HOP-O'-MY-THUMB. 147

wine last night.” He went next to the bed that his daughters.
were in, and when he felt the night-caps, he said, “ Ah! here
you are, my lads:” and so in a moment he cut the throats of
all his daughters.

very much pleased when he had done this, and then
k to his own bed. As soon as Hop-o'-my-thumb
heard him snore, he awoke his brothers, and told them to put
on their clothes quickly, and follow him, They stole down
softly into the garden, and then jumped from the wall into the
road: they ran as fast as their legs could carry them, but were
so much afraid all the while, that they hardly knew which way
to take. When the Ogre waked in the morning, he said to his
wife, “My dear, go and dress the young rogues I saw last
night.” The Ogress was quite surprised at hearing her husband
so kind to them, as she thought, and did not dream of the real
meaning of his words. She supposed he wanted her to help
them to put on their clothes ; so she went up stairs, and the first
thing she saw was her seven daughters with their throats cut,
and all over blood. ‘his threw her into a fainting fit. The
Ogre was afraid his wife might be too long in ding what he had
set her about, so he went himself to help her; but he was as
much shocked as she had been, at the dreadful sight of his
bleeding’ children. “ Ah ! what have I done?” ho cried ; “ but
the little varlets shall pay for it, I warrant them.” He first
threw some water on his wife's face ; and, as soon as she came
to herself, he said to her : * Bring me quickly my seven-league
boots, that I may go and catch the little vipers.” The Ogre
then put on these boots, and set out with all speed. He strided
over many parts of the country, and at last turned into the
very road in which the poor children were on their journey
towards their father’s house, and which they had almost reached.
They had seen the Ogre a good while striding from mountain

ue