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The old woman then mixed a sleeping draught with their wine, and

before long they were all lying on the floor of the cellar, fast

asleep and snoring. As soon as the girl was assured of this, she

came from behind the cask. She was obliged to step over the

bodies of the sleepers, who were lying close together, and every

moment she was filled with renewed dread lest she should awaken

them. But God helped her, so that she passed safely over them,

and then she and the old woman went upstairs, opened the door,

and hastened as fast as they could from the murderers' den. They

found the ashes scattered by the wind, but the peas and lentils

had sprouted, and grown sufficiently above the ground, to guide

them in the moonlight along the path. All night long they walked,

and it was morning before they reached the mill. Then the girl

told her father all that had happened.