He said, ‘I will not.’
Chutilla caught him by the throat, and placed his head on the threshold.[23] ‘Give me, Peter Pretty-face, the maiden, else I will cut off your head.’
‘Cut it off; I will not give her.’
Chutilla cut off his head, and took the girl and departed.
Blood began to flow from the ring. His mother saw it. ‘Now my son is dead.’ She went after him, to seek for him, and came to the red flag. His mother said, ‘My son went this way.’ She went further, and came to the black flag. ‘My son went this way.’ She went further, and came to the white flag. ‘My son went this way.’ She came to the castle, found her son dead; and two serpents were licking the blood. And she struck one serpent, and it died. And the other serpent brought a leaf in its mouth, and went to the first serpent, and it also arose. And the lady saw, and killed it also, and took the leaf, and placed her son’s head again on the trunk, and touched it with the leaf, and he arose.
‘Mother, I was sleeping soundly.’
‘You would have slept for ever if I had not come.’
‘Mother, I will go to my lady.’
‘Go not, mother’s darling.’
‘Bah! I will go, mother.’