Page:Tales from the Fjeld.djvu/317

Rh And when the old Troll saw his baby, he was so glad, he was beside himself, and told Boots he might come indoors and take whatever he chose, because he had freed his child. Then they offered him both gold and silver, and all that was rare and costly; but the lad said he would rather have a horse than anything else. Yes, he should have a horse, the Troll said, and off they went to the stable. It was full of the grandest horses, whose coats shone like the sun and moon; but Boots thought they were all too big for him. So he peeped behind the stable door, and when he set eyes on the little grey ass that stood there, he said—

"I'll take this one. It will suit me to a T, and if I fall off, I shall be no farther from the ground than thathigh."

The old Troll did not at all like to part with his ass; but as he had given his word, he had to stand by it. So Boots got the ass, and saddle, and bridle, and all that belonged to it, and then he set off. They travelled through wood and field, and over fells and wide wastes. So when they had gone farther than far, the ass asked Boots if he saw anything.

"No, I see naught else than a hill, which looks blue in the distance," said Boots.

"Oh," said the ass, "that hill we have to pass through."

"All very fine, I dare say," said Boots, for he didn't believe a word of it.

So when they got close to the hill an unicorn came tearing along at them, just as if he were going to eat them up all alive.

"I almost think now I'm afraid," said Boots.