“Who,” said he, “has broken open my door?” The lad answered boldly—­

“I did it, and now I will break you.  Hold-fast, hold him fast; Tear and Quick-ear, tear him into a thousand pieces!” The dogs straightway sprang forward and threw themselves on the giant, and tore him into pieces as numberless as are the leaves which fall in the autumn.  Then the princess was very glad, and said—­

“Heaven be thanked!  Now I am free!” She threw herself on the lad’s neck and kissed him.  He led her to her sister, and one can well imagine how glad they were to meet.  The lad took all the treasures that the giant’s dwelling contained, put them on the gold-shod horses, and set out with the two princesses.

They again travelled a great distance, and the youth waited on the princesses with the respect and care they deserved.

It chanced one day that Quick-ear, who went before to get news, came running fast to his master, and told him he had been near a high mountain, and had heard the third princess sitting within, spinning cloth of gold.  The giant himself was not in.  The youth was well pleased to hear this, and he hurried to the mountain accompanied by his dogs.  When they came there, Quick-ear said—­

“There is no time to be lost.  The giant is not more than five miles off.  I well know it.  I hear the sound of his horse’s gold shoes on the stones.”

The lad told his dogs to break in the door, and they did so.  When he entered the mountain he saw there a maiden, sitting and weaving cloth of gold.  She was so beautiful that the lad thought another such could not be found in the world.  He advanced and spoke to her.  The young princess was much astonished, and said—­

“Who are you, who dare to come into the giant’s hall?  For seven long years have I lived here, and never during that time have I looked on a human being.  For Heaven’s sake,” added she, “run away before the giant comes, or he will kill you!”

The lad, however, was brave, and said that he would lay down his life for the beautiful princess.

In the middle of their talk home came the giant, riding on his horse with the golden shoes, and stopped at the mountain.  When he came in and saw what unwelcome visitors were there he was very much afraid, for he knew what had happened to his brethren.  He thought it best to be careful and cunning, for he dared not act openly.  He began therefore with fine words, and was very smooth and amiable.  He told the princess to dress meat, so that he might entertain the guest, and behaved in such a friendly manner that the lad was perfectly deceived, and forgot to be on his guard.  He sat down at the table with the giant.  The princess wept in secret, and the dogs were very uneasy, but no one noticed it.

When the giant and his guest had finished the meal, the youth said—­

“I am no longer hungry.  Give me something to drink.”

“There is,” said the giant, “a spring up in the mountain which runs with sparkling wine, but I have no one to fetch of it.”