Tug <ough>

Nib's brothers need to go out to work in the field. They are worried about leaving Nib alone at home while she works with her yarn. There is a nasty troll about. 'When we go, make sure you lock the door!' her brother calls to her. 'I am busy with my yarn!' she calls back.

The beast is watching and sees the boys leave. He knows this is his chance to grab something tender for dinner.

Nib works with her back to the window and doesn't see the big, blue troll creep up to her house. She has been so busy in her task that she did not get up to lock the door like her brothers told her to.

She is focused on her task and does not see the troll look in through the window. Luckily he is too big to fit in. But he is sure to look for another way in.

The beast sticks his arm in through the unlocked door and grabs Nib. She thinks quickly and tugs the wool along with her.

The beast is rough. He throws Nib over his back and carries her off. She leaves a trail of her bright red yarn along the path for her brothers to follow. She hopes she has enough to go all the way to the troll's cave.

Nib's brothers are able to follow the trail of yarn all the way to the mouth of the cave. They can hear the troll snoring within. It is a horrible place, but they must rescue their little sister.

One of her brothers gets the key to the cage from his fat waist. The other brother takes Nib's red yarn and winds it around and around the form of the sleeping beast.

The lock of the massive cage makes a dreadful creak as the boy turns the key. The troll wakes up and catches them in the act of letting his dinner go. An angry roar fills the cave as the beast sees his meal getting away.

As the beast races after them, the yarn around his body tugs tight and trips him over. The children run away scattering to avoid the beast's angry grasp.

'I saved them all with my wonderful yarn!' Nib boasts. 'Yes, you were very clever,' says her brother, 'but next time, make sure you lock the door!'