The Three Princesses
2i6
mountain," said the soldier
suppose
first, I
?
" but you'll
want something
have two ox carcases lying ready
I
yonder
"the hay-loft
;
the Blue Mountain
in
you had better
;
finish them,"
he
for
said.
to eat
you
in
When
the eagle had done she did not tarry, and long before the sun rose
she wav. back again with the checkers.
under his bed and lay down
The
soldier then put
them
to sleep.
Early next morning the goldsmith came and knocked at his •door.
"You you after now again ?" asked the soldier. rush about enough in the day, goodness knows If one cannot have peace when one is in bed, whoever would be an "
What
are
!
apprentice here ?
"
said he.
Neither praying nor begging helped that time
;
the goldsmith
must and would come in, and at last he was let in. And then you may be sure, there was soon an end
to his
wailing.
more glad than the goldsmith were the princesses, when he came up to the palace with the checkers, and gladdest of all was the youngest princess. " Have you made them yourself? " she asked. " No, if I must speak the truth, it is not I," he said, " but my But
still
apprentice, **
I
who has made
them."
should like to see that apprentice," said the princess.
fact all three
wanted
to see him,
and
he valued his
if
life,
In
he
would have to come. He was not afraid, either of women-folk or grand-folk, said the soldier, and if it could be any amusement to them to look at his rags, they should soon
The youngest
have that pleasure.
him at once she pushed the soldiers aside and ran up to him, gave him her hand, and said " Good day, and many thanks for all you have done for us. princess recognised
;
:
It is
he
who
to the king. off his It
freed us from
"
He
is
the trolls in the mountain," she said
the one
I
will
have
1
"
and then she pulled
cap and showed them the ring she had tied in his hair.
soon came out
how
the captain and lieutenant had behaved,