DANISH FAIRY AND FOLK TALES
"I can safely promise you that," replied the king.
Now the story that the boy remembered was about a troll who lived far away, hundreds of leagues beyond the sea, and who possessed three costly treasures—those, in fact, which he had mentioned to the princess. So he hastened to the beach and put to sea in his kneading-trough.
Having completed his voyage he stepped ashore, and repaired to the house where the troll and his wife were living. As soon as it became dark he mounted the roof of the house and opened a trap-door through which he descended. On the collar-beam the magic hen was perched, so the boy, who knew that caution was necessary, stole silently up to her from behind, and managed to throw his cap over her. But the hen made such a violent effort to gain its liberty, and bragged so loudly, that the troll awoke. The boy climbed down and ran to his boat. The troll, running after him, reached the beach, but the boy was already far out to sea when he reached the water's edge.
"Did you steal my hen?" cried the troll.
"Yes, I did," returned Mother's Pet.
"Will you return?"
"Depend upon it."
"Then I shall catch you," shouted the troll, "and eat you up!"
The king and the princess were well pleased with the wonderful hen with which the boy re-
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