virgin Mary will give me a red ribbon. The red ribbon I'll give to the linden. The linden will give me leaves. The leaves I'll give to the spring. The spring will give me water. The water I'll give to the impotlet, my mate, to lice at death's door in the hazel-wood." "'I will get no axe from me,' answered the smith, "'until I get charcoal of you.' So the cock ran to the charcoal-burner and said, "'Dear good friend charcoal-burner, give me charcoal. The charcoal I'll give to the smith, the smith will give me an axe. To the axe I'll give to the wood-cutter. The wood-cutter will give me wood. The wood I'll give to the baker's wife. The baker's wife will give me a banock. The banock I'll give to the thresher. The thresher will give me corn. The corn I'll give to the sow. The sow will give me bristles. The bristles I'll give to the shoemaker. The shoemaker will give me shoes. The shoes I'll give to the virgin Mary. The virgin Mary will give me a red ribbon. The red ribbon I'll give to the linden. The linden will give me leaves. The leaves I'll give to the spring. The spring will give me water. the water I'll give to Dame Partlett, my mate, who lies at death's door in the Hazel wood." So the charcoal burner took pity on the cock, and gave him a bit of charcoal.  And so she got all right again. End of section 60, read by Lars Rolander. Section 61 of popular tales from the Norse. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Popular Tales from the Norse. by George Webb Dacent. Section 61, The Big Bird Done. Once on a time, there was a king who had 12 daughters. And he was so fond of them, they must always be at his side. But every day at noon, while the king slept, the princesses went out to take a walk. So once, while the king was taking his noontide nap, and the princesses had gone to take their walk, all at once they were missing. And worse, they never came home again. Then there was great grief and sorrow all over the land. But the most sorry of all was the king. He sent messengers out throughout his own and other realms, and gave out their names in all the churches. And had the bells tolled for them in all the stipples. But gone the princesses were. And gone they stayed. And none could tell what was become of them. So it was as clear as they that they must have been carried off by some witchcraft. Well, it wasn't long before these tidings spread far and wide over land and town. Ay, over many lands. And so the news came to a king, ever so many lands off, who had 12 sons. So when these princesses had of the 12 kings daughters, they asked leave of their father to go out and seek them. They had hard work to get his leave, for he was afraid lest he should never see them again. But they all fell down on their knees before the king and begged so long, at last he was forced to let them go after all. He fitted out a ship for them and gave them Rita Red, who was quite at home at sea for a captain. So they sailed about a long, long time, landed on every shore they came to and hunted and axed after the princesses. But they could neither hear nor see anything of them. And now a few days only we are wanting to make up seven years since they set sail. When one day a strong storm rose and such foul weather they thought they should never come to land again. And all had to work so hard they couldn't get a wink of sleep so long as the storm lasted. But when the third day was nearly over the wind fell and all at once it got as still as still could be. Now they were also weary with work and the rough weather. They fell faster sleep in the twinkling of an eye all but the youngest prince. He could get no rest and couldn't go to sleep at all. So as he was pacing up and down the deck the ship came to a little island and on the island ran a little dog and bathed and barked at the ship as if it wanted to come on board. So the prince went to that side of the deck and tried to coax the dog and whistled and whistled to him. But the more he whistled and coaxed the more the dog barked and snarled. Well he thought he thought it a shame the dog should run about there and starve for he made up his mind that it must have come tether from a ship that had been cast away in the storm but still he thought he should never be able to help it after all for he couldn't put out the boat by himself and as for the others they all slept so sound he wouldn't wake them for the sake of a dog but then the weather was so calm and still and at last he said to himself Come what may you must go on shore and save that dog and so he began to try to launch the boat and he found it far easier work than he thought so he rode ashore and went up to the dog but every time he tried to catch it it jumped on one side and so it went on till he found himself inside a great grand castle before he knew where he was then the dog all at once was changed into a lovely princess and there on the bench sat a man so big and ugly the prince almost lost his wits for fear you've no need to be afraid said the man but the prince to tell you the truth got far more afraid when he heard his gruff voice for I know well enough what you want there are twelve princes of you and you are looking for the twelve princesses that are lost I know too very well whereabouts they are they are with my lord and master and they are the seat each of them on her chair and comb his hair for he has twelve heads and now you have sailed seven years but you have to sail seven years more before you find them as for you you might stay here and welcome and have my daughter but you must first slay him for he's a hard master to all of us and we are all weary of him and when he's dead I shall be king in his dead but first try if you can brandish the sword then the king's son took hold of a rusty old sword which hung on the wall but he could scarce stir it now you must take a pull at this flask set the troll and when he had done that he could stir it and when he had taken another he could lift it and when he had taken a third he could brandish the sword as easily as if it had been his own now when you get on board set the troll prince you must hide the sword well in your birth that Rita Redmayne set eyes on it he's not man enough to weld it but he'll get spiteful against you and try to take your life and when seven years are almost out all but three days he went on to say everything will happen just as now foul weather will come on you with a great storm and when it is over you'll all be sleepy then you must take the sword and row ashore and so you'll come to a castle all sorts of guards will stand wolves and bears and lions but you needn't be afraid of them for they'll all come and crouch at your feet but when you come inside the castle you'll soon see the troll he sits in a splendid chamber in grand attire and array twelve heads he has of his own and the princesses sit around them each on her chair and comb his head and that's the walk you may guess they don't much like then you must make haste and heel off one head after the other as quick as you can for if he wakes and sets his eyes on you he'll swallow you alive so the king's son went on board with the sword and he bore in mind what he had come to know the orders still lay fast asleep and snored and he hid the sword in his bed so that neither Rita read nor any of the rest got sight of it and now it began to blow again so he woke up the orders and said he thought they oughtn't to sleep any longer now when there was such a good wind and there was none of them that marked he had been away well, after the seven years we're all gone but three days all happened as the troll had said a great storm and foul weather came on that lasted three days and when it had blown itself out all the rest grew sleepy and went to rest but the youngest king's son rode ashore and the guards fell at his feet and so he came to the castle so when he got inside the chamber there sat the king fast asleep as the troll prince had said and the twelve princesses sat each on her chair and combed one of his heads the king's son beckoned to the princesses to get out of the way as quick as ever he could they pointed to the troll and beckoned to him again to go his way as quick as ever he could but he kept on making signs to them to get out of the way and then they understood that he wanted to set them free and stole away softly one after the other and as fast as they went he hewed off the troll king's heads till at last the blood gushed out like a great brook when the troll was slain he rode on board and hid his sword he thought now he had done enough and as he couldn't get rid of the body by himself he thought it only fair they should help him a little so he woke them all up and said it was a shame they should be snoring there when he had found the princesses and set them free from the troll the others only laughed at him and said he had been just as sound asleep as they and only dreamt that he was man enough to do what he said for if anyone was to set the princess free it was far more likely it would be one of them but the youngest king's son told them all about it and when they followed him to the land and saw first of all the brook of blood and then the castle and the troll and the 12 heads and the princesses they saw plain enough that he had spoken the truth and now the whole helped him to throw the body and the heads into the sea so all were glad and happy but none more so than the princesses who got rid of having to sit there and comb the troll's hair all day of all the silver and gold and precious things that were there they took as much as the ship could hold and so they went on board all together princesses and princesses are like but when they had gone a bit out on the sea the princesses said they had forgotten in their joy their gold crowns they lay behind in a press and they would be so glad to have them so when none of the others was feeling to fetch them the youngest king's son said I have really dead so much I can very well go back for the gold crowns too if you will only strike sail and wait till I come again yes, that they would do but when he had gone back so far that they couldn't see him any longer Rita read who would have been glad enough to have been their chief and to have the youngest princess said it was no use their lying there still waiting for him for they might know very well he would never come back they all knew too how the king had given him all power and authority to sail or not as he chose and now they must all say it was he that had saved the princesses and if any of them said anything else he should lose his life the princess didn't dare to do anything else than what Rita read willed and so they sailed away meanwhile the youngest king's son rode to land went up to the castle found the press with gold crowns in it and at last logged it down to the boat and shoved off but when he came where he ought to have seen the ship low it was gone well as he couldn't catch a glimpse of it anywhere he could very soon tell how matters stood to row after them was no good and so he was forced to turn about and row back to land he was rather afraid to stay alone in the castle all night but there was no other house to be got so he plucked up a hat locked up all the doors and gates fast and laid down in a room where there was a bed ready made but fearful and woeful he was and still more afraid he got when he had lain a while something began to creak and groan and quake in wall and roof as if the whole castle were being torn asunder then all at once down something plunged close by the side of his bed as if it were a whole cut load of hay then all was still again but after a while he heard a voice each paid him not to be afraid and said here am I the big bird done come to help you all I can but the first thing you must do when you wake in the morning will be to go to the barn and fetch four barrels of rye for me I must fill my crop with them for breakfast else I can't do anything when he woke up sure enough he saw an awfully big bird which had a feather at the nip of his neck as thick and long as a half grown spruce fair so the king son went down to the barn to fetch four barrels of rye for the big bird done and when he had crammed them into his crop he told the king son to hang the press with the gold crowns on one side of his neck and as much gold and silver as would weigh it down on the other side and after that to get on his back and hold fast by the feather in the nip of his neck so a way they went till the wind whistled after them and so it wasn't long before they outstripped the ship the king son wanted to go on board for his sword for he was afraid lest anyone should get sight of it for the troll had told him that mustn't be but bird done said that mustn't be either Rita read would never see it, never fear but if you go on board he will try to take your life for he has set his heart on having the youngest princess but make your mind quite easy about her for she lays a naked sword by her side in bed every night so after a long long time they came to the island where the troll prince was and there the king son was welcomed so heartily there was no end to it the troll prince didn't know how to be good enough to him for having slain his lord and master and so made him king of the trolls and if the king son had been with him he might easily have got the troll king's daughter and after kingdom but he had so set his heart on the youngest of the 12 princesses he could take no rest but was all for going after their ship time after time so the troll king begged him to be quiet a little longer and said they had still nearly 7 years to sail before they got home as for the princess the troll said the same thing as the big bird done you needn't fret yourself about her for she lays a naked sword by her side every night in bed and now if you don't believe what I say said the troll you can go on board when they sail by here and see for yourself and fetch the sword too for I may just as well have it again so when they sailed by another great storm arose and when the king son went on board they all slept and each princess lay beside her prince but the youngest lay alone with a naked sword beside her in the bed and on the floor by the bedside lay Rita red then the king son took the sword and rode ashore again and none of them had seen that he had been on board but still the king son couldn't rest and he often and often wanted to be off and so at last when they got near the end of the 7 years and only 3 weeks were left the troll king said now you may get ready to go since you won't stay with us and you shall have the loan of my iron boat which sails of itself if you only say boat, boat, go on in that boat there is an iron club and that club you must lift a little when you see the ship straight ahead of you and then they will get such a rattling fair breeze they will forget to look at you but when you get alongside them you must lift the club a little again and then they will get such a foul wind and storm they will have something else to do than to stare at you and when you have run past them you must lift the club a third time but you must always be sure and lay it down carefully again else there will be such a storm both you and they will be wrecked and lost now when you have got to land you've no need to bother yourself at all about the boat just turn it about and show it off and see boat, boat, go back home when he set out they gave him so much gold and silver and so many other costly things and clothes and linen which the trawl princes had sewn and woven for him all that long time that he was far richer than any of his brothers well he had no sooner seated himself on the boat and said boat, boat, go on then away went the boat and when they saw the ship right ahead he lifted up the club and then they got such a fair breeze they forgot to look at him when he was alongside the ship he lifted the club again and then such a storm arose and such foul weather that the white foam flew about the ship and the billows rolled over the deck and they had something else to do than to stare at him and when he had run past them he lifted the club the third time and the storm and the wind rose so they had still less time to look after him and to make him out so he came to land long, long before the ship and when he had got all his goods out of the boat he shoved it off again and turned it about and said boat, go back home and off went the boat then he dressed himself up as a sailor whether the Trobkang had told him that or it was his own device I'm sure I can't say and went up to a wretched hut where an old wife lived whom he got to believe that he was a poor sailor who had been on board the great ship that I abstract and that he was the only soul that had got ashore after that he begged for a house room for himself and the goods he had saved heaven meant me said the old wife how can I lend anyone house room look at me and mine why? I have no bed to sleep on myself still less one for anyone else to lie on well well it was all the same said the sailor if he only got a roof over his head it didn't matter where he lay so she couldn't turn him out of the house when he was so thankful for what there was that afternoon he fetched up his things and the old wife who was very eager to hear a bit of news to run about and tell began at once to ask who he was when he came wither he was bound what it was he had with him what his business was and if he hadn't had anything of the twelve princesses who had been away the lord knew how many years all this she asked and much more which it would be waste of time to tell but he said he was so poorly and had such a bad headache after the awful weather he had been out in that he couldn't answer any of her questions she must just leave him alone and let him rest a few days till he came to himself after the hard work he'd had in the guild and then she'd know all she wanted the very next day the old wife began to stare him up and ask again but the sailors head was still so bad he hadn't got his wits together but somehow he let drop a word or two to show that he did know something about the princesses off ran the old wife with what she had had to all the gossip and chatterboxes round about and soon the one came running after the order to ask about the princesses if he had seen them if they would soon be there if they were on the way and much more of the same start he still went on groaning over his headache after the storm so that he couldn't tell them all about it but so much he told them unless they had been lost in the great storm they'd make the land in about a fortnight or before perhaps but he couldn't say for sure whether they were alive or known for though he had seen them it might very well be that they had been cast away in the storm sent so what did one of these old gossips do but run up to the palace with the story and say that there was a sailor down in such and such an old wife's heart who had seen the princesses and that they were coming home in a fortnight or in a week's time when the king heard that he sent a messenger down to the sailor to come up to him and tell the news himself I don't see how it's to be said the sailor for I haven't any clothes fit to stand in before the king but the king said he must come for the king must and would talk with him whether he were richly or polyclad for there was no one else who could bring him any tidings of the princesses so he went up at last to the palace and went in before the king who asked him if it were true that he had seen anything of the princesses hey hey said the sailor I've seen them sure enough but I don't know whether they are still alive for when I last caught sight of them the weather was so foul we in our ship were cast away but if they are still alive they'll come safe home in a fortnight or perhaps before when the king heard that he was almost besides himself a joy and when the time came that the sailor had said they would come the king drove down to the strand to meet them in a great state and there was joy and gladness over the whole land when the ship came sailing in with the princesses and princesses and retired but no one was gladder than the old king who had got his daughters back again the 11 eldest princesses too were glad and merry but the youngest who was to have retired who said that he had set them all free and slid the troll she wept and was all sorrowful the king took this ill and asked why she wasn't cheerful and married like the others she hadn't anything to be sorry for now when she had got out of the troll's clutches and was to have such a husband as Rita Red but she didn't say anything for Rita Red had said he would take the life of anyone who told the truth how things had gone but now one day when they were hard at work sewing and stitching the bridal array in came a man in a great sailor's cloak with a peddler's pack on his back and asked if the princesses wouldn't buy something fine of him for the wedding he had so many wares and costly things both gold and silver yes they might do so perhaps so they looked at his wares and they looked at him for the thought they had seen both him and many of his costly things before he who has so many fine things said the youngest princess more surely have something still more precious and which suits us better even than these maybe I have said the peddler but now all the others cried hush and made her bear in mind what Rita Red had said he would do well some time after the princesses sat and looked out of the window and then the king's son came again with the great sea cloak thrown about him and the press with the gold crowns at his back and when he got into the palace hall he unlocked the press before the princesses and when each of them knew her own gold crown again the youngest said I think it only writes that he who set us free should get the meat that is his due and he is not Rita Red but this man who has brought us our gold crowns he it is that set us free then the king's son cast off the sailor's cloak and stood there far finer and grander than all the rest and so the old king made him put Rita Red to death and now there was real right down joy in the palace each took his own bride and there just was a wedding why it was heard of and talked about over 12 kings rims end of section 61