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when he could not find so much as one crumb； the
birds had come and had eaten it up； every bit。 They were
now in great affliction； for the farther they went the more
they were out of their way； and were more and more
bewildered in the forest。
Night now came on； and there arose a terribly high
wind； which made them dreadfully afraid。 They fancied
they heard on every side of them the howling of wolves
coming to eat them up。 They scarce dared to speak or
turn their heads。 After this； it rained very hard； which
wetted them to the skin； their feet slipped at every step
they took； and they fell into the mire； whence they got
up in a very dirty pickle； their hands were quite benumbed。
Little Thumb climbed up to the top of a tree； to see if
he could discover anything； and having turned his head
about on every side； he saw at last a glimmering light；
like that of a candle； but a long way from the forest。 He
came down； and； when upon the ground； he could see it
no more； which grieved him sadly。 However； having
walked for some time with his brothers toward that side
on which he had seen the light； he perceived it again as he
came out of the wood。
They came at last to the house where this candle was；
not without an abundance of fear： for very often they lost
sight of it； which happened every time they came into a
bottom。 They knocked at the door； and a good woman
came and opened it； she asked them what they would
have。
Little Thumb told her they were poor children who had
been lost in the forest； and desired to lodge there for
God's sake。
The woman； seeing them so very pretty； began to weep；
and said to them：
〃Alas！ poor babies； whither are ye come？ Do ye know
that this house belongs to a cruel ogre who eats up little
children？〃
〃Ah！ dear madam；〃 answered Little Thumb （who trembled
every joint of him； as well as his brothers）； 〃what
shall we do？ To be sure the wolves of the forest will
devour us to…night if you refuse us to lie here； and so we
would rather the gentleman should eat us； and perhaps he
may take pity upon us； especially if you please to beg it of
him。〃
The Ogre's wife； who believed she could conceal them
from her husband till morning； let them come in； and
brought them to warm themselves at a very good fire； for
there was a whole sheep upon the spit； roasting for the
Ogre's supper。
As they began to be a little warm they heard three or
four great raps at the door； this was the Ogre； who had
come home。 Upon this she hid them under the bed and
went to open the door。 The Ogre presently asked if supper
was ready and the wine drawn； and then sat himself down
to table。 The sheep was as yet all raw and bloody； but he
liked it the better for that。 He sniffed about to the right
and left； saying：
〃I smell fresh meat。〃
〃What you smell so；〃 said his wife； 〃must be the calf
which I have just now killed and flayed。〃
〃I smell fresh meat； I tell thee once more；〃 replied the
Ogre； looking crossly at his wife； 〃and there is something
here which I do not understand。〃
As he spoke these words he got up from the table and
went directly to the bed。
〃Ah； ah！〃 said he； 〃I see then how thou wouldst cheat
me； thou cursed woman； I know not why I do not eat thee
up too； but it is well for thee that thou art a tough old
carrion。 Here is good game； which comes very quickly
to entertain three ogres of my acquaintance who are to
pay me a visit in a day or two。〃
With that he dragged them out from under the bed one
by one。 The poor children fell upon their knees； and
begged his pardon； but they had to do with one of the
most cruel ogres in the world； who； far from having any pity
on them； had already devoured them with his eyes； and
told his wife they would be delicate eating when tossed
up with good savory sauce。 He then took a great knife；
and； coming up to these poor children； whetted it upon a
great whet…stone which he held in his left hand。 He had
already taken hold of one of them when his wife said to
him：
〃Why need you do it now？ Is it not time enough to…
morrow？〃
〃Hold your prating；〃 said the Ogre； 〃they will eat the
tenderer。
〃But you have so much meat already；〃 replied his wife；
you have no occasion； here are a calf； two sheep； and
half a hog。〃
〃That is true；〃 said the Ogre； 〃give them their belly
full that they may not fall away； and put them to bed。〃
The good woman was overjoyed at this； and gave them
a good supper； but they were so much afraid they could
not eat a bit。 As for the Ogre； he sat down again to drink；
being highly pleased that he had got wherewithal to treat
his friends。 He drank a dozen glasses more than ordinary；
which got up into his head and obliged him to go to bed。
The Ogre had seven daughters； all little children； and
these young ogresses had all of them very fine complexions；
because they used to eat fresh meat like their father；
but they had little gray eyes； quite round； hooked noses；
and very long sharp teeth； standing at a good distance
from each other。 They were not as yet over and above
mischievous； but they promised very fair for it； for they
had already bitten little children； that they might suck
their blood。
They had been put to bed early； with every one a crown
of gold upon her head。 There was in the same chamber a
bed of the like bigness； and it was into this bed the Ogre's
wife put the seven little boys； after which she went to bed
to her husband。
Little Thumb； who had observed that the Ogre's
daughters had crowns of gold upon their heads； and was
afraid lest the Ogre should repent his not killing them；
got up about midnight； and； taking his brothers' bonnets
and his own； went very softly and put them upon the heads
of the seven little ogresses； after having taken off their
crowns of gold； which he put upon his own head and his
brothers'； that the Ogre might take them for his daughters；
and his daughters for the little boys whom he wanted to
kill。
All this succeeded according to his desire； for； the Ogre
waking about midnight； and sorry that he deferred to do
that till morning which he might have done over…night；
threw himself hastily out of bed； and； taking his great
knife；
〃Let us see；〃 said he； 〃how our little rogues do； and not
make two jobs of the matter。〃
He then went up； groping all the way； into his daughters'
chamber； and； coming to the bed where the little
boys lay； and who were every soul of them fast asleep；
except Little Thumb； who was terribly afraid when he
found the Ogre fumbling about his head； as he had done
about his brothers'； the Ogre； feeling the golden crowns；
said：
〃I should have made a fine piece of work of it； truly；
I find I drank too much last night。〃
Then he went to the bed where the girls lay； and； having
found the boys' little bonnets；
〃Ah！〃 said he； 〃my merry lads； a