37-prince ring-第2节
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'Don't you think that a desperate errand？' said the King； 'seeing
they are so dangerous； and no one has ever yet ventured to go
against them？'
Red answered that he had only one life to lose； and it would be
interesting to see how brave he was； besides； the King would have
good reason to ennoble him if he overcame them。 The King at last
allowed himself； though rather unwillingly； to be won over by
Red's persistency； and one day asked Ring to go and kill the oxen
that were in the wood for him； and bring their horns and hides to
him in the evening。 Not knowing how dangerous the oxen were；
Ring was quite ready； and went off at once； to the great delight
of Red； who was now sure of his death。
As soon as Ring came in sight of the oxen they came bellowing to
meet him； one of them was tremendously big； the other rather
less。 Ring grew terribly afraid。
'How do you like them？' asked Snati。
'Not well at all；' said the Prince。
'We can do nothing else；' said Snati； 'than attack them； if it is
to go well； you will go against the little one； and I shall take
the other。'
With this Snati leapt at the big one； and was not long in
bringing him down。 Meanwhile the Prince went against the other
with fear and trembling； and by the time Snati came to help him
the ox had nearly got him under； but Snati was not slow in
helping his master to kill it。
Each of them then began to flay their own ox； but Ring was only
half through by the time Snati had finished his。 In the evening；
after they had finished this task； the Prince thought himself
unfit to carry all the horns and both the hides； so Snati told
him to lay them all on his back until they got to the Palace
gate。
The Prince agreed； and laid everything on the Dog except the skin
of the smaller ox； which he staggered along with himself。 At the
Palace gate he left everything lying； went before the King； and
asked him to come that length with him； and there handed over to
him the hides and horns of the oxen。 The King was greatly
surprised at his valour； and said he knew no one like him； and
thanked him heartily for what he had done。
After this the King set Ring next to himself； and all esteemed
him highly； and held him to be a great hero； nor could Red any
longer say anything against him； though he grew still more
determined to destroy him。 One day a good idea came into his
head。 He came to the King and said he had something to say to
him。
'What is that？' said the King。
Red said that he had just remembered the gold cloak； gold
chess…board； and bright gold piece that the King had lost about a
year before。
'Don't remind me of them！' said the King。
Red； however； went on to say that； since Ring was such a mighty
man that he could do everything； it had occurred to him to advise
the King to ask him to search for these treasures； and come back
with them before Christmas； in return the King should promise him
his daughter。
The King replied that he thought it altogether unbecoming to
propose such a thing to Ring； seeing that he could not tell him
where the things were； but Red pretended not to hear the King's
excuses； and went on talking about it until the King gave in to
him。 One day； a month or so before Christmas； the King spoke to
Ring； saying that he wished to ask a great favour of him。
'What is that？' said Ring。
'It is this；' said the King： 'that you find for me my gold cloak；
my gold chess…board； and my bright gold piece； that were stolen
from me about a year ago。 If you can bring them to me before
Christmas I will give you my daughter in marriage。'
'Where am I to look for them； then？' said Ring。
'That you must find out for yourself；' said the King： 'I don't
know。'
Ring now left the King； and was very silent； for he saw he was in
a great difficulty： but； on the other hand； he thought it was
excellent to have such a chance of winning the King's daughter。
Snati noticed that his master was at a loss； and said to him that
he should not disregard what the King had asked him to do； but he
would have to act upon his advice； otherwise he would get into
great difficulties。 The Prince assented to this； and began to
prepare for the journey。
After he had taken leave of the King； and was setting out on the
search； Snati said to him； 'Now you must first of all go about
the neighbourhood； and gather as much salt as ever you can。' The
Prince did so； and gathered so much salt that he could hardly
carry it； but Snati said； 'Throw it on my back；' which he
accordingly did； and the Dog then ran on before the Prince； until
they came to the foot of a steep cliff。
'We must go up here；' said Snati。
'I don't think that will be child's play；' said the Prince。
'Hold fast by my tail；' said Snati； and in this way he pulled
Ring up on the lowest shelf of the rock。 The Prince began to get
giddy； but up went Snati on to the second shelf。 Ring was nearly
swooning by this time； but Snati made a third effort and reached
the top of the cliff； where the Prince fell down in a faint。
After a little； however； he recovered again； and they went a
short distance along a level plain； until they came to a cave。
This was on Christmas Eve。 They went up above the cave； and
found a window in it； through which they looked； and saw four
trolls lying asleep beside the fire； over which a large
porridge…pot was hanging。
'Now you must empty all the salt into the porridge…pot；' said
Snati。
Ring did so； and soon the trolls wakened up。 The old hag； who
was the most frightful of them all； went first to taste the
porridge。
'How comes this？' she said； 'the porridge is salt！ I got the
milk by witchcraft yesterday out of four kingdoms； and now it is
salt！'
All the others then came to taste the porridge； and thought it
nice； but after they had finished it the old hag grew so thirsty
that she could stand it no longer； and asked her daughter to go
out and bring her some water from the river that ran near by。
'I won't go；' said she； 'unless you lend me your bright gold
piece。'
'Though I should die you shan't have that；' said the hag。
'Die； then；' said the girl。
'Well； then； take it； you brat；' said the old hag； 'and be off
with you； and make haste with the water。'
The girl took the gold and ran out with it； and it was so bright
that it shone all over the plain。 As soon as she came to the
river she lay down to take a drink of the water； but meanwhile
the two of them had got down off the roof and thrust her； head
first； into the river。
The old hag began now to long for the water； and said that the
girl would be running about with the gold piece all over the
plain； so she asked her son to go and get her a drop of water。
'I won't go；' said he； 'unless I get the gold cloak。'
'Though I should die you shan't have that；' said the hag。
'Die； then；' said the son。
'Well； 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。'
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 com
