"The boy seems to be fat enough now, mother; take him then to-day, and
bake him in the oven, while I go and ask our kinsfolk to the feast."
The old woman promised to do what her husband told her. So, having
heated the oven, she dragged out the boy to bake him.
"Sit on the shovel," said she.
The boy did so, but when the old woman raised the shovel the boy always
fell off. So they went on many times. At last the giantess got angry,
and scolded the boy for being so awkward; the lad excused himself,
saying that he did not know the way to sit on the shovel.
"Look at me," said the woman, "I will show you."
So she sat herself down on the shovel, bending her back and drawing up
her knees. No sooner was she seated than the boy, seizing hold of the
handle, pushed her into the oven and slammed the door to. Then he took
the woman's fur cloak, stuffed it out with straw, and laid it on the
bed. Seizing the giant's bunch of keys, he opened the twelve locks,
snatched up the golden harp, and ran down to his boat, which he had
hidden among the flags on the shore.
The giant soon afterwards came home.
"Where can my wife be?" said he. "No doubt she has lain down to sleep a
bit. Ah! I thought so."
The old woman, however, slept a long while, and the giant could not wake
her, though he was now expecting his friends to arrive.
"Wake up, mother," cried he, but no one replied. He called again, but
there was no response. He got angry, and, going to the bed, he gave the
fur cloak a good shake. Then he found that it was not his wife, but
only a bundle of straw put in her clothes. At this the giant grew
alarmed, and he ran off to look after his golden harp. He found his keys
gone, the twelve locks undone, and the harp missing. He went to the oven
and opened the door to see how the meat for the feast was going on.
Behold! there sat his wife, baked, and grinning at him.
Then the giant was almost mad with grief and rage, and he rushed out to
seek the lad who had done him all this mischief. He came down to the
edge of the water and found him sitting in his boat, playing on the
harp. The music came over the water, and the gold strings shone
wonderfully in the sunshine. The giant jumped into the water after the
boy; but finding that it was too deep, he laid himself down, and began
to drink the water in order to make the lake shallower. He drank with
all his might, and by this means set up a current which drew the boat
nearer and nearer to the shore. Just when he was going to lay hold of it
he burst, for he had drunk too much; and there was an end of him.
The giant lay dead on the shore, and the boy moved away across the lake,
full of joy and happiness. When he came to land, he combed his golden
hair, put on fine clothes, fastened the giant's gold sword by his side,
and, taking the gold harp in one hand and the gold lantern in the other,
he led the gold fowl after him, and went to the king, who was sitting in
the great hall of the palace surrounded by his courtiers. When the king
saw the boy he was heartily glad. The lad went to the king's beautiful
daughter, saluted her courteously, and laid the giant's treasures before
her. Then there was great joy in the palace, that the princess had after
all got the giant's treasures and so bold and handsome a bridegroom. The
wedding was celebrated soon after with very much splendour and
rejoicing; and when the king died the lad succeeded him, ruling over all
the land both long and happily.