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84 they set through the air to the king's grange. But all the way the companion thrashed the Troll and his Billygoat, and gave them cut and thrust and thrust and cut with his sword, till they got weaker and weaker, and at last were well on the way to sink down into the sea over which they passed. Now the Troll thought the weather was so wild, he went right home with the princess up to the king's grange, and stood outside to see that she got home safe and well. But just as she shut the door behind her, the companion struck off the Troll's head and ran up with it to the lad's bedroom.

"Here is what the princess thought of," said he.

Well, they were merry and joyful, one may think, and when the lad was bidden down to dinner, and they had dined, the princess was as lively as a lark.

"No doubt you have got what I thought of?" said she.

"Aye, aye; I have it," said the lad, and he tore it out from under his coat, and threw it down on the board with such a thump that the board, trestles and all, was upset. As for the princess, she was as though she had been dead and buried; but she could not say that this was not what she was thinking of, and so now he was to have her to wife, as she had given her word. So they made a bridal feast, and there was drinking and gladness all over the kingdom.

But the companion took the lad on one side, and told him that he must just shut his eyes and sham sleep on the bridal night; but if he held his life dear, and would listen to him, he wouldn't let a