Hardly , however , were they set free , than a voice of thunder made the two sisters jump , while the little boy clung tightly round his mother 's neck . ` What are you doing in my house ? ' cried she . And the wives answered boldly that now they had found their husbands they meant to save them from such a wicked witch . ` Well , I will give you your chance , ' answered the ogress , with a hideous grin ; ` we will see if you can slide down this mountain . If you can reach the bottom of the cavern , you shall have your husbands back again . ' And as she spoke she pushed them before her out of the door to the edge of a precipice , which went straight down several hundreds of feet . Unseen by the witch , the frog 's mother fastened one end of the magic line about her , and whispered to the little boy to hold fast the other . She had scarcely done so when the witch turned round . ` You do n't seem to like your bargain , ' said she ; but the girl answered : ` Oh , yes , I am quite ready . I was only waiting for you ! ' And sitting down she began her slide . On , on , she went , down to such a depth that even the witch 's eyes could not follow her ; but she took for granted that the woman was dead , and told the sister to take her place . At that instant , however , the head of the elder appeared above the rock , brought upwards by the magic line . The witch gave a howl of disgust , and hid her face in her hands ; thus giving the younger sister time to fasten the cord to her waist before the ogress looked up . ` You ca n't expect such luck twice , ' she said ; and the girl sat down and slid over the edge . But in a few minutes she too was back again , and the witch saw that she had failed , and feared lest her power was going . Trembling with rage though she was , she dared not show it , and only laughed hideously . ' I sha 'n' t let my prisoners go as easily as all that ! ' she said .
` Make my hair grow as thick and as black as yours , or else your husbands shall never XXXXX daylight again . '
fastened follow going hid laughed let said see set slid