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The poor betrothed girl crouched trembling and shuddering behind

the cask, for she saw what a terrible fate had been intended for

her by the robbers. One of them now noticed a gold ring still

remaining on the little finger of the murdered girl, and as he

could not draw it off easily, he took a hatchet and cut off the

finger; but the finger sprang into the air, and fell behind the

cask into the lap of the girl who was hiding there. The robber

took a light and began looking for it, but he could not find it.

'Have you looked behind the large cask?' said one of the others.

But the old woman called out, 'Come and eat your suppers, and let

the thing be till tomorrow; the finger won't run away.'

'The old woman is right,' said the robbers, and they ceased

looking for the finger and sat down.