Things looked very black again for the brothers , for they were sure there was no escape for them . The youngest of them , indeed , asked where Esben was , but the others said that that little fool could scarcely keep himself in clothes , and it was not to be expected that he could help them . Not one of them thought it worth while to look for Esben , but he soon came along of himself . ` Well , what 's the matter now ? ' said he . ` Oh , what 's the use of telling you ? ' said the brothers . ` You ca n't help us , at any rate . ' ` Ah ! who knows that ? ' said Esben . ' I have helped you before . ' In the end the brothers told him about the coverlet which , when one touched it , sounded so that it could be heard over eight kingdoms . Esben thought that this was the worst errand that he had had yet , but he could not do worse than fail , and so he would make the attempt . He again took his little white stick , set himself on it , and said , Fly quick , my little stick , Carry me across the stream . Next moment he was across the river and beside the witch 's house . It was evening , and the door was locked , but he knew the way down the chimney . When he had got into the house , however , the worst yet remained to do , for the coverlet was on the bed in which the witch lay and slept . He slipped into the room without either she or her daughter wakening ; but as soon as he touched the coverlet to take it it sounded so that it could be heard over eight kingdoms . The witch awoke , sprang out of bed , and caught hold of Esben .
He struggled with her , but could not free himself , and the witch called to her daughter , ` Come and help me ; we shall put him XXXXX the little dark room to be fattened .
In about across as for into of on over to