, then, take it,' said the old hag, 'and be off with you, but you
must make haste with the water.'

He put on the cloak, and when he came outside it shone so bright that
he could see to go with it. On reaching the river he went to take a
drink like his sister, but at that moment Ring and Snati sprang upon
him, took the cloak from him, and threw him into the river.

The old hag could stand the thirst no longer, and asked her husband to
go for a drink for her; the brats, she said, were of course running
about and playing themselves, just as she had expected they would,
little wretches that they were.

'I won't go,' said 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.'

[Illustration: Prince Ring & Snati Overthrow the Troll's Ghost]

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 t