ed where the little boys lay, and who were all fast
asleep, except Little Thumb, who was terribly afraid when he found the
Ogre fumbling about his head, as he had done about his brothers', he
felt the golden crowns, and said:--
"I should have made a fine piece of work of it, truly; it is clear I
drank too much last night."
Then he went to the bed where the girls lay, and, having found the boys'
little bonnets:--
"Ah!" said he, "my merry lads, are you there? Let us work boldly."
And saying these words, without more ado, he cruelly murdered all his
seven daughters. Well pleased with what he had done, he went to bed
again.
So soon as Little Thumb heard the Ogre snore, he waked his brothers, and
bade them put on their clothes quickly and follow him. They stole softly
into the garden and got over the wall. They ran about, all night,
trembling all the while, without knowing which way they went.
The Ogre, when he woke, said to his wife: "Go upstairs and dress those
young rascals who came here last night." The Ogress was very much
surprised at this goodness of her husband, not dreaming after what
manner she should dress them; but, thinking that he had ordered her to
go up and put on their clothes, she went, and was horrified when she
perceived her seven daughters all dead.
She began by fainting away, as was only natural in such a case. The
Ogre, fearing his wife was too long in doing what he had ordered, went
up himself to help her. He was no less amazed than his wife at this
frightful spectacle.
"Ah! what have I done?" cried he. "The wretches shall pay for it, and
that instantly."
He threw a pitcher of water upon his wife's face, and having brought her
to herself, "Give me quickly," cried he, "my seven-leagued boots, that I
may go and catch them."
He went out into the country, and, after running in all directions, he
came at last into the very road where the poor children were, and not
above a hundred paces from their father's house. They espied the Ogre,
who went at one step from mountain to mountain, and over rivers as
easily as the narrowest brooks. Little Thumb, seeing a hollow rock near
the place where they were, hid his brothers in it, and crowded into it
himself, watching always what would become of the Ogre.
The Ogre, who found himself tired with his long and fruitless journey
(for these boots of seven leagues greatly taxed the wearer), had a great
mind to rest himself, and, by chance, went to
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