ure to die of starvation into the
bargain if her brother Ironhead did not come soon and bring her some raw
meat and bones, for she really could eat nothing else.'

As she was raving and roaring in this frantic manner part of the floor
suddenly opened and a huge giant rose up carrying a great chest in his
arms. The witch was enchanted at this sight, and eagerly helped her
brother to set down and open the chest, which was full of the ghastly
food she had been longing for. The horrid pair set to and greedily
devoured it all, and when the chest was quite empty the giant put it on
his shoulder and disappeared as he had come, without leaving any trace
of his visit.

But his sister did not keep quiet for long, and tore and pulled at the
rich brocade as if she wanted to destroy it, stamping about and shouting
angrily.

Now, all this time Prince Asmund and his sister sat in their trees just
outside the window and saw all that was going on.

'Dear Signy,' said Asmund, 'do try to get hold of that piece of brocade
and make the clothes yourself, for really we shall have no rest day or
night with such a noise.'

'I will try,' said Signy; 'it won't be an easy matter, but it's worth
while taking some trouble to have a little peace.'

So she watched for an opportunity and managed to carry off the brocade
the first time the witch left her room. Then she set to work, cutting
out and sewing as best she could, and by the end of six days she had
turned it into an elegant robe with a long train and a mantle. When it
was finished she climbed to the top of her tree and contrived to throw
the clothes on to a table through the open window.

How delighted the witch was when she found the clothes all finished! The
next time Prince Ring came to see her she gave them to him, and he paid
her many compliments on her skilful work, after which he took leave of
her in the most friendly manner. But he had scarcely left the house when
the witch began to rage as furiously as ever, and never stopped till her
brother Ironhead appeared.

When Asmund saw all these wild doings from his tree he felt he could no
longer keep silence. He went to Prince Ring and said: 'Do come with
me and see the strange things that are happening in the new princess's
room.'

The prince was not a little surprised, but he consented to hide himself
with Asmund behind the panelling of the room, from where they could see
all that went on through a little slit. The witch was rav