it 's tired and hungry he was when he reached the first castle , at sunset . Oh , was n't the second princess glad to see him ! And what a good supper she gave him . But she heard the giant at the gate , and she hid the prince in a closet . Well , when he came in , he snuffed , an ' he snuffed , and says he , ` By the life , I smell fresh meat . ' ` Oh , ' says the princess , ` it 's only the calf I got killed to-day . ' ` Ay , ay , ' says he , ` is supper ready ? ' ` It is , ' says she ; and before he rose from the table he ate three-quarters of a calf , and a flask of wine . ' I think , ' says he , when all was done , ' I smell fresh meat still . ' ` It 's sleepy you are , ' says she ; ` go to bed . ' ` When will you marry me ? ' says the giant . ` You 're putting me off too long . ' ` St. Tibb 's Eve , ' says she . ' I wish I knew how far off that is , ' says he ; and he fell asleep , with his head in the dish . Next day , he went out after breakfast , and she sent the prince to the castle where the eldest sister was . The same thing happened there ; but when the giant was snoring , the princess wakened up the prince , and they saddled two steeds in the stables and rode into the field on them . But the horses ' heels struck the stones outside the gate , and up got the giant and strode after them . He roared and he shouted , and the more he shouted , the faster ran the horses , and just as the day was breaking he was only twenty perches behind . But the prince did n't leave the castle of Seven Inches without being provided with something good .
He reined XXXXX his steed , and flung a short , sharp knife over his shoulder , and up sprung a thick wood between the giant and themselves .
By after at before in into off on to with