. That instant the
magic lost its power, and the dogs were once more set free. They came
down like a blast of wind, and rushed into the mountain. Then the lad
sprang up and cried--

"Hold-fast, hold him; Tear and Quick-ear, tear him into a thousand
pieces."

The dogs flew on the giant, and tore him into countless shreds. Then the
lad took all the treasures in the mountain, harnessed the giant's
horses to a golden chariot, and made haste to be gone.

As may well be imagined, the young princesses were very glad at being
thus saved, and they thanked the lad for having delivered them from the
power of mountain giants. He himself fell deep in love with the youngest
princess, and they vowed to be true and faithful. So they travelled,
with mirth and jest and great gladness, and the lad waited on the
princesses with the respect and care they deserved. As they went on, the
princesses played with the lad's hair, and each one hung her finger-ring
in his long locks as a keepsake.

One day as they were journeying, they came up with two wanderers who
were going the same way. They had on tattered clothes, their feet were
sore, and altogether one would have thought they had come a long
distance. The lad stopped his chariot and asked them who they were and
where they came from. The strangers said they were two princes who had
gone out to look for the three maidens who had been carried off to the
mountains. They had, however, searched in vain, so they had now to go
home more like beggars than princes.

When the lad heard that, he had pity on the two wanderers, and he asked
them to go with him in the beautiful chariot. The princes gave him many
thanks for the favour. So they travelled on together till they came to
the land over which the father of the princesses ruled.

Now when the princes heard how the poor lad had rescued the princesses,
they were filled with envy, thinking how they themselves had wandered to
no purpose. They considered how they could get rid of him, and obtain
the honour and rewards for themselves. So one day they suddenly set on
him, seized him by the throat, and nearly strangled him. Then they
threatened to kill the princesses unless they took an oath not to reveal
what they had done, and they, being in the princes' power, did not dare
to refuse. However, they were very sorry for the youth who had risked
his life for them, and the youngest princess mourned him with all her
heart, and would not be comforted.