am.'

Well! they were both ready to go, and on the way his mother talked to
him, and asked, 'How it was he had got so strong?'

'If you must know, it came of that blue belt which lay on the hill-
side that time when you and I were out begging', said the lad.

'Have you got it still?' asked she.

'Yes'--he had. It was tied round his waist.

'Might she see it?'

'Yes, she might'; and with that he pulled open his waistcoat and
shirt to show it her.

Then she seized it with both hands, tore it off, and twisted it round
her fist.

'Now', she cried, 'what shall I do with such a wretch as you? I'll
just give you one blow, and dash your brains out!'

'Far too good a death for such a scamp', said the Troll. 'No! let's
first burn out his eyes, and then turn him adrift in a little boat.'

So they burned out his eyes and turned him adrift, in spite of his
prayers and tears; but, as the boat drifted, the lions swam after,
and at last they laid hold of it and dragged it ashore on an island,
and placed the lad under a fir tree. They caught game for him, and