` Ah , that is delightful ; we want something new , ' answered they , and placed the princess between the outstretched arms of the fox . In one instant he had knocked over the great stand of lights that lighted the hall , and in the darkness had borne the princess to the gate . His comrades seized hold of her , as they had been bidden , and the fox was back again in the hall before anyone had missed him . He found the giants busy trying to kindle a fire and get some light ; but after a bit someone cried out : ` Where is the princess ? ' ` Here , in my arms , ' replied the fox . ` Do n't be afraid ; she is quite safe . ' And he waited until he thought that his comrades had gained a good start , and put at least five or six mountains between themselves and the giants . Then he sprang through the door , calling , as he went : ` The maiden is here ; take her if you can ! ' At these words the giants understood that their prize had escaped , and they ran after the fox as fast as their great legs could carry them , thinking that they should soon come up with the fox , who they supposed had the princess on his back . The fox , on his side , was far too clever to choose the same path that his friends had taken , but would in and out of the forest , till at last even HE was tired out , and fell fast asleep under a tree . Indeed , he was so exhausted with his day 's work that he never heard the approach of the giants , and their hands were already stretched out to seize his tail when his eyes opened , and with a tremendous bound he was once more beyond their reach . All the rest of the night the fox ran and ran ; but when bright red spread over the east , he stopped and waited till the giants were close upon him . Then he turned , and said quietly : ` Look , there is the Sister of the Sun ! ' The giants raised their eyes all at once , and were instantly turned into pillars of stone . The fox then made each pillar a low bow , and set off to join his friends . He knew a great many short cuts across the hills , so it was not long before he came up with them , and all four travelled night and day till they reached the castle of the Sister of the Sun . What joy and feasting there was throughout the palace at the sight of the princess whom they had mourned as dead ! and they could not make enough of the boy who had gone through such dangers in order to rescue her . The golden hen was given to him at once , and , more than that , the Sister of the Sun told him that , in a little time , when he was a few years older , she would herself pay a visit to his home and become his wife . The boy could hardly believe his ears when he heard what was in store for him , for his was the most beautiful princess in all the world ; and however thick the darkness might be , it fled away at once from the light of a star on her forehead .
So the boy set forth on his journey home , with his friends for company ; his heart full of gladness when he thought of the promise XXXXX the princess .
In after at if of on throughout till until upon