He is a savage dog , I can tell you ; but you need n't be afraid of him either . Only , put him on my apron and he wo n't touch you , and you can take out of the chest as much gold as you like ! ' ` Come , this is not bad ! ' said the Soldier . ` But what am I to give you , old Witch ; for surely you are not going to do this for nothing ? ' ` Yes , I am ! ' replied the Witch . ` Not a single farthing will I take ! For me you shall bring nothing but an old tinder-box which my grandmother forgot last time she was down there . ' ` Well , tie the rope round my waist ! ` said the Soldier . ` Here it is , ' said the Witch , ` and here is my blue-check apron . ' Then the Soldier climbed up the tree , let himself down through the hole , and found himself standing , as the Witch had said , underground in the large hall , where the three hundred lamps were burning . Well , he opened the first door . Ugh ! there sat the dog with eyes as big as saucers glaring at him . ` You are a fine fellow ! ' said the Soldier , and put him on the Witch 's apron , took as much copper as his pockets could hold ; then he shut the chest , put the dog on it again , and went into the second room . Sure enough there sat the dog with eyes as large as mill-wheels . ` You had better not look at me so hard ! '
said the XXXXX .
Soldier apron farthing fellow first mill-wheels room second standing tinder-box