"so, so!" thought the lion, and went and dragged the lad to the spring, and dipped him over head and ears in it. so, when he had got his sight again, he went down to the shore and made signs to the lions that they should all lie close together like a raft; then he stood upon their backs while they swam with him to the mainland. when he had reached the shore he went up into a birchen copse, and made the lions lie quiet. then he stole up to the castle, like a thief, to see if he couldn't lay hands on his belt; and when he got to the door, he peeped through the keyhole, and there he saw his belt hanging up over a door in the kitchen. so he crept softly in across the floor, for there was no one there; but as soon as he had got hold of the belt, he began to kick and stamp about as though he were mad. just then his mother came rushing out: