And they begin to fight. After a long combat, this giant also shared the fate of the former two, and the lad cut his throat.
Then he brought together the three maidens, who told him that they were daughters of three Princes and had been stolen by these giants, who nourished them with the Apples of Life. Then they showed him their houses, their treasure, and everything belonging to the giants. The lad took what he chose from the treasures and prepared three chests for the maidens. He kept only a sword of lightning for himself. Then entering the stable, he found three horses of lightning, one black, a second one red, and the third white. The youngest maiden advised the lad to pick three hairs from the tails of the horses and keep them. The lad did so. Then they came to the bottom of the abyss where the lad had descended, and found the rope still hanging. He, binding the oldest maiden and her chest to the rope, called to his brothers to draw her up.
“This is,” he said, “the betrothed of my oldest brother, and the chest is her dowry.”
Then he bound the second maiden and her chest, saying: “This is the betrothed of my second brother, and the chest is her dowry.”
Now it was the turn of the youngest maiden.
“You go up first,” she said to the lad.
“Not I,” said the lad; “you must go up first.”
“But when your brothers see me,” said the maiden, “they will not draw you up, and you will remain here. I love you! I pity you!”
“Why,” said the lad, “are they not my brothers? Do you believe my brothers will do me evil? Go up, I say!”
“Alas!” said the maiden; “I will obey. But if you do remain here below, as I am afraid you will, do as I tell you. Next Friday evening three rams will come here, one of them black, the second red, and the third white. As soon as you see them, throw yourself upon the black ram. He will throw you upon the red, the red will throw you upon the white, and the white will throw you to the surface of the upper world. But if you make a mistake you are lost, or there is little hope for your release. Take this magic ring as a token of my love for you. Whatever you desire, kiss this ring and you will certainly have it. And when you are in need, cast the three hairs which you picked from the tails of the three horses in the fire, and they will immediately come to you. So farewell, my love!”