’So they made off then by the back door; and the witch came to watch the house; and she said to the maid:  “Tell me a story now while I’m waiting.”  So she stuck a knife in one of the cakes, and it began to tell a story; and the witch sat there listening to it.

’And when it was done, she asked for another story; and the maid stuck a knife in another of the cakes, and it began to tell a story.  And when that was done, the witch asked for another story, and the maid stuck a knife in the third cake, and it is what it said:  “The two you think you are watching are off, and are on the way back to their own home.”

’When the witch heard that, she took the shape of an eagle on her; and she flew out after them, and she came in sight of them.  And they looked back, and saw her coming like a big black cloud in the air; and the girl said to Stepney:  “Take the bit of wood you’ll find in the horse’s ear, and throw it behind you.”  And he did that, and a great forest grew up behind them; and it is hardly the eagle could fly over it.

’Then they saw her coming again; and the girl said:  “Take the drop of water you will find in the horse’s other ear, and throw it down behind you.”  And when he did that, there was a great sea behind them; and the eagle found it hard to pass it, but it did at last.

’And when she was coming up with them again, the girl took a bit of stone was in her own horse’s ear, and threw it behind them.  And a great mountain rose up, that kept back the eagle for a time.  And then she took a brass ball out of the other ear, and she gave it to Stepney; and bade him to throw it at a white mole that was on the eagle’s breast.  So he made a shot with it, and hit the eagle, and it fell dead there and then.

’Then the girl said to Stepney:  “There is no danger now between us and home.  But have a care,” she said, “when you get home not to let a dog touch your face in any way, or you will forget me and all that has happened.”

’So he said he would remember that.  But when he got home and sat down in the house, his little lap-dog jumped up on him and licked his face.  And on the moment he forgot all that had happened, and the girl he had brought home.

’And after a while he was going to be married to another lady, and all was ready for the wedding; and a poor-looking girl came to the door.  And the servants bade her to go away, for the grand people in the house would not want her.  “I think I have something would amuse them,” she said.  “I have a cock and a hen that can talk the same as living people.”

’So when the company heard that, they sent for her; and she went up, and she put out the cock and the hen on the table, and she threw down a few grains of oats; and when the hen was going to pick at it, the cock drove her away.  And the hen said then:  “You should not do that, after the way I helped you, cleaning out the stable you were not able to clean by yourself.”  But Stepney took no notice of what she was saying.