220 GLOOSCAP AND OTHER STORIES

sheep. He heated the lock of wool, and at once the great sheep was before him. The sheep broke the lock with his horn, and then he opened the lid—when suddenly the soul flew out of the casket, and away—away!

The prince heated the feather and soon there flew toward him the grey goose, who started off after the ogre’s soul, and caught it in his beak. When he had brought it to the prince, he held it while the prince struck it again and again with his magical sword. And all this time the ogre inside the cave, who knew nothing of what was happening to his soul, was growing weaker and weaker, until he could not speak. Soon he could scarcely breathe—and then he died.

Then the prince went back into the cave, and told the stolen brides that he must now go to the city to make ready a place for them, but that he would soon return and rescue them all.

That very day the prince took all the brides back to the city, and soon each was in her own home. Then the prince went to the king’s pal- ace with the princess, where they lived happily and were never troubled again by any terrible ogre.