Pagina 217 di 626

The girl looked up and saw that the voice came from a bird

hanging in a cage on the wall. Again it cried:

'Turn back, turn back, young maiden fair, Linger not in this

murderers' lair.'

The girl passed on, going from room to room of the house, but

they were all empty, and still she saw no one. At last she came

to the cellar, and there sat a very, very old woman, who could

not keep her head from shaking. 'Can you tell me,' asked the

girl, 'if my betrothed husband lives here?'

'Ah, you poor child,' answered the old woman, 'what a place for

you to come to! This is a murderers' den. You think yourself a

promised bride, and that your marriage will soon take place, but

it is with death that you will keep your marriage feast. Look, do

you see that large cauldron of water which I am obliged to keep

on the fire! As soon as they have you in their power they will

kill you without mercy, and cook and eat you, for they are eaters

of men. If I did not take pity on you and save you, you would be

lost.'