Page:Tales from the Fjeld.djvu/104

82 "At one o'clock," baaed the Billygoat.

So when the hour drew near, the companion stood in the stable with his Three-Sister Hat on; and, when she had greased the goat, and uttered the same words that they were to fly through the air to her true love, who was waiting for her in the fell, off they went again on the wings of the wind; and, all the while, the companion sat behind.

But he was not light-handed this time; for, every now and then he gave the princess a slap, so that he almost beat the breath out of her body.

And when they came to the wall of rock, she knocked at the door, and it opened, and they passed on into the fell to her lover.

As soon as she got there, she fell to bewailing, and was very cross, and said she never knew the air could deal such buffets; she almost thought, indeed, that some one sat behind, who beat both the Billygoat and herself; she was sure she was black and blue all over her body, such a hard flight had she had through the air.

Then she went on to tell how her lover had brought her the golden ball too; how it happened, neither she nor the Troll could tell.

"But now do you know what I have hit upon?"

No, the Troll did not.

"Well," she went on, "I have told him to bring me what I was then thinking of by dinner-time to-morrow, and what I thought of was your head. Do you think he can get that, my darling?" said the princess, and began to fondle the Troll.

"No, I don't think he can," said the Troll. "He