'You've been talking to my Mastermaid, that I can see', said the
Giant; 'but if you have, I'll wring your head off.'

'Mastermaid!' said the Prince; 'yesterday master talked of this
Mastermaid, and to-day he talks of her again, and the day before
yesterday it was the same story. I only wish I could see what sort of
thing she is! that I do.'

'Well, well, wait till to-morrow', said the Giant, 'and then I'll
take you in to her myself.'

'Thank you kindly, master', said the Prince; 'but it's only a joke of
master's, I'll be bound.'

So next day the Giant took him in to the Mastermaid, and said to her:

'Now, you must cut his throat, and boil him in the great big pot you
wot of; and when the broth is ready, just give me a call.'

After that, he laid him down on the bench to sleep, and began to
snore so, that it sounded like thunder on the hills.

So the Mastermaid took a knife and cut the Prince in his little
finger, and let three drops of blood fall on a three-legged stool;
and after that she took all the old rags, and soles of shoes, and all
the rubbish she could lay hands on, and put them into the pot; and
then she filled a chest full of ground gold, and took a lump of salt,
and a flask of water that hung behind the door, and she took,
besides, a golden apple, and two golden chickens, and off she set