She’ll never find out, so the third night ’tis clear
My sweet friend, fair Helen, can’t fail to be mine.
Hurrah! for my name is Kinkach Martinko,
Hurrah! for my boots are of doggies’ skin O!”
“Now that is exactly what you want to know, my dear girl; so do not forget, and you are saved.”
And with these words the old man vanished.
Helen was greatly astonished, but she took care to fix in her memory all that the good fellow had told her, and then went to sleep, feeling that she could face to-morrow without fear.
On the third day, very early in the morning, the little old man appeared and set busily to work, for he knew that all the hemp must be spun before sunset, and that then he should be able to claim his rights. When evening came all the hemp was gone, and the room shone with the brightness of the golden thread.