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266 some of it he strewed in the water, and some on land, and the rest he spread over the brink of the dam.

So the Troll had to leave the fish in peace; but now the sheep had to pay for it, for the Troll was chasing them over all the cliffs and crags the whole night.



Then one of the other servants came and said again that Boots knew a cure for the stock as well, if he only chose, for that he had said he was man enough to do it was the very truth.

Well, the king went out to him, and spoke to him as he had spoken the first time, and threatened that he would cut three broad stripes out of his back if he did not do what he had said.

So there was no help for it. Boots thought, I dare say, it would be very fine to go about in the king's livery and a red jacket, but he thought he would rather be without it, if he himself had to find the cloth for it out of the skin of his back. That was what he thought and said.

So he betook himself to his thyme again; but there was no end to his work, for as soon as he bound thyme on the sheep they ate it off one another's backs,