On the shore they took leave
of their princes, and promised to return the following night. When
they reached the stairs the soldier ran on in front and lay down in
his bed, and when the twelve had come up slowly and wearily, he was
already snoring so loudly that they could all hear him, and they said,
"So far as he is concerned, we are safe." They took off their beautiful
dresses, laid them away, put the worn-out shoes under the bed, and lay
down. Next morning the soldier was resolved not to speak, but to watch
the wonderful goings on, and again went with them. Then everything was
done just as it had been done the first time, and each time they danced
until their shoes were worn to pieces. But the third time he took a
cup away with him as a token. When the hour had arrived for him to
give his answer, he took the three twigs and the cup, and went to the
King, but the twelve stood behind the door, and listened for what he
was going to say. When the King put the question, "Where have my twelve
daughters danced their shoes to pieces in the night?" he answered, "In an
underground castle with twelve princes," and related how it had come to
pass, and brought out the tokens.
Pages:
920
921
922
923
924
925
926
927
928
929
930
931
932
933
934
935
936
937
938
939
940
941
942
943
944