'Upon my word,' said the ogre, as he felt the golden crowns; 'a nice job I was going to make of it! It is very evident that I drank a little too much last night!'
Forthwith he went to the bed where his daughters were, and here he felt the little boys' caps.
'Aha, here are the little scamps!' he cried; 'now for a smart bit of work!'
'He set off over the countryside'
With these words, and without a moment's hesitation, he cut the throats of his seven daughters, and well satisfied with his work went back to bed beside his wife.
No sooner did little Tom Thumb hear him snoring than he woke up his brothers, bidding them dress quickly and follow him. They crept quietly down to the garden, and jumped from the wall. All through the night they ran in haste and terror, without the least idea of where they were going.
When the ogre woke up he said to his wife: