they are," for he was a stout strong fellow. So he took hold with his
big tongs by the old man's coat tail, and the man all the while
screeched and wriggled. But Taper Tom only said:

"If you want to come along, hang on!" So the smith had to go along too.
He bent his back and stuck his heels into the ground and tried to get
loose, but it was all no good. He stuck fast, as though he had been
screwed tight with his own vise, and whether he would or not, he had to
dance along with the rest.

So, when they came near to the King's palace, the dog ran out and began
to bark as though they were wolves and beggars. And when the Princess,
looking out of the window to see what was the matter, set eyes on this
strange pack, she laughed softly to herself. But Taper Tom was not
content with that:

"Bide a bit," he said, "she will soon have to make a noise." And as he
said that he turned off with his band to the back of the palace.

When they passed by the kitchen the door stood open, and the cook was
just stirring the porridge. But when she saw Taper Tom and his pack she
came running out at the door, with her broom in one hand and a ladle
full of smoking porridge in the other, and she laughed as though her
sides would split. And when she saw the smith there too, she bent double
and went off again in a loud peal of laughter. But when she had had her
laugh out, she too thought the golden goose so lovely she must just
stroke it.

"Taper Tom! Taper Tom!" she called out, and came running out with the
ladle of porridge in her fist, "Give me leave to pet that pretty bird of