But the old woman would not listen. The boy rose up, fearing his mother, and taking a long knife, went to the right-hand room and cut the throats of the three girls without ribbons. He went to bed then for himself, and when Smallhead found that the old hag was asleep she roused her sisters, told what had happened, made them dress quickly and follow her. Believe me, they were willing and glad to follow her this time. [Illustration: THE BRIDGE OF BLOOD] The three travelled briskly and came soon to a bridge, called at that time "The Bridge of Blood." Whoever had killed a person could not cross the bridge. When the three girls came to the bridge the two sisters stopped: they could not go a step further. Smallhead ran across and went back again. "If I did not know that you killed our mother," said she, "I might know it now, for this is the Bridge of Blood." She carried one sister over the bridge on her back and then the other. Hardly was this done when the hag was at the bridge. "Bad luck to you, Smallhead!" said she, "I did not know that it was you that was in it last evening. You have killed my three daughters." "It wasn't I that killed them, but yourself," said Smallhead. The old hag could not cross the bridge, so she began to curse, and she put every curse on Smallhead that she could remember. The sisters travelled on till they came to a King's castle. They heard that two servants were needed in the castle. "Go now," said Smallhead to the two sisters, "and ask for service. Be faithful and do well. You can never go back by the road you came." The two found employment at the King's castle. Smallhead took lodgings in the house of a blacksmith near by. "I should be glad to find a place as kitchen-maid in the castle," said Smallhead to the blacksmith's wife. "I will go to the castle and find a place for you if I can," said the woman. The blacksmith's wife found a place for Smallhead as kitchen-maid in the castle, and she went there next day. "I must be careful," thought Smallhead, "and do my best. I am in a strange place. My two sisters are here in the King's castle. Who knows, we may have great fortune yet." She dressed neatly and was cheerful. Every one liked her, liked her better than her sisters, though they were beautiful. The King had two sons, one at home and the other abroad. Smallhead thought to herself one day: "It is time for the son who is here in the castle to marry. I will speak to him the first time I can." One day she saw him alone in the garden, went up to him, and said: "Why are you not getting married, it is high time for you?" He only laughed and thought she was too bold, but then thinking that she was a simple-minded girl who wished to be pleasant, he said: "I will tell you the reason: My grandfather bound my father by an oath never to let his oldest son marry until he could get the Sword of Light, and I am afraid that I shall be long without marrying."