approached, he heard the sound of heavy footsteps on the mountains
Turning around he saw coming towards him a gigantic and terrible
troll.

"She addressed him, saying, 'Good evening, my Sigurdur. I am come
to put you into my bag.'

"Sigurdur answered, 'Are you cracked? Do you not see how thin I am?
Surely I am not worth your notice. But I have a sheep and fat lamb
here which I will give you for your pot this evening.'

"So he gave her the sheep and the lamb, which she threw on her
shoulder, and carried off up the mountain again. Then Sigurdur went
home, and right glad was the farmer to see him safe, and asked him
whether he had seen anything.

"'Nothing whatever, out of the common,' replied the boy.

"After New Year's day the farmer visited the flock, and, on looking
them over, missed the sheep and lamb which he had given the youth,
and asked him what had become of them. The boy answered that a fox
had killed the lamb, and that the wether had fallen into a bog;
adding, 'I fancy I shall not be very lucky with _my_ sheep.'

"When he heard this, the farmer gave him one ewe and two wethers,
and asked him to remain another year in his service. Sigurdur
consented to do so.

"Next Christmas Eve, Gudmundur begged Sigurdur to be cautious, and
not run any risks, for he loved him as his own son.