more the giant pursued his work, and the sword clanked a third time.
Then the giant got so angry that he undid the belt, and threw the sword
out of the barn door.

"Lie there," said he, "till I have done my thrashing."

The lad waited no longer, but slipping down from the roof seized on the
sword, ran to his boat, and rowed across the water. On reaching the
other side he hid his treasure, and was full of glee at the success of
his adventure.

The next day he filled his pouch with corn, put a bundle of bast-twine
in his boat, and once more set off to the giant's dwelling. He lay
hiding for a time, and then he saw the giant's three golden hens walking
about on the shore, and spreading their feathers, which sparkled
beautifully in the bright sunshine. He was soon near them, and began to
softly lead them on, scattering corn for them out of his pouch. While
they were picking the boy gradually led them to the water, till at last
he got them into his little boat. Then he jumped in himself, secured the
fowl with his twine, pushed out from the shore, and rowed as quickly as
he could to the other side of the water.

The third day he put some lumps of salt into his pouch, and again rowed
across the lake. As night came on he noticed how the smoke rose from
the giant's dwelling, and concluded that the giant's wife was busy
getting ready his food. He crept up on to the roof, and, looking down
through the hole by which the smoke escaped, saw a large caldron boiling
on the fire. Then he took the lumps of salt out of his pouch, and threw
them one by one into the pot. Having done this, he crept down from the
roof, and waited to see what would follow.