To whom the girl answered, ‘They are helping me to carry off the bacon, which I am not able to carry myself, there is such a lot of it. If you do not believe me, see, here is a bit—taste it.’
They ate of this bacon; they were delighted with it. The sixth brigand thrust himself forward; she killed him also; she cut off his head and drew him inside. The seventh followed; he was killed in the same way; she cut off his head and drew him in. The eighth went there; she killed him like the others, and drew him in and cut off his head. The ninth advanced; him she killed in like fashion, pulled him in and cut off his head. The tenth tried to enter; she killed him also, drew him in and cut off his head. The two remaining brigands were astounded, and said to each other, ‘Hallo! there are ten of them there, and they are not sufficient for this money.’ The eleventh came forward; he also was killed; she drew him inside and cut off his head. The twelfth one at last hesitates. ‘What is going on there?’ He pushed his head in a little way, and the girl cut off a piece of his skin.
‘Ah! you are as cunning as that, are you? So, then you have killed my brothers.’
This brigand betook himself home.[2] [[170]]
Leaving this brigand in the meantime, let us pass to the dead ones.
The miller’s daughter went to bed. Her father got up next day. She said to him, ‘Father, twelve brigands have been here. They meant to carry me away last night, but I armed myself with your sword, and killed the whole twelve [sic] of them.’
The miller did not believe her.
‘If you don’t believe me, father, I will show you them.’
‘Very well, show them to me.’
She led him to the store-room, where the miller saw the lot of decapitated brigands. He went to the town, and told the peasants and great lords what had happened. ‘My daughter has just slain twelve brigands. If you do not believe me, come with me.’