An Exciting Tale of Bravery and Intelligence: How The Troll was Tricked

A thrilling story featuring adventure, courage and cunning - witness how a brave hero outsmarts an evil troll through sheer brilliance!

Once upon a time, there was a wealthy farmer who owned a large forest. This forest's trees were harvested and sold for firewood, as well as for the construction of fine houses and sailing ships. The farmer had three sons. The older two were strong, strapping lads, but the youngest, Boots, was not. He was uninterested in fighting, which his elder brothers liked more than anything else.

Boots was despised by the older brothers. They said he was only good for messing around in the ashes of the fire. The boy enjoyed drawing pictures in the soot, so there was some truth to this.

Disaster struck one day. A huge and dangerous troll descended from the mountains and settled in the farmer's forest cave. The farmer's men would not go near the forest for fear of being eaten by the hideous brute.

No trees were felled. There was no sale of wood. Soon, the farmer and his family had to borrow money to survive, and it wasn't long before they were in debt up to their ears.

Despite the threat of the troll, the farmer realised he needed to sell some wood. "Take a few men with you and go to the edge of the forest to cut some trees, because we must sell some wood if we are to eat," he told his eldest son.

The eldest son led his men out, and as they neared the edge of the forest, their knees began to tremble. The fierce troll roared out of the forest as soon as they set up camp and took the first axe to the first tree. He snatched one of the men in his mighty fist and vanished into the trees.

Terrified, the men bolted and did not stop until they arrived back at the farm. The eldest son was at the front of the pack, fleeing faster than a hunted deer.

The farmer was furious with his eldest son and expelled him and the men from his property. Soon after, he went to his second son and said, "Now, my son, if you succeed where your brother failed, you will inherit everything I own."

The second son gathered the rest of his father's men and set off with them, and their knees began to tremble as they approached the edge of the wood.

The fierce troll roared out of the forest, seized two of the men in one great, hairy arm, beat his chest, and vanished back into the trees, no sooner had they made camp and taken the first axe to the first tree.

The remaining men took to their heels immediately and did not stop running until they arrived back at the farm. The second son was at the front of the pack, running faster than a speeding hare.

Again, the farmer was furious, and fearing that all was lost, he expelled his second son and all his men from his property. After all, he couldn't afford to pay any of them anymore! Only his youngest son, Boots, remained.

"I'll go deal with the troll and get your forest back for you!" Boots said to his father. The father grumbled angrily at his son.

"What makes you think you can succeed after your brothers both failed? You're not as strong as either of them, and I don't have any men to send with you." Boots stated simply, "I don't have to be tough. I don't require men. All I need are my wits and a little cheese."

So, with a pang of regret, his father gave him a chunk of fresh, juicy cheese and let him go. He thought this was the last time he'd see his youngest son.

As Boots approached the forest with caution, the troll roared out, beating his chest. He was a terrifying green monster with beady eyes. Boots held his ground, staring at the troll until the troll stopped his show. Boots then requested food from the troll. The troll yelled, "Food? Are you requesting food from ME? It is I who desires my dinner, and you are IT!"

Boots took out a piece of cheese and said to the troll, "Do you notice this rock? I'll squeeze it until its very juices leak out, and then you'll either give me some food or I'll squeeze you until YOUR juices leak out." He then squeezed the cheese repeatedly until the whey dripped out. The worried troll handed him some food from his pouch and then offered to assist Boots with the woodcutting, as he wanted this new threat out of the way as soon as possible.

Boots returned home to inform his father that he had cut some wood. The father was astounded and grateful, and he begged Boots to cut more wood the next day.

The troll reappeared as Boots approached the forest. He didn't roar or beat his chest this time, instead asking Boots if he wanted to come home with him. Boots was well aware that this was a ruse and that the troll wanted to kill and eat him, but he went anyway.

When they arrived outside the troll's cave, he suggested they make some porridge. He went to start the fire and told Boots to go get the water.

Boots looked around for buckets and was surprised to find them as large as barrels. He realised he'd never be able to carry such massive buckets. Instead, he declared loudly that the buckets were too small and that he would simply go fetch the river.

The troll hurriedly exchanged jobs with him, terrified at the prospect of all that water in his home.

Boots boasted to the troll after making the porridge, "Because I'm so strong, I require a lot of food to keep me going. I'm sure I could eat a lot more of this porridge than you could!" The troll laughed as he looked down at the small figure at his table. "We'll see about that," he said before starting to eat.

Boots spooned more into his apron pocket than his stomach, and when the apron was full, he cut a hole in it.

Finally, the troll declared that he could no longer eat. "How did you do that?" the irritated troll inquired. Boots claimed it was easy. He slit his stomach and the excess food spilled out. He then showed the troll the apron hole he had made.

Boots proposed that the troll cut a hole in his stomach as well so that he could eat as much as he pleased. "It doesn't hurt too bad!" he exclaimed.

The troll thought this was a fantastic idea, so he carried it out. He let out a terrible groan as he realised, he had been duped. He desperately wanted to kill Boots... but died because of his wound.

Boots entered the troll's cave, where he discovered mounds of gold and silver among the bones of eaten people and animals. The boy returned to the farm with some of the gold and silver. The overjoyed farmer was able to pay off all his debts and return to chopping wood after hiring more men.

Boots took over the family's lands, which were much richer than before because of his cunning and quick thinking in defeating the troll and winning his treasure.