Peter Christen Asbjørnsen

“ Osborn Boots and Mr. Glibtongue
ONCE on a time there was a king who had many hundred sheep, and many hundred goats and kine, and many hundred horses he had too, and silver and gold in great heaps. But for all that he was so given to grief, that he seldom or ever saw folk, much less said a word to them. Such he had been ever since his youngest daughter was lost; and if he had never lost her, it would still have been bad enough, for there was a Troll who was for ever making such waste and worry there, that folk could hardly pass to the king's grange in peace. ”

“ No, the Troll would have nothing to say to that either.
"Oh, but blindman's buff," said Boots; "haven't you a mind to play blindman's buff?"
Yes, that would be fine fun, the Troll thought; "but you shall be blindfold first," said the Troll to Boots.
"Oh yes, with all my heart," said the lad; "but the fairest way is that we draw lots, and then we shan't have anything to quarrel about."
Yes, yes, that was best, and then you may fancy Boots took care the Troll should be the first to have the handkerchief over his eyes, and was the first "buff." ”

“ As he went he took his time. "You'll be there soon enough," he said to himself. "You have all the day before you, and afterwards the moon will rise, if you have any luck." So he put his best foot foremost, and puffed up the hills, and all the while looked about him on the road. ”