But the youngest said, ‘I will give her if you will not. Have you forgotten what our father commanded us?’ and, with these words, taking his sister by the hand, he gave her away, saying, ‘May she be to you a happy and honest wife!’
As the sister passed over the threshold every one in the palace fell to the ground from fear, so vivid was the lightning and loud the claps of thunder. The heavens seemed to be on fire and the whole sky rumbled, so that the whole palace shook as if about to fall. All this however passed over, and soon after the day dawned; when it grew light enough, the brothers went to see if any trace was left of the mighty power, to whom they had given their sister, so that they might be able to trace the road by which it had gone. There was, however, nothing which they could either see or hear.
The second night, about the same time, there was heard again round the whole palace a great noise, as if an army was whistling and hissing, and at length some one at the door cried out, ‘Open the door, O princes!’ They were afraid to disobey, and opened the door, and some dreadful power began to speak, ‘Give here the girl, your second sister! I am come to demand her!’ The eldest brother answered, ‘I will not give her away!’ The second brother said, ‘I will not give you my sister!’ But the youngest said, ‘I will give her! Have you forgotten what our father told us to do?’ So he took his sister by the hand and gave her over, saying, ‘Take her! may she be honest and bring you happiness!’ Then the unseen noises departed with the girl. Next day, as soon as it dawned, all three brothers walked round the palace, and for some distance beyond, looking everywhere for some trace where the power had gone, but nothing could be seen nor heard.
The third night, at the same hour as before, again the palace rocked from its very foundations, and there was a mighty uproar outside. Then a voice shouted, ‘Open the door!’ The sons of the king arose and opened the door, and a great power passed by them and said, ‘I am come to demand your youngest sister!’ The eldest and the second son shouted, ‘No! we will not give our sister this third night! At any rate, we will know before our youngest sister goes away from our house to whom we are giving her, and where she is going, so that we can come to visit her whenever we wish to do so!’ Thereupon the youngest brother said, ‘Then I will give her! Have you forgotten what our father on his death-bed recommended us? It is not so very long ago!’ Then he took the girl by the hand and said, ‘Here she is! Take her! and may she bring you happiness and be happy herself!’ Then instantly the power went away with a great noise. When the day dawned the brothers were very anxious about the fate of their sister, but could find no trace of the way in which she had gone.
Some time after the brothers, speaking together, said, ‘Good God! it is really very wonderful what has happened to our sisters! We have no news—no trace of them! We do not know where they are gone, nor whom they have married!’ At last they said to each other, ‘Let us go and try to find our sisters!’ So they prepared immediately for their journey, took money for their travelling expenses, and went away in search of their three sisters.
They had travelled some time when they lost their way in a forest, and wandered about a whole day. When it grew dark they thought they would stop for the night at some place where they could find water. So, having come to a lake, they decided to sleep near it, and sat down to take some supper. When the time for sleep came the eldest brother said, ‘I will keep watch while you sleep!’ and so the two younger brothers went to sleep and the eldest watched. In the middle of the night the lake began to be greatly agitated, and the brother who was watching grew quite frightened, especially when he saw something was coming towards him from the middle of the lake. When it came near he saw that it was a terrific alligator with two ears, and it ran at him; but he drew his knife and struck it, and cut off its head. When he had done this he cut off the ears also, and put them in his pocket, the body and the head, however, he threw back into the lake. Meanwhile the day began to dawn, but the two brothers slept on and knew nothing of what their eldest brother had done. At length he awakened them, but told them nothing, so they went on their travels together. When the next day was closing, and it began again to grow dark, they took counsel with each other where they should rest for the night, and where they should find water. They felt also afraid, because they were approaching some dangerous mountains.
Coming to a small lake they resolved to rest there that night; and having made a fire they placed their things near it, and prepared to sleep. Then the second brother said, ‘This night I will keep guard whilst you sleep!’ So the two others fell asleep, and the second brother remained watching.
All at once the lake began to move, and lo! an alligator, with two heads, came running to swallow up the three. But the brother who watched grasped his knife, felled the alligator to the ground with one blow, and cut off both the heads. Having done this he cut off the two pairs of ears, put them in his pocket, and threw the body into the water, and the two heads after it. The other brothers, however, knew nothing about the danger which they had escaped, and continued to sleep very soundly till the morning dawned.
Then the second brother awoke them, saying, ‘Arise, my brothers! It is day!’ and they instantly jumped up, and prepared to continue their journey. But they knew not in what country they now were, and as they had eaten up nearly all their food, they feared greatly lest they should die of hunger in that unknown land. So they prayed God to give them sight of some city or village or, at least, that they might meet some one to guide them, for they had already been wandering three days up and down in a wilderness, and could see no end to it. Pretty early in the morning they came to a large lake and resolved to go no further, but remain there all the day, and also to spend the night there. ‘For if we go on,’ said they, ‘we are not sure that we shall find any more water near which we can rest.’ So they remained there.
When evening came they made a great fire, took their frugal supper, and prepared to sleep. Then the youngest brother said, ‘This night I will keep guard whilst you sleep;’ and so the other two went to sleep, and the youngest brother kept awake, looking sharply about him, his eyes being turned often towards the lake. Part of the night had already passed, when suddenly the whole lake began to move, the waves dashed over the fire and half quenched it. Then he drew his sword and placed himself near the fire, as there appeared a great alligator with three heads, which rushed upon the brothers as if about to swallow them all three.