“And how does your golden-haired sister thrive?” the fairy woman asked.
“She humbly kisses both of your hands, auntie,” said the lad.
“And what have you come for, my boy?” inquired the fairy dame.
“The King wants from me a dozen lions’ skins,” answered the lad.
“Well then, come and hide you under my apron till your forty cousins come,” said the old woman, hiding the lad in the folds of her skirts.
Soon the forty fairies, the sons of the old dame, came, and smelling the lad, exclaimed:
“How now, mother! have you prepared for us a meal of human meat to-day?”
“No, sons,” answered the dame, “unless you are so cruel as to eat your own human cousin.”
“Where is he, mother?” inquired the forty, “we will not hurt him, but talk to him.”
The lad came out from under the apron of his fairy aunt.