"
As he spoke up came the twelve Princes riding along, as handsome
well-grown lads as you'd wish to see; but the youngest Prince had a wild
duck's wing instead of his left arm. "What's all this about?" asked the
Princes.
"My Queen is to be burnt," said the King, "because she is a witch, so
the people say, and I can't save her."
"Speak now, sister," said the Princes, "you have set us free and saved
us, now save yourself."
Then the young Queen spoke and told the whole story, and the King and
all the people listened with wonder and joy. Only the wicked old woman
stood trembling with fear. And when the Queen had finished her story,
the people took the old witch and bound her and burned her on the pile.
But the King took his wife and the twelve Princes and went home with
them to their father and mother, and told all that had befallen them.
Then there was joy and gladness over the whole kingdom, because the
wicked witch was dead and the Princes saved and set free, and because
the lovely Princess had set free her twelve brothers.
GUDBRAND-ON-THE-HILLSIDE
Once upon a time there was a man whose name was Gudbrand. He had a farm
which lay far, far away upon a hillside, and so they called him
Gudbrand-on-the-Hillside.
Now, you must know this man and his good wife lived so happily together,
and understood one another so well, that all the husband did the wife
thought so well done there was nothing like it in the world, and she was
always pleased at whatever he turned his hand to.
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