` Mount on my back , then , and in a quarter of an hour we shall be there . ' The ogress was as good as her word , and in a few minutes they arrived at the outskirts of the town where Halfman and his brothers lived . Here she left him , while she went into the town itself , and found the wedding guests just leaving the brother 's house . Unnoticed by anyone , the ogress crept into a curtain , changing herself into a scorpion , and when the brother was going to get into bed , she stung him behind the ear , so that he fell dead where he stood . Then she returned to Halfman and told him to go and claim his bride . He jumped up hastily from his seat , and took the road to his father 's house . As he drew near he heard sounds of weeping and lamentations , and he said to a man he met : ` What is the matter ? ' ` The judge 's eldest son was married yesterday , and died suddenly before night . ' ` Well , ' thought Halfman , ` my conscience is clear anyway , for it is quite plain he coveted my wife , and that is why he tried to drown me . ' He went at once to his father 's room , and found him sitting in tears on the floor . ` Dear father , ' said Halfman , ` are you not glad to see me ? You weep for my brother , but I am your son too , and he stole my bride from me and tried to drown me in the brook . If he is dead , I at least am alive . ' ` No , no , he was better than you ! ' moaned the father . ` Why , dear father ? ' ` He told me you had behaved very ill , ' said he . ` Well , call my brothers , ' answered Halfman , ` as I have a story to tell them . ' So the father called them all into his presence . Then Halfman began : ` After we were twelve days ' journey from home , we met an ogress , who gave us greeting and said , `` Why have you been so long coming ?
The daughters of your uncle have waited for you in vain , '' and she bade us follow her to the house , saying , `` Now there need be no more delay ; you can marry your cousins XXXXX soon as you please , and take them with you to your own home . ''
If as at before from in of on to while