It is quite worth while trying . ' At last the young man gave in , and threw the fish back into the sea ; and both brothers went supperless to bed , and wondered what fortune the next day would bring . At the first streaks of dawn they were both up , and in a very few minutes were running down to the shore . And there , just as the fish had said , stood two magnificent horses , saddled and bridled , and on their backs lay suits of armour and under-dresses , two swords , and two purses of gold . ` There ! ' said the younger brother . ` Are you not thankful you did not eat that fish ? He has brought us good luck , and there is no knowing how great we may become ! Now , we will each seek our own adventures . If you will take one road I will go the other . ' ` Very well , ' replied the elder ; ` but how shall we let each other know if we are both living ? ' ` Do you see this fig-tree ? ' said the younger . ` Well , whenever we want news of each other we have only to come here and make a slit with our swords in the back . If milk flows , it is a sign that we are well and prosperous ; but if , instead of milk , there is blood , then we are either dead or in great danger . ' Then the two brothers put on their armour , buckled their swords , and pocketed their purees ; and , after taking a tender farewell of each other , they mounted their horses and went their various ways . The elder brother rode straight on till he reached the borders of a strange kingdom . He crossed the frontier , and soon found himself on the banks of a river ; and before him , in the middle of the stream , a beautiful girl sat chained to a rock and weeping bitterly . For in this river dwelt a serpent with seven heads , who threatened to lay waste the whole land by breathing fire and flame from his nostrils unless the king sent him every morning a man for his breakfast . This had gone on so long that now there were no men left , and he had been obliged to send his own daughter instead , and the poor girl was waiting till the monster got hungry and felt inclined to eat her .
When the young man saw the maiden weeping bitterly he said XXXXX her , ` What is the matter , my poor girl ? '
after before if in on that till to while with