there came three others who were worried in like
manner. Then the dogs again dug a grave and buried the dead Draken, that
their master might not see them. When Janni awoke and beheld the dogs
all covered with blood, he thought, as before, that they had killed a
wild beast, and was again angry with them for leaving him nothing. But
he took the quinces and brought them back to his sister, who, when she
had eaten them, declared herself better. The Drakos, when he heard that
Janni had come back, fled for fear forty fathoms deeper underground.

Next day, when Janni was hunting, the Drakos went to the sister and
advised that she should again pretend to be ill, and should beg for some
pears, which grew in a garden three days' journey from the castle. From
this quest Janni would certainly never return, for there dwelt nine
brothers of the Drakos, each of whom had three heads.

The sister did as she was told, and next day Janni, taking his three
dogs with him, went to get the pears. When he came to the garden he laid
himself down to rest, and soon fell asleep.

Then first came three Draken to eat him, and when the dogs had worried
these, six others came and fought the dogs a long time. The noise of
this combat awoke Janni, and he slew the Draken, and knew at last why
the dogs were covered with blood.

[Illustration: JANNI AND HIS DOGS FIGHT THE THREE-HEADED DRAKEN]

After that he freed all whom the Draken held prisoners, amongst others,
a king's daughter. Out of gratitude she would have taken him for her
husband; but he put her off, saying: 'For the kindness that I have been
able to do to you, you shall receive in this castle all the blind and
lame who pass this way.' The princess promised him to do so, and on his
departure gave him a ring.

So Janni plucked the pears and took them to his sister, who, when she
had eaten them, declared she felt better. When, however, the Drakos
heard that Janni had come back yet a third time safe and sound, he fled
for fright forty fathoms deeper underground; and, next day, when Janni
was away hunting, he crept out and said to the sister: 'Now are we
indeed both lost, unless you find out from him wherein his strength
lies, and then between us we will contrive to do away with him.'

When, therefore, Janni had come back from hunting, and sat at evening
with his sister by the fire, she begged him to tell her wherein lay his
strength, and he answered: 'It lies in my two fingers; if these are
b