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DAPPLEGRIM
THERE was once upon a time a couple of rich folks who had twelve
sons； and when the youngest was grown up he would not stay
at home any longer； but would go out into the world and seek his
fortune。 His father and mother said that they thought he was very
well off at home； and that he was welcome to stay with them； but
ho could not rest； and said that he must and would go； so at last
they had to give him leave。 When he had walked a long way； he
came to a King's palace。 There he asked for a place and got it。
Now the daughter of the King of that country had been carried
off into the mountains by a Troll； and the King had no other children；
and for this cause both he and all his people were full of sorrow and
affliction； and the King had promised the Princess and half his
kingdom to anyone who could set her free； but there was no one
who could do it； though a great number had tried。 So when the
youth had been there for the space of a year or so； he wanted to go
home again to pay his parents a visit； but when he got there his father
and mother were dead； and his brothers had divided everything
that their parents possessed between themselves； so that there was
nothing at all left for him。
‘Shall I； then； receive nothing at all of my inheritance？' asked
the youth。
‘Who could know that you were still aliveyou who have been
a wanderer so long？' answered the brothers。 ‘However； there are
twelve mares upon the hills which we have not yet divided among
us； and if you would like to have them for your share； you may take
them。'
So the youth； well pleased with this； thanked them； and at once
set off to the hill where the twelve mares were at pasture。 When
he got up there and found them； each mare had her foal； and by the
side of one of them was a big dapple…grey foal as well。 which was so
sleek that it shone again。
‘Well； my little foal； you are a fine fellow！' said the youth。
‘Yes； but if you will kill all the other little foals so that I can
suck all the mares for a year； you shall see how big and handsome
I shall be then！' said the Foal。
So the youth did thishe killed all the twelve foals； and then
went back again。
Next year； when he came home again to look after his mares and
the foal； it was as fat as it could be； and its coat shone with brightness；
and it was so big that the lad had the greatest difficulty in
getting on its back； and each of the mares had another foal。
‘Well； it's very evident that I have lost nothing by letting you
suck all my mares；' said the lad to the yearling； ‘but now you are
quite big enough； and must come away with me。'
‘No；' said the Colt； ‘I must stay here another year； kill the
twelve little foals； and then I can suck all the mares this year also；
and you shall see how big and handsome I shall be by summer。'
So the youth did it again； and when he went up on the hill next
year to look after his colt and the mares； each of the mares had her
foal again； but the dappled colt was so big that when the lad wanted
to feel its neck to see how fat it was； he could not reach up to it； it
was so high？ and it was so bright that the light glanced off its coat。
‘Big and handsome you were last year； my colt； but this year
you are ever so much handsomer；' said the youth； ‘in all the King's
court no such horse is to be found。 But now you shall come away
with me。'
‘No；' said the dappled Colt once more； ‘here I must stay for
another year。 Just kill the twelve little foals again； so that I can
suck the mares this year also； and then come and look at me in the
summer。'
So the youth did ithe killed all the little foals； and then went
home again。
But next year； when he returned to look after the dappled colt
and the mares； he was quite appalled。 He had never imagined
that any horse could become so big and overgrown； for the dappled
horse had to lie down on all fours before the youth could get on his
back； and it was very hard to do that even when it was lying down；
and it was so plump that its coat shone and glistened just as if it
had been a looking…glass。 This time the dappled horse was not
unwilling to go away with the youth； so he mounted it； and when he
came riding home to his brothers they all smote their hands
together and crossed themselves； for never in their lives had they
either seen or heard tell of such a horse as that。
‘If you will procure me the best shoes for my horse； and the
most magnificent saddle and bridle that can be found；' said the
youth； ‘you may have all my twelve mares just as they are standing
out on the hill； and their twelve foals into the bargain。' For
this year also each mare had her foal。 The brothers were quite
willing to do this； so the lad got such shoes for his horse that the
sticks and stones flew high up into the air as he rode away over the
hills； and such a gold saddle and such a gold bridle that they could
be seen glittering and glancing from afar。
‘And now we will go to the King's palace；' said Dapplegrim
that was the horse's name； ‘but bear in mind that you must ask the
King for a good stable and excellent fodder for me。'
So the lad promised not to forget to do that。 He rode to the
palace； and it will be easily understood that with such a horse as he
had he was not long on the way。
When he arrived there； the King was standing out on the steps；
and how he did stare at the man who came riding up！
‘Nay；' said he； ‘never in my whole life have I seen such a man
and such a horse。'
And when the youth inquired if he could have a place in the
King's palace； the King was so delighted that he could have danced
on the steps where he was standing； and there and then the lad was
told that he should have a place。
‘Yes； but I must have a good stable and most excellent fodder
for my horse；' said he。
So they told him that he should have sweet hay and oats； and as
much of them as the dappled horse chose to have； and all the other
riders had to take their horses out of the stable that Dapplegrim
might stand alone and really have plenty of room。
But this did not last long； for the other people in the King's
Court became envious of the lad； and there was no bad thing that
they would not have done to him if they had but dared。 At last
they bethought themselves of telling the King that the youth had
said that； if he chose； he was quite able to rescue the Princess who
had been carried off into the mountain a long time ago by the
Troll。
The King immediately summoned the lad into his presence； and
said that he had been informed that he had said that it was in his
power to rescue the Princess； so he was now to do it。 If he
succeeded in this； he no doubt knew that the King had promised his
daughter and half the kingdom to anyone who set her free； which
promise should be faithfully and honourably kept； but if he failed
he should be put to death。 The youth deni