Page:Tales from the Fjeld.djvu/293

Rh "Your ears can tell you there is no wood here," said Boots, and then he swore to him there were no stumps or stocks.

"Now come along."

So the Troll set off again, but "squash" he went, and there lay the Troll in the tarn, and Boots hacked at his eyes with the hemp-comb every time he got his head above water.

Now the Troll begged so prettily for his life, that Boots thought it was a shame to take it; but first he had to give up the princess, and to bring back the other whom he had stolen before. And besides, he had to promise that folk and flock should have peace, and then he let the Troll out, and he took himself off home to his hill.

But now Glibtongue became a man again, and came down out of the tree-top, and carried off the princess to the grange, as though he had set her free. And then he stole down and gave his arm to the other also, when Boots had brought her as far as the garden. And now there was such joy in the king's grange, that it was heard and talked of over land and realm, and Glibtongue was to be married to the youngest daughter.

Well, it was all good and right, but after all it was not so well; for just as they were to have the feast, if that old Troll had not gone down under earth and stopped all the springs of water.

"If I can't do them any other harm," he said, "they shan't have water to boil their bridal brose."

So there was no help for it but to send for Boots again. Then he got him an iron bar, which was to be fifteen ells long, and six smiths were to make it