ell into a clump of rose-bushes. The princess of course ran after it
at once, and she was stooping down to feel if it was hidden in the
long grass, when she heard a voice calling her: 'Ingibjoerg!
Ingibjoerg!' it said, 'have you forgotten me? I am Kisa, your sister!'

'But I never _had_ a sister,' answered Ingibjoerg, very much puzzled;
for she knew nothing of what had taken place so long ago.

'Don't you remember how I always slept in your cot beside you, and how
you cried till I came? But girls have no memories at all! Why, I could
find my way straight up to that cot this moment, if I was once inside
the palace.'

'Why did you go away then?' asked the princess. But before Kisa could
answer, Ingibjoerg's attendants arrived breathless on the scene, and
were so horrified at the sight of a strange cat, that Kisa plunged
into the bushes and went back to the forest.

The princess was very much vexed with her ladies-in-waiting for
frightening away her old playfellow, and told the queen who came to
her room every evening to bid her good-night.

'Yes, it is quite true what Kisa said,' answered the queen; 'I should
have liked to see her again. Perhaps, some day, she will return, and
then you must bring her to me.'

Next morning it was very hot, and the princess declared that she must
go and play in the forest, where it was always cool, under the big
shady trees. As usual, her attendants let her do anything she
pleased, and, sitting down on a mossy bank where a little stream
tinkled by, soon fell sound asleep. The princess saw with delight that
they would pay no heed to her, and wandered on and on, expecting every
moment to see some fairies dancing round a ring, or some little brown
elves peeping at her from behind a tree. But, alas! she met none of
these; instead, a horrible giant came out of his cave and ordered her
to follow him. The princess felt much afraid, as he was so big and
ugly, and began to be sorry that she had not stayed within reach of
help; but as there was no use in disobeying the giant, she walked
meekly behind.

They went a long way, and Ingibjoerg grew very tired, and at length
began to cry.

'I don't like girls who make horrid noises,' said the giant, turning
round. 'But if you _want_ to cry, I will give you something to cry
for.' And drawing an axe from his belt, he cut off both her feet,
which he picked up and put in his pocket. Then he went away.

Poor Ingibjoerg lay on the grass in terrible pa