He understood something of the danger that there might be in trying to steal it , now that the witch 's suspicions were aroused , and he spent hours in making plans for outwitting her . But somehow he never could think of anything that would do , and at last , as the brothers had foreseen , he sent for Pinkel . ' I hear , ' he said , ` that the old witch on the island has a goat with golden horns from which hang bells that tinkle the sweetest music . That goat I must have ! But , tell me , how am I to get it ? I would give the third part of my kingdom to anyone who would bring it to me . ' ' I will fetch it myself , ' answered Pinkel . This time it was easier for Pinkel to approach the island unseen , as there was no golden lantern to thrown its beams over the water . But , on the other hand , the goat slept inside the hut , and would therefore have to be taken from under the very eyes of the old woman . How was he to do it ? All the way across the lake he thought and thought , till at length a plan came into his head which seemed as if it might do , though he knew it would be very difficult to carry out . The first thing he did when he reached the shore was to look about for a piece of wood , and when he had found it he hid himself close to the hut , till it grew quite dark and near the hour when the witch and her daughter went to bed . Then he crept up and fixed the wood under the door , which opened outwards , in such a manner that the more you tried to shut it the more firmly it stuck . And this was what happened when the girl went as usual to bolt the door and make all fast for the night . ` What are you doing ? ' asked the witch , as her daughter kept tugging at the handle . ` There is something the matter with the door ; it wo n't shut , ' answered she . ` Well , leave it alone ; there is nobody to hurt us , ' said the witch , who was very sleepy ; and the girl did as she was bid , and went to bed . Very soon they both might have been heard snoring , and Pinkel knew that his time was come . Slipping off his shoes he stole into the hut on tiptoe , and taking from his pocket some food of which the goat was particularly fond , he laid it under his nose .
Then , while the animal was eating it , he stuffed each golden bell with wool which he had also brought with him , stopping every minute to listen , lest the witch should awaken , and he should find himself changed XXXXX some dreadful bird or beast .
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