十二头牛 (第2/3页)

meby，grabbedthenecklace，andflewoffwithit。Thegirlranintothewoodsaftertheravenandfoundherbrothershouse。Noonewasathome，soshecookedthenoodles，spoonedthe摸ntothebrothersplates，andhidunderabed。Thebrothersreturnedand，findingthenoodlesreadyandwaiting，satdownandate。Butthentheygrewuneasy，suspectingthewitcheshadplayedajokeonthem，forthewoodswerefullofwitches。

    Oneofthetwelvekeptwatchthenextdayandsawthegirljumpoutfromunderthebed。Whenthebrotherslearnedshewasnotawitchbuttheirownlittlesister，theymadeagreatto-dooverherandinsistedthatsheremainwiththem。Buttheycautionedhertospeaktonooneinthewoods，becausetheplacewasfullofwitches。

    Oneeveningwhenthegirlttopreparesupper，shefoundthatthefirehadgoneout。Tosavetime，shettoanearbycottagetogetalight。Anoldwomanatthecottagegraciouslygaveherthelight，butsaidthat，inexchange，shewouldcometothegirlonthe摸rrowandsuckabitofbloodfromherlittlefinger。

    "Icantletanyoneinthehouse，"saidthegirl。"Mybrothersforbidit。"

    "Youdontevenhavetoopenthedoor，"repliedtheoldwoman。"WhenIknock，allyouhavetodoisstickyourlittlefingerthroughthekeyhole，andIllsuckit。"

    Sotheoldwomancamebyeveryeveningtosuckthebloodfromher，whilethegirlgrewpalerandpaler。Herbrothersnoticeditandaskedhersomanyquestionsthatsheadmittedgoingtoanoldwitchforalightandhavingtopayforitwithherblood。"Justletustakecareofher，"saidthebrothers。

    Thewitcharrived，knocked，andwhenthegirlfailedtostickherfingerthroughthekeyhole，shepokedherheadthroughthecatdoor。Oneofthebrothershadhishatchetallreadyandchoppedoffherhead。Thentheypitchedtheremainsintoaravine。

    Onedayonthewaytothefountain，thegirlmetanotheroldwoman，whowassellingwhite波wls。

    "Ihaveno摸ney，"saidthegirl。

    "InthatcaseIllmakeyouapresentofthem，"saidtheoldwoman。

    Sowhenthebrotherscamehomethirsty，theyfoundtwelve波welsfilledwithwater。Theypitchedinanddrank，andinstantlychangedintoaherdofoxen。Onlythetwelfth，whosethirstwasslight，barelytouchedthewaterandturnedintoalamb。Thesisterthereforefoundherselfalonewithelevenoxenandonelambtofeedeveryday。

    Aprinceouthuntingtastrayinthewoodsand，turningupatthegirlshouse，fellinlovewithher。Heaskedhertomarryhim，butsherepliedthatshehadtothinkofheroxenbrothersandcouldntpossiblyleavethem。Theprincetookhertohispalacealongwithallthebrothers。Thegirlbecamehisprincessbride，andtheelevenoxenandthelambwereputintoamarbleba