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the nurse was very much frightened； but told no one about it。
Next evening the same thing happened again； just as before； but
as the woman was going away she said in a sad tone； 'Two are
gone； and one only is left；' and then disappeared as before。 The
nurse was still more frightened when she heard the woman say
this； and thought that perhaps some danger was hanging over the
child； though she had no ill…opinion of the unknown woman； who；
indeed； had behaved towards the child as if it were her own。 The
most mysterious thing was the woman saying 'and only one is
left；' but the nurse guessed that this must mean that only one
day was left； since she had come for two days already。
At last the nurse made up her mind to go to the King； and told
him the whole story； and asked him to be present in person next
day about the time when the woman usually came。 The King
promised to do so； and came to the nurse's room a little before
the time； and sat down on a chair with his drawn sword in his
hand。 Soon after the planks in the floor sprang up as before；
and the woman came up； dressed in white； with the iron belt and
chain。 The King saw at once that it was his own Queen； and
immediately hewed asunder the iron chain that was fastened to the
belt。 This was followed by such noises and crashings down in the
earth that all the King's Palace shook； so that no one expected
anything else than to see every bit of it shaken to pieces。 At
last； however； the noises and shaking stopped； and they began to
come to themselves again。
The King and Queen embraced each other； and she told him the
whole storyhow the Witch came to the ship when they were all
asleep and sent her off in the boat。 After she had gone so far
that she could not see the ship； she sailed on through darkness
until she landed beside a three…headed Giant。 The Giant wished
her to marry him； but she refused； whereupon he shut her up by
herself； and told her she would never get free until she
consented。 After a time she began to plan how to get her
freedom； and at last told him that she would consent if he would
allow her to visit her son on earth three days on end。 This he
agreed to； but put on her this iron belt and chain； the other end
of which he fastened round his own waist； and the great noises
that were heard when the King cut the chain must have been caused
by the Giant's falling down the underground passage when the
chain gave way so suddenly。 The Giant's dwelling； indeed； was
right under the Palace； and the terrible shakings must have been
caused by him in his death…throes。
The King now understood how the Queen he had had for some time
past had been so ill…tempered。 He at once had a sack drawn over
her head and made her be stoned to death； and after that torn in
pieces by untamed horses。 The two young fellows also told now
what they had heard and seen in the Queen's room； for before this
they had been afraid to say anything about it； on account of the
Queen's power。
The real Queen was now restored to all her dignity； and was
beloved by all。 The nurse was married to a nobleman； and the
King and Queen gave her splendid presents。