DANISH FAIRY AND FOLK TALES
two men had driven all the animals away, except the old sow, he took her to a marsh, where she soon buried herself in the mud, leaving only her tail above the ground. Hans, however, returned to the house. "What has become of the swine?" inquired the troll. "They went straight into the peat-bog, Master," answered Hans, "and they are all down there except the old sow, which I tried to stop. Her tail is yet above the ground, but all the rest of the animals are gone." The troll hastened along to the place, followed by Hans. Now the troll bent down, seized the sow's tail, and tried to pull her out. The tail slipped out of his hands, however, and he tumbled into the water. When he came out again he ran around furiously, trying to find his swine, but, as Hans said, they were already far away. "I hope that Master is not angry with me," said Hans. No, he was not at all angry, he asserted.
When the troll returned home he said to his wife: "How in the world can I get rid of this wretch? He will ruin and spoil our whole property. Oh, how I wish I could cool my rage upon him! But I must keep our agreement, even if it costs all that I have." "I have an idea!" cried his wife. "I think I know how we may get rid of him. He knows that his time is up when the cuckoo begins to tune his voice. Of course it will be long before that time comes, but we may deceive him. You tar me and roll me in feathers until I look like a bird, then help me up into the large apple-tree, where I will cry,
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