ill she came upon some grass, under which Ingibjoerg's feet were
hidden, and putting them in her cart, drove back again to her own hut.

Ingibjoerg was thankful to see her, for she had lain, too frightened to
sleep, trembling at every noise.

'Oh, is it you?' she cried joyfully, as Kisa turned the key. And the
cat came in, holding up the two neat little feet in their silver
slippers.

[Illustration: KISA THE CAT CARRIES OFF INGIBJOeRG'S FEET FROM THE
GIANT'S CAVE]

'In two minutes they shall be as tight as ever they were!' said Kisa.
And taking some strings of the magic grass which the giant had
carelessly heaped on them, she bound the feet on to the legs above.

'Of course you won't be able to walk for some time; you must not
expect _that_,' she continued. 'But if you are very good, perhaps, in
about a week, I may carry you home again.'

And so she did; and when the cat drove the cart up to the palace gate,
lashing the horse furiously with her tail, and the king and queen saw
their lost daughter sitting beside her, they declared that no reward
could be too great for the person who had brought her out of the
giant's hands.

'We will talk about that by-and-by,' said the cat, as she made her
best bow, and turned her horse's head.

The princess was very unhappy when Kisa left her without even bidding
her farewell. She would neither eat nor drink, nor take any notice of
all the beautiful dresses her parents bought for her.

'She will die, unless we can make her laugh,' one whispered to the
other. 'Is there anything in the world that we have left untried?'

'Nothing, except marriage,' answered the king. And he invited all the
handsomest young men he could think of to the palace, and bade the
princess choose a husband from among them.

It took her some time to decide which she admired the most, but at
last she fixed upon a young prince, whose eyes were like the pools in
the forest, and his hair of bright gold. The king and the queen were
greatly pleased, as the young man was the son of a neighbouring king,
and they gave orders that a splendid feast should be got ready.

When the marriage was over, Kisa suddenly stood before them, and
Ingibjoerg rushed forward and clasped her in her arms.

'I have come to claim my reward,' said the cat. 'Let me sleep for this
night at the foot of your bed.'

'Is that _all_?' asked Ingibjoerg, much disappointed.

'It is enough,' answered the cat. And when the morning d