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and the Queen went in again。
'I don't think；' said she to the King； 'that your daughter is as
good as she is said to be。 My brother came and asked her hand；
and she has had him put to death。 I have just found his dead
body lying at the Palace gate。'
The King went along with the Queen to see the body； and thought
it all very strange； so beautiful a youth； he said； would have
been a worthy match for Hadvor； and he would readily have agreed
to their marriage。 The Queen asked leave to decide what Hadvor's
punishment should be； which the King was very willing to allow；
so as to escape from punishing his own daughter。 The Queen's
decision was that the King should make a big grave…mound for her
brother； and put Hadvor into it beside him。
Olof knew all the plans of the Queen； and went to tell the
Princess what had been done； whereupon Hadvor earnestly entreated
her to tell her what to do。
'First and foremost；' said Olof； 'you must get a wide cloak to
wear over your other clothes； when you are put into the mound。
The Giant's ghost will walk after you are both left together in
there； and he will have two dogs along with him。 He will ask you
to cut pieces out of his legs to give to the dogs； but that you
must not promise to do unless he tells you where Hermod has gone
to； and tells you how to find him。 He will then let you stand on
his shoulders； so as to get out of the mound； but he means to
cheat you all the same； and will catch you by the cloak to pull
you back again； but you must take care to have the cloak loose on
your shoulders； so that he will only get hold of that。'
The mound was all ready now； and the Giant laid in it； and into
it Hadvor also had to go without being allowed to make any
defence。 After they were both left there everything happened
just as Olof had said。 The prince became a Giant again； and
asked Hadvor to cut the pieces out of his legs for the dogs； but
she refused until he told her that Hermod was in a desert island；
which she could not reach unless she took the skin off the soles
of his feet and made shoes out of that； with these shoes she
could travel both on land and sea。 This Hadvor now did； and the
Giant then let her get up on his shoulders to get out of the
mound。 As she sprang out he caught hold of her cloak； but she
had taken care to let it lie loose on her shoulders； and so
escaped。
She now made her way down to the sea； to where she knew there was
the shortest distance over to the island in which Hermod was。
This strait she easily crossed； for the shoes kept her up。 On
reaching the island she found a sandy beach all along by the sea；
and high cliffs above。 Nor could she see any way to get up
these； and so； being both sad at heart and tired with the long
journey； she lay down and fell asleep。 As she slept she dreamed
that a tall woman came to her and said； 'I know that you are
Princess Hadvor； and are searching for Hermod。 He is on this
island； but it will be hard for you to get to him if you have no
one to help you； for you cannot climb the cliffs by your own
strength。 I have therefore let down a rope； by which you will be
able to climb up； and as the island is so large that you might
not find Hermod's dwelling…place so easily； I lay down this clew
beside you。 You need only hold the end of the thread； and the
clew will run on before and show you the way。 I also lay this
belt beside you； to put on when you awaken； it will keep you from
growing faint with hunger。'
The woman now disappeared； and Hadvor woke； and saw that all her
dream had been true。 The rope hung down from the cliff； and the
clew and belt lay beside her。 The belt she put on； the rope
enabled her to climb up the cliff； and the clew led her on till
she came to the mouth of a cave； which was not very big。 She
went into the cave； and saw there a low couch； under which she
crept and lay down。
When evening came she heard the noise of footsteps outside； and
became aware that the lion had come to the mouth of the cave； and
shook itself there； after which she heard a man coming towards
the couch。 She was sure this was Hermod； because she heard him
speaking to himself about his own condition； and calling to mind
Hadvor and other things in the old days。 Hadvor made no sign；
but waited till he had fallen asleep； and then crept out and
burned the lion's skin； which he had left outside。 Then she went
back into the cave and wakened Hermod； and they had a most joyful
meeting。
In the morning they talked over their plans； and were most at a
loss to know how to get out of the island。 Hadvor told Hermod
her dream； and said she suspected there was some one in the
island who would be able to help them。 Hermod said he knew of a
Witch there； who was very ready to help anyone； and that the only
plan was to go to her。 So they went to the Witch's cave； and
found her there with her fifteen young sons； and asked her to
help them to get to the mainland。
'There are other things easier than that；' said she； 'for the
Giant that was buried will be waiting for you； and will attack
you on the way； as he has turned himself into a big whale。 I
shall lend you a boat； however； and if you meet the whale and
think your lives are in danger； then you can name me by name。'
They thanked her greatly for her help and advice； and set out
from the island； but on the way they saw a huge fish coming
towards them； with great splashing and dashing of waves。 They
were sure of what it was； and thought they had as good reason as
ever they would have to call on the Witch； and so they did。 The
next minute they saw coming after them another huge whale；
followed by fifteen smaller ones。 All of these swam past the
boat and went on to meet the whale。 There was a fierce battle
then； and the sea became so stormy that it was not very easy to
keep the boat from being filled by the waves。 After this fight
had gone on for some time； they saw that the sea was dyed with
blood； the big whale and the fifteen smaller ones disappeared；
and they got to land safe and sound。
Now the story goes back to the King's hall； where strange things
had happened in the meantime。 The Queen and her daughter had
disappeared； but a rat and a mouse were always fighting with each
other there。 Ever so many people had tried to drive them away；
but no one could manage it。 Thus some time went on； while the
King was almost beside himself with sorrow and care for the loss
of his Queen； and because these monsters destroyed all mirth in
the hall。
One evening； however； while they all sat dull and down…hearted；
in came Hermod with a sword by his side； and saluted the King；
who received him with the greatest joy； as if he had come back
from the dead。 Before Hermod sat down； however； he went to where
the rat and the mouse were fighting； and cut them in two with his
sword。 All were astonished then by seeing two witches ly