42-the witch in the stone boat-第2章

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hand。　　Soon　after　the　planks　in　the　floor　sprang　up　as　before；

and　the　woman　came　up；　dressed　in　white；　with　the　iron　belt　and

chain。　　The　King　saw　at　once　that　it　was　his　own　Queen；　and

immediately　hewed　asunder　the　iron　chain　that　was　fastened　to　the

belt。　　This　was　followed　by　such　noises　and　crashings　down　in　the

earth　that　all　the　King's　Palace　shook；　so　that　no　one　expected

anything　else　than　to　see　every　bit　of　it　shaken　to　pieces。　　At

last；　however；　the　noises　and　shaking　stopped；　and　they　began　to

come　to　themselves　again。



The　King　and　Queen　embraced　each　other；　and　she　told　him　the

whole　storyhow　the　Witch　came　to　the　ship　when　they　were　all

asleep　and　sent　her　off　in　the　boat。　　After　she　had　gone　so　far

that　she　could　not　see　the　ship；　she　sailed　on　through　darkness

until　she　landed　beside　a　three…headed　Giant。　　The　Giant　wished

her　to　marry　him；　but　she　refused；　whereupon　he　shut　her　up　by

herself；　and　told　her　she　would　never　get　free　until　she

consented。　　After　a　time　she　began　to　plan　how　to　get　her

freedom；　and　at　last　told　him　that　she　would　consent　if　he　would

allow　her　to　visit　her　son　on　earth　three　days　on　end。　　This　he

agreed　to；　but　put　on　her　this　iron　belt　and　chain；　the　other　end

of　which　he　fastened　round　his　own　waist；　and　the　great　noises

that　were　heard　when　the　King　cut　the　chain　must　have　been　caused

by　the　Giant's　falling　down　the　underground　passage　when　the

chain　gave　way　so　suddenly。　　The　Giant's　dwelling；　indeed；　was

right　under　the　Palace；　and　the　terrible　shakings　must　have　been

caused　by　him　in　his　death…throes。　



The　King　now　understood　how　the　Queen　he　had　had　for　some　time

past　had　been　so　ill…tempered。　　He　at　once　had　a　sack　drawn　over

her　head　and　made　her　be　stoned　to　death；　and　after　that　torn　in

pieces　by　untamed　horses。　　The　two　young　fellows　also　told　now

what　they　had　heard　and　seen　in　the　Queen's　room；　for　before　this

they　had　been　afraid　to　say　anything　about　it；　on　account　of　the

Queen's　power。



The　real　Queen　was　now　restored　to　all　her　dignity；　and　was

beloved　by　all。　　The　nurse　was　married　to　a　nobleman；　and　the

King　and　Queen　gave　her　splendid　presents。