under a high hedge, and a fine steed under her.

But the giant was now in sight, roaring like a hundred lions, and
the other giant was out in a moment, and the chase kept on. For
every two springs the horses gave, the giants gave three, and at
last they were only seventy perches off. Then the prince stopped
again, and flung the second knife behind him. Down went all the
flat field, till there was a quarry between them a quarter of a
mile deep, and the bottom filled with black water; and before the
giants could get round it, the prince and princesses were inside
the kingdom of the great magician, where the high thorny hedge
opened of itself to everyone that he chose to let in. There was
joy enough between the three sisters, till the two eldest saw
their lovers turned into stone. But while they were shedding
tears for them, Seven Inches came in, and touched them with his
rod. So they were flesh, and blood, and life once more, and there
was great hugging and kissing, and all sat down to breakfast, and
Seven Inches sat at the head of the table.

When breakfast was over, he took them into another room, where
there was nothing but heaps of gold, and silver, and diamonds,
and silks, and satins; and on a table there was lying three sets
of crowns: a gold crown was in a silver crown, and that was lying
in a copper crown. He took up one set of crowns, and gave it to
the eldest princess; and another set, and gave it to the second
youngest princess; and another, and gave it to the youngest of
all; and says he, 'Now you may all go to the bottom of the pit,
and you have nothing to do but stir the basket, and the people
that are watching above will draw you up. But remember, ladies,
you are to keep your crows safe, and be married in them, all the