So soon as Little Thumb heard the Ogre snore , he waked his brothers , and bade them all put on their clothes presently and follow him . They stole down softly into the garden , and got over the wall . They kept running about all night , and trembled all the while , without knowing which way they went . The Ogre , when he awoke , said to his wife : `` Go upstairs and dress those young rascals who came here last night . '' The wife was very much surprised at this goodness of her husband , not dreaming after what manner she should dress them ; but , thinking that he had ordered her to go and put on their clothes , she went up , and was strangely astonished when she perceived her seven daughters killed , and weltering in their blood . She fainted away , for this is the first expedient almost all women find in such cases . The Ogre , fearing his wife would be too long in doing what he had ordered , went up himself to help her . He was no less amazed than his wife at this frightful spectacle . `` Ah ! what have I done ? '' cried he . `` The wretches shall pay for it , and that instantly . '' He threw a pitcher of water upon his wife 's face , and , having brought her to herself , said : `` Give me quickly my boots of seven leagues , that I may go and catch them . '' He went out , and , having run over a vast deal of ground , both on this side and that , he came at last into the very road where the poor children were , and not above a hundred paces from their father 's house . They espied the Ogre , who went at one step from mountain to mountain , and over rivers as easily as the narrowest kennels . Little Thumb , seeing a hollow rock near the place where they were , made his brothers hide themselves in it , and crowded into it himself , minding always what would become of the Ogre . The Ogre , who found himself much tired with his long and fruitless journey -LRB- for these boots of seven leagues greatly fatigued the wearer -RRB- , had a great mind to rest himself , and , by chance , went to sit down upon the rock where the little boys had hid themselves . As it was impossible he could be more weary than he was , he fell asleep , and , after reposing himself some time , began to snore so frightfully that the poor children were no less afraid of him than when he held up his great knife and was going to cut their throats . Little Thumb was not so much frightened as his brothers , and told them that they should run away immediately toward home while the Ogre was asleep so soundly , and that they should not be in any pain about him . They took his advice , and got home presently .
Little Thumb came up XXXXX the Ogre , pulled off his boots gently and put them on his own legs .
about above as at from into near on to without