The next day he filled his pouch with corn, put a bundle of bast-twine in his boat, and once more set off to the giant’s dwelling.  He lay hiding for a time, and then he saw the giant’s three golden hens walking about on the shore, and spreading their feathers, which sparkled beautifully in the bright sunshine.  He was soon near them, and began to softly lead them on, scattering corn for them out of his pouch.  While they were picking the boy gradually led them to the water, till at last he got them into his little boat.  Then he jumped in himself, secured the fowl with his twine, pushed out from the shore, and rowed as quickly as he could to the other side of the water.

The third day he put some lumps of salt into his pouch, and again rowed across the lake.  As night came on he noticed how the smoke rose from the giant’s dwelling, and concluded that the giant’s wife was busy getting ready his food.  He crept up on to the roof, and, looking down through the hole by which the smoke escaped, saw a large caldron boiling on the fire.  Then he took the lumps of salt out of his pouch, and threw them one by one into the pot.  Having done this, he crept down from the roof, and waited to see what would follow.

Soon after the giant’s wife took the caldron off the fire, poured out the porridge into a bowl, and put it on the table.  The giant was hungry, and he fell to at once, but scarcely had he tasted the porridge when he found it too salt.  He got very angry, and started from his seat.  The old woman made what excuse she could, and said that the porridge must be good; but the giant declared he would eat no more of the stuff, and told her to taste it for herself.  She did so, and pulled a terrible face, for she had never in her life tasted such abominable stuff.

There was nothing for it but she must make some new porridge.  So she seized a can, took the gold lantern down from the wall, and went as fast as she could to the well to draw some water.  She put the lantern down by the side of the well, and was stooping down to get the water, when the boy ran to her, and, laying hold of her by the feet, threw her head over heels into the well.  He seized hold of the golden lantern, ran away as fast as he could to his boat, and rowed across the water in safety.

The giant sat for a long time wondering why his wife was away so long.  At last he went to look for her, but nothing could he see of her.  Then he heard a splashing in the well, and finding she was in the water, he, with a lot of work, got her out.

“Where is my gold lantern?” was the first thing he asked, as the old woman came round a little.

“I don’t know,” answered she.  “Somebody came, caught me by the feet, and threw me into the well.”

The giant was very angry at this.

“Three of my treasures,” said he, “have gone, and I have now only my golden harp left.  But, whoever the thief may be, he shall not have that; I will keep that safe under twelve locks.”