the old troll, 'unless you lend me the gold
chess-board.'

'Though I should die you shan't have that,' said the hag.

'I think you may just as well do that,' said he, 'since you won't grant
me such a little favour.'

'Take it, then, you utter disgrace!' said the old hag, 'since you are
just like these two brats.'

The old troll now went out with the gold chess-board, and down to the
river, and was about to take a drink, when Ring and Snati came upon him,
took the chess-board from him, and threw him into the river. Before they
had got back again, however, and up on top of the cave, they saw
the poor old fellow's ghost come marching up from the river. Snati
immediately sprang upon him, and Ring assisted in the attack, and after
a hard struggle they mastered him a second time. When they got back
again to the window they saw that the old hag was moving towards the
door.

'Now we must go in at once,' said Snati, 'and try to master her there,
for if she once gets out we shall have no chance with her. She is the
worst witch that ever lived, and no iron can cut her. One of us must
pour boiling porridge out of the pot on her, and the other punch her
with red-hot iron.'

In they went then, and no sooner did the hag see them than she said,
'So you have come, Prince Ring; you must have seen to my husband and
children.'

Snati saw that she was about to attack them, and sprang at her with a
red-hot iron from the fire, while Ring kept pouring boiling porridge on
her without stopping, and in this way they at last got her killed. Then
they burned the old troll and her to ashes, and explored the cave, where
they found plenty of gold and treasures. The most valuable of these they
carried with them as far as the cliff, and left them there. Then they
hastened home to the King with his three treasures, where they arrived
late on Christmas night, and Ring handed them over to him.

The King was beside himself with joy, and was astonished at how clever
a man Ring was in all kinds of feats, so that he esteemed him still more
highly than before, and betrothed his daughter to him; and the feast
for this was to last all through Christmastide. Ring thanked the King
courteously for this and all his other kindnesses, and as soon as he had
finished eating and drinking in the hall went off to sleep in his own
room. Snati, however, asked permission to sleep in the Prince's bed for
that night, while the Prince should sleep where the Dog usually