Balancinwaspleasedwiththeyoungman'svoiceandappearance,andthoughtthathelookedasifheknewwhathewasdoing。Sohestretchedouthisbadfootwhichtheyouthexaminedwithgreatattention,andthengentlylaidontheplaster。
　　Veryshortlytheointmentbegantosoothethesharppain,andtheking,whoseconfidenceincreasedeverymoment,beggedtheyoungmantotellhimhisname。
　　'Ihavenoparents;theydiedwhenIwassix,sire,'repliedtheyouth,modestly。'EveryoneinthetowncallsmeGilguerillo[FN#1],because,whenIwaslittle,Iwentsingingthroughtheworldinspiteofmymisfortunes。LuckilyformeIwasborntobehappy。'
　　'Andyoureallythinkyoucancureme？'askedtheking。
　　'Completely,mylord,'answeredGilguerillo。
　　'Andhowlongdoyouthinkitwilltake？'
　　'Itisnotaneasytask;butIwilltrytofinishitinafortnight,'
　　repliedtheyouth。
　　Afortnightseemedtothekingalongtimetomakeoneslipper。Butheonlysaid:
　　'Doyouneedanythingtohelpyou？'
　　'Onlyagoodhorse,ifyourmajestywillbekindenoughtogivemeone,'answeredGilguerillo。Andthereplywassounexpectedthatthecourtierscouldhardlyrestraintheirsmiles,whilethekingstaredsilently。
　　'Youshallhavethehorse,'hesaidatlast,'andIshallexpectyoubackinafortnight。Ifyoufulfilyourpromiseyouknowyourreward;
　　ifnot,Iwillhaveyoufloggedforyourimpudence。'
　　Gilguerillobowed,andturnedtoleavethepalace,followedbythejeersandscoffsofeveryonehemet。Buthepaidnoheed,forhehadgotwhathewanted。
　　Hewaitedinfrontofthegatestillamagnificenthorsewasleduptohim,andvaultingintothesaddlewithaneasewhichrathersurprisedtheattendant,rodequicklyoutofthetownamidstthejestsoftheassembledcrowd,whohadheardofhisaudaciousproposal。Andwhileheisonhiswayletuspauseforamomentandtellwhoheis。
　　Bothfatherandmotherhaddiedbeforetheboywassixyearsold;andhehadlivedformanyyearswithhisuncle,whoselifehadbeenpassedinthestudyofchemistry。Hecouldleavenomoneytohisnephew,ashehadasonofhisown;buthetaughthimallheknew,andathisdeadGilguerilloenteredanoffice,whereheworkedformanyhoursdaily。
　　Inhissparetime,insteadofplayingwiththeotherboys,hepassedhoursporingoverbooks,andbecausehewastimidandlikedtobealonehewasheldbyeveryonetobealittlemad。Therefore,whenitbecameknownthathehadpromisedtocuretheking'sfoot,andhadriddenaway——nooneknewwhere——aroaroflaughterandmockeryrangthroughthetown,andjeersandscoffingwordsweresentafterhim。
　　ButiftheyhadonlyknownwhatwereGilguerillo'sthoughtstheywouldhavethoughthimmadderthanever。
　　Therealtruthwasthat,onthemorningwhentheprincesshadwalkedthroughthestreetsbeforemakingholidayontheriverGilguerillohadseenherfromhiswindow,andhadstraightwayfalleninlovewithher。
　　Ofcoursehefeltquitehopeless。Itwasabsurdtoimaginethattheapothecary'snephewcouldevermarrytheking'sdaughter;sohedidhisbesttoforgether,andstudyharderthanbefore,tilltheroyalproclamationsuddenlyfilledhimwithhope。Whenhewasfreehenolongerspentthepreciousmomentsporingoverbooks,but,liketherest,hemighthavebeenseenwanderingalongthebanksoftheriver,ordivingintothestreamaftersomethingthatlayglisteningintheclearwater,butwhichturnedouttobeawhitepebbleorabitofglass。
　　Andattheendheunderstoodthatitwasnotbytheriverthathewouldwintheprincess;and,turningtohisbooksforcomfort,hestudiedharderthanever。
　　Thereisanoldproverbwhichsays:'Everythingcomestohimwhoknowshowtowait。'Itisnotallmenwhoknowhottowait,anymorethanitisallmenwhocanlearnbyexperience;butGilguerillowasoneofthefewandinsteadofthinkinghislifewastedbecausehecouldnothavethethinghewantedmost,hetriedtobusyhimselfinotherdirections。
　　So,oneday,whenheexpecteditleast,hisrewardcametohim。
　　Hehappenedtobereadingabookmanyhundredsofyearsold,whichtoldofremediesforallkindsofdiseases。Mostofthem,heknew,weremerelyinventedbyoldwomen,whosoughttoprovethemselveswiserthanotherpeople;butatlengthhecametosomethingwhichcausedhimtositupstraightinhischair,andmadehiseyesbrighten。Thiswasthedescriptionofabalsam——whichwouldcureeverykindofsoreorwound——distilledfromaplantonlytobefoundinacountrysodistantthatitwouldtakeamanonfoottwomonthstogoandcomebackagain。
　　WhenIsaythatthebookdeclaredthatthebalsamcouldhealeverysortofsoreorwound,therewereafewagainstwhichitwaspowerless,anditgavecertainsignsbywhichthesemightbeknown。ThiswasthereasonwhyGilguerillodemandedtoseetheking'sfootbeforehewouldundertaketocureit;andtoobtainadmittancehegaveoutthathewasashoemaker。However,thedreadedsignswereabsent,andhisheartboundedatthethoughtthattheprincesswaswithinhisreach。
　　Perhapsshewas;butagreatdealhadtobeaccomplishedyet,andhehadallowedhimselfaveryshorttimeinwhichtodoit。
　　Hesparedhishorseonlysomuchaswasneedful,yetittookhimsixdaystoreachthespotwheretheplantgrew。Athickwoodlayinfrontofhim,and,fasteningthebridletightlytoatree,heflunghimselfonhishandsandkneesandbegantohuntforthetreasure。Manytimehefancieditwasclosetohim,andmanytimesitturnedouttobesomethingelse;but,atlast,whenlightwasfading,andhehadalmostgivenuphope,hecameuponalargebedoftheplant,rightunderhisfeet！Tremblingwithjoy,hepickedeveryscraphecouldsee,andplaceditinhiswallet。Then,mountinghishorse,hegallopedquicklybacktowardsthecity。
　　Itwasnightwhenheenteredthegates,andthefifteendaysallottedwerenotuptillthenextday。Hiseyeswereheavywithsleep,andhisbodyachedwiththelongstrain,but,withoutpausingtorest,hekindledafireonishearth,andquicklyfillingapotwithwater,threwintheherbsandleftthemtoboil。Afterthathelaydownandsleptsoundly。
　　Thesunwasshiningwhenheawoke,andhejumpedupandrantothepot。
　　Theplanthaddisappearedandinitssteadwasathicksyrup,justasthebookhadsaidtherewouldbe。Heliftedthesyrupoutwithaspoon,andafterspreadingitinthesuntillitwaspartlydry,poureditintoasmallflaskofcrystal。Henextwashedhimselfthoroughly,anddressedhimself,inhisbestclothes,andputtingtheflaskinhispocket,setoutforthepalace,andbeggedtoseethekingwithoutdelay。
　　NowBalancin,whosefoothadbeenmuchlesspainfulsinceGilguerillohadwrappeditintheplaster,wascountingthedaystotheyoungman'sreturn;andwhenhewastoldGilguerillowasthere,orderedhimtobeadmittedatonce。Asheentered,thekingraisedhimselfeagerlyonhispillows,buthisfacefellwhenhesawnosignsofaslipper。
　　'Youhavefailed,then？'hesaid,throwinguphishandsindespair。
　　'Ihopenot,yourmajesty;Ithinknot,'answeredtheyouth。Anddrawingtheflaskfromhispocket,hepouredtwoorthreedropsonthewound。
　　'Repeatthisforthreenights,andyouwillfindyourselfcured,'saidhe。Andbeforethekinghadtimetothankhimhehadbowedhimselfout。
　　Ofcoursethenewssoonspreadthroughthecity,andmenandwomennevertiredofcallingGilguerilloanimpostor,andprophesyingthattheendofthethreedayswouldseehiminprison,ifnotonthescaffold。ButGilguerillopaidnoheedtotheirhardwords,andnomoredidtheking,whotookcarethatnohandbuthisownshouldputonthehealingbalsam。
　　OnthefourthmorningthekingawokeandinstantlystretchedouthiswoundedfootthathemightprovethetruthorfalsehoodofGilguerillo'sremedy。Thewoundwascertainlycuredonthatside,buthowabouttheother？Yes,thatwascuredalso;andnotevenascarwaslefttoshowwhereithadbeen！
　　WaseveranykingsohappyasBalancinwhenhesatisfiedhimselfofthis？
　　Lightlyasadeerhejumpedfromhisbed,andbegantoturnheadoverheelsandtoperformallsortsofantics,soastomakesurethathisfootwasintruthaswellasitlooked。Andwhenhewasquitetiredhesentforhisdaughter,andbadethecourtiersbringtheluckyyoungmantohisroom。
　　'Heisreallyyoungandhandsome,'saidtheprincesstoherself,heavingasighofreliefthatitwasnotsomedreadfuloldmanwhohadhealedherfather;andwhilethekingwasannouncingtohiscourtiersthewonderfulcurethathadbeenmade,DiamantinawasthinkingthatifGilguerillolookedsowellinhiscommondress,howmuchimprovedbythesplendidgarmentsofaking'son。However,sheheldherpeace,andonlywatchedwithamusementwhenthecourtiers,knowingtherewasnohelpforit,didhomageandobeisancetothechemist'sboy。
　　ThentheybroughttoGilguerilloamagnificenttunicofgreenvelvetborderedwithgold,andacapwiththreewhiteplumesstuckinit;andatthesightofhimsoarrayed,theprincessfellinlovewithhiminamoment。Theweddingwasfixedtotakeplaceineightdays,andattheballafterwardsnobodydancedsolongorsolightlyaskingBalancin。
　　[FromCapullosdeRosa,porD。EnriqueCeballosQuintana。]
　　[FN#1]Linnet。
　　TheMagicBookTherewasonceanoldcouplenamedPederandKirstenwhohadanonlysoncalledHans。Fromthetimehewasalittleboyhehadbeentoldthatonhissixteenthbirthdayhemustgooutintotheworldandservehisapprenticeship。So,onefinesummermorning,hestartedofftoseekhisfortunewithnothingbuttheclothesheworeonhisback。
　　Formanyhourshetrudgedonmerrily,nowandthenstoppingtodrinkfromsomeclearspringortopicksomeripefruitfromatree。Thelittlewildcreaturespeepedathimfrombeneaththebushes,andhenoddedandsmiled,andwishedthem'Good—morning。'Afterhehadbeenwalkingforsometimehemetanoldwhite—beardedmanwhowascomingalongthefootpath。Theboywouldnotstepaside,andthemanwasdeterminednottodosoeither,sotheyranagainstoneanotherwithabump。
　　'Itseemstome,'saidtheoldfellow,'thataboyshouldgivewaytoanoldman。'
　　'Thepathisformeaswellasforyou,'answeredyoungHanssaucily,forhehadneverbeentaughtpoliteness。
　　'Well,that'strueenough,'answeredtheothermildly。'Andwhereareyougoing？'
　　'Iamgoingintoservice,'saidHans。
　　'Thenyoucancomeandserveme,'repliedtheman。
　　Well,Hanscoulddothat;butwhatwouldhiswagesbe？
　　'Twopoundsayear,andnothingtodobutkeepsomeroomsclean,'saidthenew—comer。
　　ThisseemedtoHanstobeeasyenough;soheagreedtoentertheoldman'sservice,andtheysetouttogether。Ontheirwaytheycrossedadeepvalleyandcametoamountain,wherethemanopenedatrapdoor,andbiddingHansfollowhim,hecreptinandbegantogodownalongflightofsteps。WhentheygottothebottomHanssawalargenumberofroomslitbymanylampsandfullofbeautifulthings。Whilehewaslookingroundtheoldmansaidtohim:
　　'Nowyouknowwhatyouhavetodo。Youmustkeeptheseroomsclean,andstrewsandontheflooreveryday。Hereisatablewhereyouwillalwaysfindfoodanddrink,andthereisyourbed。Youseethereareagreatmanysuitsofclotheshangingonthewall,andyoumaywearanyyouplease;butrememberthatyouarenevertoopenthislockeddoor。
　　Ifyoudoillwillbefallyou。Farewell,forIamgoingawayagainandcannottellwhenImayreturn。
　　NosoonerhadtheoldmandisappearedthanHanssatdowntoagoodmeal,andafterthatwenttobedandsleptuntilthemorning。Atfirsthecouldnotrememberwhathadhappenedtohim,butby—and—byhejumpedupandwentintoalltherooms,whichheexaminedcarefully。
　　'Howfoolishtobidmetoputsandonthefloors,'hethought,'whenthereisnobodyherebymyself！Ishalldonothingofthesort。'Andsoheshutthedoorsquickly,andonlycleanedandsetinorderhisownroom。Andafterthefirstfewdayshefeltthatthatwasunnecessarytoo,becausenoonecametheretoseeiftheroomswherecleanornot。
　　Atlasthedidnoworkatall,butjustsatandwonderedwhatwasbehindthelockeddoor,tillhedeterminedtogoandlookforhimself。
　　Thekeyturnedeasilyinthelock。Hansentered,halffrightenedatwhathewasdoing,andthefirstthinghebeheldwasaheapofbones。
　　Thatwasnotverycheerful;andhewasjustgoingoutagainwhenhiseyefellonashelfofbooks。Herewasagoodwayofpassingthetime,hethought,forhewasfondofreading,andhetookoneofthebooksfromtheshelf。Itwasallaboutmagic,andtoldyouhowyoucouldchangeyourselfintoanythingintheworldyouliked。Couldanythingbemoreexcitingormoreuseful？Soheputitinhispocket,andranquicklyawayoutofthemountainbyalittledoorwhichhadbeenleftopen。
　　Whenhegothomehisparentsaskedhimwhathehadbeendoingandwherehehadgotthefineclotheshewore。
　　'Oh,Iearnedthemmyself,'answeredhe。
　　'Youneverearnedtheminthisshorttime,'saidhisfather。'Beoffwithyou;Iwon'tkeepyouhere。Iwillhavenothievesinmyhouse！'
　　'WellIonlycametohelpyou,'repliedtheboysulkily。'NowI'llbeoff,asyouwish;butto—morrowmorningwhenyouriseyouwillseeagreatdogatthedoor。Donotdriveitaway,buttakeittothecastleandsellittotheduke,andtheywillgiveyoutendollarsforit;
　　onlyyoumustbringthestrapyouleaditwith,backtothehouse。'
　　Sureenoughthenextdaythedogwasstandingatthedoorwaitingtobeletin。Theoldmanwasratherafraidofgettingintotrouble,buthiswifeurgedhimtosellthedogastheboyhadbiddenhim,sohetookituptothecastleandsoldittothedukefortendollars。Buthedidnotforgettotakeoffthestrapwithwhichhehadledtheanimal,andtocarryithome。WhenhegotthereoldKirstenmethimatthedoor。
　　'Well,Peder,andhaveyousoldthedog？'askedshe。
　　'Yes,Kirsten;andIhavebroughtbacktendollars,astheboytoldus,'answeredPeder。
　　'Ay！butthat'sfine！'saidhiswife。'Nowyouseewhatonegetsbydoingasoneisbid;ifithadnotbeenformeyouwouldhavedriventhedogawayagain,andweshouldhavelostthemoney。Afterall,I
　　alwaysknowwhatisbest。'
　　'Nonsense！'saidherhusband;'womenalwaysthinktheyknowbest。I
　　shouldhavesoldthedogjustthesamewhateveryouhadtoldme。Putthemoneyawayinasafeplace,anddon'ttalksomuch。'
　　ThenextdayHanscameagain;butthougheverythinghadturnedoutashehadforetold,hefoundthathisfatherwasstillnotquitesatisfied。
　　'Beoffwithyou！'saidhe,'you'llgetusintotrouble。'
　　'Ihaven'thelpedyouenoughyet,'repliedtheboy。'To—morrowtherewillcomeagreatfatcow,asbigasthehouse。Takeittotheking'spalaceandyou'llgetasmuchasathousanddollarsforit。Onlyyoumustunfastenthehalteryouleaditwithandbringitback,anddon'treturnbythehighroad,butthroughtheforest。'
　　Thenextday,whenthecouplerose,theysawanenormousheadlookinginattheirbedroomwindow,andbehinditwasacowwhichwasnearlyasbigastheirhut。Kirstenwaswildwithjoytothinkofthemoneythecowwouldbringthem。
　　'Buthowareyougoingtoputtheropeoverherhead？'askedshe。
　　'Waitandyou'llsee,mother,'answeredherhusband。ThenPedertooktheladderthatleduptothehayloftandsetitagainstthecow'sneck,andheclimbedupandslippedtheropeoverherhead。Whenhehadmadesurethatthenoosewasfasttheystartedforthepalace,andmetthekinghimselfwalkinginhisgrounds。
　　'Iheardthattheprincesswasgoingtobemarried,'saidPeder,'soI'vebroughtyourmajestyacowwhichisbiggerthananycowthatwaseverseen。Willyourmajestydeigntobuyit？'
　　Thekinghad,intruth,neverseensolargeabeast,andhewillinglypaidthethousanddollars,whichwasthepricedemanded;butPederrememberedtotakeoffthehalterbeforeheleft。Afterhewasgonethekingsentforthebutcherandtoldhimtokilltheanimalfortheweddingfeast。Thebutchergotreadyhispole—axe;butjustashewasgoingtostrike,thecowchangeditselfintoadoveandflewaway,andthebutcherstoodstaringafteritasifhewereturnedtostone。
　　However,asthedovecouldnotbefound,hewasobligedtotellthekingwhathadhappened,andthekinginhisturndespatchedmessengerstocapturetheoldmanandbringhimback。ButPederwassafeinthewoods,andcouldnotbefound。Whenatlasthefeltthedangerwasover,andhemightgohome,Kirstennearlyfaintedwithjoyatthesightofallthemoneyhebroughtwithhim。
　　'Nowthatwearerichpeoplewemustbuildabiggerhouse,'criedshe;
　　andwasvexedtofindthatPederonlyshookhisheadandsaid:'No;iftheydidthatpeoplewouldtalk,andsaytheyhadgottheirwealthbyill—doing。'
　　AfewmorningslaterHanscameagain。
　　'Beoffbeforeyougetusintotrouble,'saidhisfather。'Sofarthemoneyhascomerightenough,butIdon'ttrustit。'
　　'Don'tworryoverthat,father,'saidHans。'To—morrowyouwillfindahorseoutsidebythegate。Rideittomarketandyouwillgetathousanddollarsforit。Onlydon'tforgettoloosenthebridlewhenyousellit。'
　　Well,inthemorningtherewasthehorse;Kirstenhadneverseensofindananimal。'Takecareitdoesn'thurtyou,Peder,'saidshe。
　　'Nonsense,wife,'answeredhecrossly。'WhenIwasaladIlivedwithhorses,andcouldrideanythingfortwentymilesround。'Butthatwasnotquitethetruth,forhehadnevermountedahorseinhislife。
　　Still,theanimalwasquietenough,soPedergotsafelytomarketonitsback。Therehemetamanwhoofferedninehundredandninety—ninedollarsforit,butPederwouldtakenothinglessthanathousand。Atlasttherecameanold,grey—beardedmanwholookedatthehorseandagreedtobuyit;butthemomenthetoucheditthehorsebegantokickandplunge。'Imusttakethebridleoff,'saidPeder。'Itisnottobesoldwiththeanimalasisusuallythecase。'
　　'I'llgiveyouahundreddollarsforthebridle,'saidtheoldman,takingouthispurse。
　　'No,Ican'tsellit,'repliedHans'sfather。
　　'Fivehundreddollars！'
　　'No。'
　　'Athousand！'
　　AtthissplendidofferPeder'sprudencegaveway;itwasashametoletsomuchmoneygo。Soheagreedtoacceptit。Buthecouldhardlyholdthehorse,itbecamesounmanageable。Sohegavetheanimalinchargetotheoldman,andwenthomewithhistwothousanddollars。
　　Kirsten,ofcourse,wasdelightedatthisnewpieceofgoodfortune,andinsistedthatthenewhouseshouldbebuiltandlandbought。ThistimePederconsented,andsoontheyhadquiteafinefarm。
　　Meanwhiletheoldmanrodeoffonhisnewpurchase,andwhenhecametoasmithyheaskedthesmithtoforgeshoesforthehorse。Thesmithproposedthattheyshouldfirsthaveadrinktogether,andthehorsewastiedupbythespringwhilsttheywentindoors。Thedaywashot,andbothmenwerethirsty,and,besides,theyhadmuchtosay;andsothehoursslippedbyandfoundthemstilltalking。Thentheservantgirlcameouttofetchapailofwater,and,beingakind—heartedlass,shegavesometothehorsetodrink。Whatwashersurprisewhentheanimalsaidtoher:'Takeoffmybridleandyouwillsavemylife。'
　　'Idarenot,'saidshe;'yourmasterwillbesoangry。'
　　'Hecannothurtyou,'answeredthehorse,'andyouwillsavemylife。'
　　Atthatshetookoffthebridle;butnearlyfaintedwithastonishmentwhenthehorseturnedintoadoveandflewawayjustastheoldmancameoutofthehouse。Directlyhesawwhathadhappenedhechangedhimselfintoahawkandflewafterthedove。Overthewoodsandfieldstheywent,andatlengththeyreachedaking'spalacesurroundedbybeautifulgardens。Theprincesswaswalkingwithherattendantsintherosegardenwhenthedoveturneditselfintoagoldringandfellatherfeet。
　　'Why,hereisaring！'shecried,'wherecouldithavecomefrom？'Andpickingitupsheputitonherfinger。Asshedidsothehill—manlosthispoweroverHans——forofcourseyouunderstandthatitwashewhohadbeenthedog,thecow,thehorseandthedove。
　　'Well,thatisreallystrange,'saidtheprincess。'Itfitsmeasthoughithadbeenmadeforme！'
　　Justatthatmomentupcametheking。
　　'LookatwhatIhavefound！'criedhisdaughter。
　　'Well,thatisnotworthmuch,mydear,'saidhe。'Besides,youhaveringsenough,Ishouldthink。'
　　'Nevermind,Ilikeit,'repliedtheprincess。
　　Butassoonasshewasalone,toheramazement,theringsuddenlyleftherfingerandbecameaman。Youcanimaginehowfrightenedshewas,as,indeed,anybodywouldhavebeen;butinaninstantthemanbecamearingagain,andthenturnedbacktoaman,andsoitwentonforsometimeuntilshebegantogetusedtothesesuddenchanges。
　　'IamsorryIfrightenedyou,'saidHans,whenhethoughthecouldsafelyspeaktotheprincesswithoutmakingherscream。'Itookrefugewithyoubecausetheoldhill—man,whomIhaveoffended,wastryingtokillme,andhereIamsafe。'
　　'Youhadbetterstayherethen,'saidtheprincess。SoHansstayed,andheandshebecamegoodfriends;though,ofcourse,heonlybecameamanwhennooneelsewaspresent。
　　Thiswasallverywell;but,oneday,astheyweretalkingtogether,thekinghappenedtoentertheroom,andalthoughHansquicklychangedhimselfintoaringagainitwastoolate。
　　Thekingwasterriblyangry。
　　'Sothisiswhyyouhaverefusedtomarryallthekingsandprinceswhohavesoughtyourhand？'hecried。
　　And,withoutwaitingforhertospeak,hecommandedthathisdaughtershouldbewalledupinthesummer—houseandstarvedtodeathwithherlover。
　　Thateveningthepoorprincess,stillwearingherring,wasputintothesummer—housewithenoughfoodtolastforthreedays,andthedoorwasbrickedup。Butattheendofaweekortwothekingthoughtitwastimetogiveheragrandfuneral,inspiteofherbadbehaviour,andhehadthesummer—houseopened。Hecouldhardlybelievehiseyeswhenhefoundthattheprincesswasnotthere,norHanseither。
　　Instead,therelayathisfeetalargehole,bigenoughfortwopeopletopassthrough。
　　Nowwhathadhappenedwasthis。
　　WhentheprincessandHanshadgivenuphope,andcastthemselvesdownonthegroundtodie,theyfelldownthishole,andrightthroughtheearthaswell,andatlasttheytumbledintoacastlebuiltofpuregoldattheothersideoftheworld,andtheretheylivedhappily。Butofthis,ofcourse,thekingknewnothing。
　　'Willanyonegodownandseewherethepassageleadsto？'heasked,turningtohisguardsandcourtiers。'Iwillrewardsplendidlythemanwhoisbraveenoughtoexploreit。'
　　Foralongtimenobodyanswered。Theholewasdarkanddeep,andifithadabottomnoonecouldseeit。Atlengthasoldier,whowasacarelesssortoffellow,offeredhimselffortheservice,andcautiouslyloweredhimselfintothedarkness。Butinamomenthe,too,felldown,down,down。Washegoingtofallforever,hewondered！
　　Oh,howthankfulhewasintheendtoreachthecastle,andtomeettheprincessandHans,lookingquitewellandnotatallasiftheyhadbeenstarved。Theybegantotalk,andthesoldiertoldthemthatthekingwasverysorryforthewayhehadtreatedhisdaughter,andwisheddayandnightthathecouldhaveherbackagain。
　　Thentheyalltookshipandsailedhome,andwhentheycametotheprincess'scountry,Hansdisguisedhimselfasthesovereignofaneighbouringkingdom,andwentuptothepalacealone。Hewasgivenaheartywelcomebytheking,whopridedhimselfonhishospitality,andabanquetwascommandedinhishonour。Thatevening,whilsttheysatdrinkingtheirwine,Hanssaidtotheking:
　　'Ihaveheardthefameofyourmajesty'swisdom,andIhavetravelledfromfartoaskyourcounsel。Amaninmycountryhasburiedhisdaughteralivebecauseshelovedayouthwhowasbornapeasant。HowshallIpunishthisunnaturalfather,foritislefttometogivejudgment？'
　　Theking,whowasstilltrulygrievedforhisdaughter'sloss,answeredquickly:
　　'Burnhimalive,andstrewhisashesalloverthekingdom。'
　　Hanslookedathimsteadilyforamoment,andthenthrewoffhisdisguise。
　　'Youaretheman,'saidhe;'andIamhewholovedyourdaughter,andbecameagoldringonherfinger。Sheissafe,andwaitingnotfarfromhere;butyouhavepronouncedjudgmentonyourself。'
　　Thenthekingfellonhiskneesandbeggedformercy;andashehadinotherrespectsbeenagoodfather,theyforgavehim。TheweddingofHansandtheprincesswascelebratedwithgreatfestivitieswhichlastedamonth。Asforthehill—manheintendedtobepresent;butwhilsthewaswalkingalongastreetwhichledtothepalacealoosestonefellonhisheadandkilledhim。SoHansandtheprincesslivedinpeaceandhappinessalltheirdays,andwhentheoldkingdiedtheyreignedinsteadofhim。
　　[FromAEventyrfraZyllandsamledeogoptegnedeafTangKristensen。
　　TranslatedfromtheDanishbyMrs。Skavgaard—Pedersen。]