Page:Christmas Fireside Stories.djvu/154

142 tripping over my bridge?" shouted the troll.—"Oh! it's only the smallest Billy-goat; I'm going up into the hills to get fat," said the goat; he had such a small voice.—"I'm coming to take you!" said the troll.—"Oh no! please don't take me, for I am so little. Wait a while till the next Billy-goat comes; he is much bigger."—"Very well!" said the troll.

In a little while came the next Billy-goat, and was going over the bridge. Trip trap, trip trap, trip trap went the bridge.—"Who is that tripping over my bridge?" shouted the troll.—"Oh, it's only the second Billy-goat; I'm going up into the hills to get fat," said the goat; he hadn't such a small voice as the first one.—"I'm coming to take you," said the troll.—"Oh no! please don't take me, but wait till the big Billy-goat comes; he is much bigger."—"Very well then!" said the troll.

Just then came the big Billy-goat. Trip trap, trip trap, trip trap went the bridge. He was so heavy that the bridge creaked and groaned under him.—"Who is that tramping over my bridge?" shouted the troll.—"It's the big Billy-goat!" said the goat; he had an awful hoarse voice.—"I'm coming to take you," screamed the troll. Come on, and blinded you shall reel From my two spears, whose points are steel. Like grain between two granite stones I'll crush your marrow and your bones!" said the big Billy-goat, and flew straight at the troll and poked his eyes out, crushed him, bones and all, to pieces, and pushed him out into the torrent, and then he went up into the hills. There the Billy-goats got so fat, that they were scarcely able to walk home again, and if the fat hasn't gone off them, they are still as fat as ever. And snip, snap, snout, here my tale is out.