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silver hoops from the Troll's ship。 When he came back to the
King's palace the kitchen…maid clapped her hands and wondered
where he could have got all that gold and silver； but Minnikin
answered that he had been home for a short time； and that it was
only the hoops which had fallen off some pails； and that he had
brought them away for the kitchen…maid。
When the third Thursday evening came； everything happened
exactly as it had happened on the two former occasions。 Everything
in the King's palace was hung with black； and everyone was
sorrowful and distressed； but Ritter Red said that he did not think
that they had much reason to be afraidhe had delivered the
King's daughter from two Trolls； so he could easily deliver her
from the third as well。
He led her down to the strand； but when the time drew near for
the Troll to come； he climbed up into the tree again and hid himself。
The Princess wept and entreated him to stay； but all to no
purpose。 He stuck to his old speech； ‘It is better that one life should
be lost than two。'
This evening also； Minnikin begged for leave to go down to the
sea…shore。
‘Oh； what can you do there？' answered the kitchen…maid。
However； he begged until at last he got leave to go； but he was
forced to promise that he would be back again in the kitchen when
the roast had to be turned。
Almost immediately after he had got down to the sea…shore the
Troll came with a great whizzing and whirring； and he was much；
much bigger than either of the two former ones； and he had fifteen
heads。
‘Fire！' roared the Troll。
‘Fire yourself！' said Minnikin。
‘Can you fight？' screamed the Troll。
‘If not； I can learn；' said Minnikin。
‘I will teach you；' yelled the Troll； and struck at him with his
iron club so that the earth flew up fifteen yards high into the air。
‘Fie！' said Minnikin。 ‘That was not much of a blow。 Now I
will let you see one of my blows。'
So saying he grasped his sword； and cut at the Troll in such a
way that all his fifteen heads danced away over the sands。
Then the Princess was delivered； and she thanked Minnikin
and blessed him for saving her。
‘Sleep a while now on my lap；' said she； and while he lay there
she put a garment of brass upon him。
‘But now； how shall we have it made known that it was you
who saved me？' said the King's daughter。
‘That I will tell you；' answered Minnikin。 ‘When Ritter Red
has taken you home again； and given out that it was he who
rescued you； he will； as you know； have you to wife； and half the
kingdom。 But when they ask you on your wedding…day whom
you will have to be your cup…bearer； you must say； ‘‘I will have the
ragged boy who is in the kitchen； and carries wood and water for
the kitchen…maid；'' and when I am filling your cups for you； I will
spill a drop upon his plate but none upon yours； and then he will
be angry and strike me； and this will take place thrice。 But the
third time you must say； ‘‘Shame on you thus to smite the beloved
of mine heart。 It is he who delivered me from the Troll； and he is
the one whom I will have。'' '
Then Minnikin ran back to the King's palace as he had done
before； but first he went on board the Troll's ship and took a great
quantity of gold and silver and other precious things； and out of
these he once more gave to the kitchen…maid a whole armful of gold
and silver hoops。
No sooner did Ritter Red see that all danger was over than he
crept down from the tree； and threatened the King's daughter till
he made her promise to say that he had rescued her。 Then he
conducted her back to the King's palace； and if honour enough had
not been done him before it was certainly done now； for the King
had no other thought than how to make much of the man who had
saved his daughter from the three Trolls； and it was settled then
that Ritter Red should marry her； and receive half the kingdom。
On the wedding…day； however； the Princess begged that she might
have the little boy who was in the kitchen； and carried wood and
water for the kitchen…maid； to fill the wine…cups at the wedding feast。
‘Oh； what can you want with that dirty； ragged boy； in here？'
said Ritter Red； but the Princess said that she insisted on having
him as cup…bearer and would have no one else； and at last she got
leave； and then everything was done as had been agreed on between
the Princess and Minnikin。 He spilt a drop on Ritter Red's plate
but none upon hers； and each time that he did it Ritter Red fell
into a rage and struck him。 At the first blow all the ragged
garments which he had worn in the kitchen fell from off Minnikin；
at the second blow the brass garments fell off； and at the third
the silver raiment； and there he stood in the golden raiment； which
was so bright and splendid that light flashed from it。
Then the King's daughter said： ‘Shame on you thus to smite
the beloved of my heart。 It is he who delivered me from the Troll；
and he is the one whom I will have。'
Ritter Red swore that he was the man who had saved her； but
the King said： ‘He who delivered my daughter must have some
token in proof of it。'
So Ritter Red ran off at once for his handkerchief with the lungs
and tongue； and Minnikin went and brought all the gold and silver
and precious things which he had taken out of the Trolls' ships；
and they each of them laid these tokens before the King。
‘He who has such precious things in gold and silver and
diamonds；' said the King； ‘must be the one who killed the Troll；
for such things are not to be had anywhere else。' So Ritter Red
was thrown into the snake…pit； and Minnikin was to have the
Princess； and half the kingdom。
One day the King went out walking with Minnikin； and
Minnikin asked him if he had never had any other children。
‘Yes；' said the King； ‘I had another daughter； but the Troll
carried her away because there was no one who could deliver her。
You are going to have one daughter of mine； but if you can set free
the other； who has been taken by the Troll； you shall willingly
have her too； and the other half of the kingdom as well。'
‘I may as well make the attempt；' said Minnikin； ‘but I must
have an iron rope which is five hundred ells long； and then I must
have five hundred men with me； and provisions for five weeks； for
I have a long voyage before me。'
So the King said he should have these things； but the King was
afraid that he had no ship large enough to carry them all。
‘But I have a ship of my own；' said Minnikin； and he took
the one which the old woman had given him out of his pocket。
The King laughed at him and thought that it was only one of his
jokes； but Minnikin begged him just to give him what he had
asked for； and then he should see something。 Then all that
Minnikin had asked for was brought； and first he ordered them to
lay the cable in the ship； but there was no one who was able to
lift it； and