He leads her into a room, which she sees is full of money. They pass into another, and this is full of linen clothes. They enter the third, and there she sees a block and a great number of peasants hanging from pegs all round the walls. All that she saw there caused her heart to grow faint as though she were passing to the other world. The brigand led her back, and intrusted her to the old woman, to whom he said, ‘Guard her, that she flee nowhere, while we go a-hunting. We shall not return till nightfall; then we shall cut some stripes from her back.’
‘Very well,’ said the old dame.
This old woman began to lament for her. ‘Why have you come here?’ she said to her. ‘They will cut off stripes from your back, and I shall be forced to look on. But listen [[172]]to me. Go to draw water; take off your clothes and place them on the well; leave the pail there and take to flight.’
Well, she went out and fled. She came to a great forest. The dogs of the house, having smelt that she was away, began seeking for her. The old woman set herself to scold the dogs, crying out to them, ‘Where were you, then, when this girl went to fetch water?’
The dogs ran out of doors; they see that she is there beside the well; they return to the house reassured.
Let us now leave the dogs, and return to the girl.
The girl travelled for about seven leagues along the road which she had marked by scattering the oats. Towards night-time the brigands returned home; they asked the old woman where the girl is, where is she gone to?
That brigand calls her, ‘Why do you not return?’
She gives him no response.
He armed himself with his sword, this brigand; he approached what he thought was the girl standing erect, and struck a blow on the iron standard of the well. He at once returned to the house, and told his comrades what had happened. They all rushed forth in pursuit.