e innkeeper did as he was bid, and when the two generals were
dressed in their proper clothes, they declared they would join
Bensurdatu, and with him seek for the king's daughters.

The three companions rode on for many miles, and at length they came to
a wild place, without sign of a human being. It was getting dark, and
fearing to be lost on this desolate spot they pushed on their horses,
and at last saw a light in the window of a tiny hut.

'Who comes there?' asked a voice, as they knocked at the door.

'Oh! have pity on us, and give us a night's shelter,' replied
Bensurdatu; 'we are three tired travellers who have lost our way.'

Then the door was opened by a very old woman, who stood back, and
beckoned them to enter. 'Whence do you come, and whither do you go?'
said she.

'Ah, good woman, we have a heavy task before us,' answered Bensurdatu,
'we are bound to carry the king's daughters back to the palace!'

'Oh, unhappy creatures,' cried she, 'you know not what you are doing!
The king's daughters were covered by a thick cloud, and no one knows
where they may now be.'

'Oh, tell us, if you know, my good woman,' entreated Bensurdatu, 'for
with them lies all our happiness.'

'Even if I were to tell you,' answered she, 'you could not rescue them.
To do that you would have to go to the very bottom of a deep river, and
though certainly you would find the king's daughters there, yet the two
eldest are guarded by two giants, and the youngest is watched by a
serpent with seven heads.'

The two generals, who stood by listening, were filled with terror at
her words, and wished to return immediately; but Bensurdatu stood firm,
and said: 'Now we have got so far we must carry the thing through. Tell
us where the river is, so that we may get there as soon as possible.'
And the old woman told them, and gave them some cheese, wine, and bread,
so that they should not set forth starving; and when they had eaten and
drunk they laid themselves down to sleep.

The sun had only just risen above the hills next morning before they all
woke, and, taking leave of the wise woman who had helped them, they rode
on till they came to the river.

'I am the eldest,' said one of the generals, 'and it is my right to go
down first.'

So the others fastened a cord round him, and gave him a little bell, and
let him down into the water. But scarcely had the river closed above his
head when such dreadful rushing sounds and peals of thunder ca