Yes, the Giant was ready to do that, and he turned the six brothers into king’s sons again, and their brides into king’s daughters.
“Now, squeeze the egg in two,” said the Wolf. So Boots squeezed the egg to pieces, and the Giant burst at once.
Now, when he had made an end of the Giant, Boots rode back again on the Wolf to the Giant’s house, and there stood all his six brothers alive and merry, with their brides. Then Boots went into the hill-side after his bride, and so they all set off home again to their father’s house. And you may fancy how glad the old king was when he saw all his seven sons come back, each with his bride;—“But the loveliest bride of all was the bride of Boots after all,” said the king, “and he shall sit uppermost at the table, with her by his side.”
So he sent out, and called a great wedding-feast, and the mirth was both loud and long, and if they have not done feasting, why they are still at it.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
ONCE on a time there was a woman who went out to hire a herdsman, and she met a bear.
“Oh, I’m going out to hire a herdsman,” answered the woman.
“Why not have me for a herdsman?” said Bruin.
“Well, why not?” said the woman. “If you only knew how to call the flock; just let me hear?”
“No, no! I won’t have you,” said the woman, as soon as she heard him say that, and off she went on her way.
So, when she had gone a bit further, she met a wolf.
“Oh!” said she, “I’m going out to hire a herdsman.”
“Why not have me for a herdsman?” said the Wolf.
“Well, why not? if you can only call the flock; let me hear?” said she.
“No, no!” said the woman; “you will never do for me.”
Well, after she had gone a while longer, she met a fox.
“Oh, I’m just going out to hire a herdsman,” said the woman.
“Why not have me for your herdsman?” asked the Fox.
“Well, why not?” said she; “if you only knew how to call the flock; let me hear?”
“Dil-dal-holom,” sung out the Fox, in such a fine clear voice.
“Yes; I’ll have you for my herdsman,” said the woman; and so she set the Fox to herd her flock.
The first day the Fox was herdsman he ate up all the woman’s goats; the next day he made an end of all her sheep; and the third day he ate up all her kine. So, when he came home at even, the woman asked what he had done with all her flocks?