r behind me."

And as soon as the lad did what the _Horse_ said, up rose a great
black hill of rock behind him. So the _Troll_ had to be off home to
fetch something to mine his way through the rock; and while the
_Troll_ did that, the lad rode a good bit further on. But still the
_Horse_ begged him to look behind him, and then he saw a troop like a
whole army behind him, and they glistened in the sunbeams.

[Illustration: But still the Horse begged him to look behind him.]

"Aye, aye," said the _Horse_, "that's the _Troll_, and now he's got
his whole band with him, so throw the pitcher of water behind you, but
mind you don't spill any of it upon me."

So the lad did that; but in spite of all the pains he took, he still
spilt one drop on the horse's flank. So it became a great deep lake;
and because of that one drop, the horse found himself far out in it,
but still he swam safe to land. But when the _Trolls_ came to the
lake, they lay down to drink it dry; and so they swilled and swilled
till they burst.

"Now we're rid of them," said the _Horse_.

So when they had gone a long, long while, they came to a green patch
in a wood.

"Now, strip off all your arms," said the _Horse_, "and only put on
your ragged clothes, and take the saddle off me, and let me loose, and
hang all my clothing and your arms up inside that great hollow
lime-tree yonder. Then make yourself a wig of fir-moss, and go up to
the king's palace, which lies close here, and ask for a place.
Whenever you need me, only come here and shake the bridle, and I'll
come to you."

Yes! the lad did all his _Horse_ told him, and as soon as ever he put
on the wig of moss he became so ugly, and pale, and miserable to look
at, no one would have known him again. Then he went up to the king's
palace and begged first for leave to be in the kitchen, and bring in
wood and water for the cook, but then the kitchen-maid asked him:

"Why do you wear that ugly wig? Off with it. I won't have such a
fright in here."

"No, I can't do that," said the lad; "for I'm not quite right in my
head."

"Do you think then I'll have you in here about the food," cried the
cook. "Away with you to the coachman; you're best fit to go and clean
the stable."

But when the coachman begged him to take his wig off, he got the same
answer, and he wouldn't have him either.

"You'd best go down to the gardener," said he; "you're best fit to go
about and dig in the garden."

So he got lea