Their stepmother was furious.  “I thought that they were gone.

I‘ll not stay here another day to be so put upon.”

“Stay, wife,” the husband sighed.  “They are but children, can’t you see?”

“They’re a plague! And you must choose between.  Will it be them or me?”

He took them to the woods again.  “I’ve left a trail of bran.

If you’ve a need for anything I’ll help you if I can.

She hates you.  But remember, no one loves you more than I.”

And he turned away abruptly so they would not see him cry.

This time when they had tired of play and wanted to go back,

the birds had eaten all the bran.  They could not find the track.

They wandered in the woods.  Then they were frightened by the sounds

of trumpeters and horses’ hooves and baying of the hounds.

A prince had come to hunt.  Nennillo cowered in a tree, 

but Nennella ran right through the woods until she reached the sea.

On the shore were pirates.  “Look at that!” the captain roared.

He scooped her up and took her to his wife who was on board.

She accompanied the pirates while they sailed their ship around

until a mighty storm capsized the ship and all were drowned

excepting for Nennella.  And she managed to survive

because a huge enchanted fish had swallowed her alive.