’The next day the second of them said he would watch the pot.  And all happened the same as the first day; and they found him scalded and the pot empty when they came back.

’The third day the third of them said he would keep a watch, and that they might be sure they would get their dinner that evening.

’He put down the pot, and he put the tongs to redden in the fire; and when the pot was boiling, the little man came in.  “Bum-bum,” he said; “give me a bit from the pot.”  So the soldier gave him a bit.  “Give me more now,” he said, when he had the rabbit eaten.  “I will not; I will keep it for my comrades,” said the soldier.  With that the little man took a hold of the pot; but if he did, the soldier took up the tongs that he was after making red-hot in the fire; and the little man made off, and the pot in his arms, and the soldier after him with the tongs.  Then the little man dropped the pot; but the soldier took no notice, but followed after him till he went down a hole into the ground.  Then he took a sapling, and tied his handkerchief on it, and stuck it where the hole was, and went back again to the cabin.

’When his comrades came back, he told them all that happened; and they all set out to where the hole was.  And they looked down, and it was very deep; and they could see no end to it.  So the third man said to the others:  “One of you is a rope-maker, and the other is a cooper; and let you make a rope and a bucket now.”

’So they made the rope and the bucket, and fastened one to the other; and the first man was let down.  But after he went a good way, the rope came to an end, and there was no sign of a bottom; and he called to them to pull him up again.  It happened the same with the second man; and he was pulled up again.  Then the third said he would go, and that if the rope would not reach to the bottom, he would take a leap the rest of the way.

’So when the rope was all given out, he made a leap and came safe to the bottom.  And it was in a hole he found himself; and he went through a great many rooms from that, till he came to where the little man was sitting by himself.

’And he gave him a welcome, and said:  “You had good courage to get here.  And have you enough courage now,” he said, “to go straight before you for three hundred miles, to set free the King of Spain’s three daughters that are in the power of three giants?” “I will do that,” said the soldier.

’So the little man gave him directions what to do.  “But when you are going to fight the giants,” he said, “take no weapon but the little rusty sword you’ll find at the back of their own door.”