The Blue-Haired Ogre 61

gathering in her eyes, for up to this time
they had held together, and there had been
no question of parting, which to the mother’s
heart seemed almost like death. But she kept
her voice steady as she said—

“Tt is true; and our Karl is big and
strong. He must go.”

So the next morning Karl, who had rosy
cheeks, grey eyes, and a tremendous appetite,
had his badger cap tied tightly over his
head, with the ears sticking up, as was the
custom, a stout thorn-stick thrust into his
hands, a hunch of rye-bread tucked into
his pouch, and was told that he was to go
out and seek his fortune. He was so over-
joyed at this that he only stayed to ask
one question as to where he should be likely
to meet with it.

“Well, I don’t know,” said the father
slowly. ‘“ Folk say that for that you must
find the Blue-haired Ogre.”

“And so I will!” cried Karl. “ Find him,
and fight him, and kill him. I always
wanted to be a soldier. Good-bye, father ;