Page:Tales from the Fjeld.djvu/421

Rh son; "but none are hanged but those who don't steal right."

"Well, all the same," said the Troll, "I'll kill you on the spot."

But the king's son said he must spare his life.

"Well, well," said the Troll, "if you can get me back the lovely maiden my nearest neighbour has stolen from me, I'll spare your life."

"Where does he live, then?" said the king's son.

"Oh, he lives three hundred miles behind that big fell that is blue, yonder in the sky," said the Troll.

Yes, the king's son gave his word to fetch the maiden, and then he had leave to go, and got off with his life. But when he came out of doors the fox was not in the very best temper, you may fancy.

"Now you have behaved badly again. Had you done as I bade you, we might have been on our way home long ago. Do you know, I almost think now I won't stay with you any longer."

But the king's son begged and prayed so prettily from the bottom of his heart, and gave his word never to do anything but what the fox said, if he would only be his companion. At last the fox yielded, and they became fast friends again, and so they set off afresh, and after a long, long time they came to the spot where the lovely maiden was.

"Yes," said the fox, "you have given your word like a man, but for all that, I dare not let you go into the Troll's house this time. I must go myself."

So he went in, and in a little while he came out with the maiden, and so they travelled back by the same way that they had come. And when they came back to the