“But I do not know how,” said Buttercup.
“THEN SHOW ME HOW, AND I WILL HOLD THE AX FOR YOU”
“Stupid! It is easy enough; anyone would know how to do that.”
“Then show me how, and I will hold the ax for you.”
The stupid witch girl put her head on the block, and as soon as she did that, Buttercup cut it off. He put the head on the pillow of the bed and drew the coverlid up about it and then it looked exactly as though the witch girl were lying there asleep, but the body of her he popped into the pot of boiling water. Then he climbed up on the roof and took the fir tree stump and the stone with him.
And now home came the old witch again and all her troll friends with her, and they were an ugly looking set all together.
They went stamping into the house and the old witch began to bawl for her daughter, but there was no answer. She looked about her and spied the head there on the pillow with the covers drawn up about it. “So there you are!” cried the old witch. “Well, if you are too lazy to get up and eat your dinner, you will have to be content with what we leave.” Then she picked up a big spoon and tasted the broth.
“Good, by my troth,