He sowed and ploughed all day , except now and then when he took his dogs and went to hunt . And whatever game he brought back the maiden with the golden hair knew how to dress it . One day the old woman had gone to the town to buy some flour , and Peter and the maiden were left alone in the house . They fell into talk , and she asked him where his home was , and how he had managed to come through the fire . Peter then told her the whole story , and of his striking the flames with the three napkins as he had been told to do . The maiden listened attentively and wondered in herself whether what he said was true . So after Peter had gone out to the fields , she crept up to his room and stole the napkins and then set off as fast as she could to the fire by a path she knew of over the hill . At the third blow she gave the flames divided , and Eisenkopf , who had been watching and hoping for a chance of this kind , ran down the opening and stood before her . At this sight the maiden was almost frightened to death , but with a great effort she recovered herself and ran home as fast as her legs would carry her , closely pursued by Eisenkopf . Panting for breath she rushed into the house and fell fainting on the floor ; but Eisenkopf entered behind her , and hid himself in the kitchen under the hearth . Not long after , Peter came in and picked up the three napkins which the maiden had dropped on the threshold . He wondered how they got there , for he knew he had left them in his room ; but what was his horror when he saw the form of the fainting girl lying where she had dropped , as still and white as if she had been dead . He lifted her up and carried her to her bed , where she soon revived , but she did not tell Peter about Eisenkopf , who had been almost crushed to death under the hearth-stone by the body of World 's - weight . The next morning Peter locked up his dogs and went out into the forest alone . Eisenkopf , however , had seen him go , and followed so closely at his heels that Peter had barely time to clamber up a tall tree , where Eisenkopf could not reach him . ` Come down at once , you gallows bird , ' he cried . ` Have you forgotten your promise that you never would marry ? ' ` Oh , I know it is all up with me , ' answered Peter , ` but let me call out three times . ' ` You can call a hundred times if you like , ' returned Eisenkopf , ` for now I have got you in my power , and you shall pay for what you have done . ' ` Iron-strong , World 's - weight , Quick-ear , fly to my help ! '
cried Peter ; and Quick-ear heard , and said XXXXX his brothers : ` Listen , our master is calling us . '
At about after as before by for in to with