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he should be put to death。 The youth denied that he had said this；
but all to no purpose； for the King was deaf to all his words； so there
was nothing to be done but say that he would make the attempt。
He went down into the stable； and very sad and full of care
he was。 Then Dapplegrim inquired why he was so troubled； and
the youth told him； and said that he did not know what to do； ‘for
as to setting the Princess free； that was downright impossible。'
‘Oh； but it might be done；' said Dapplegrim。 ‘I will help you；
but you must first have me well shod。 You must ask for ten pounds
of iron and twelve pounds of steel for the shoeing； and one smith to
hammer and one to hold。'
So the youth did this； and no one said him nay。 He got both
the iron and the steel； and the smiths； and thus was Dapplegrim
shod strongly and well； and when the youth went out of the King's
palace a cloud of dust rose up behind him。 But when he came to
the mountain into which the Princess had been carried； the difficulty
was to ascend the precipitous wall of rock by which he was to get
on to the mountain beyond； for the rock stood right up on end； as
steep as a house side and as smooth as a sheet of glass。 The first
time the youth rode at it he got a little way up the precipice； but
then both Dapplegrim's fore legs slipped； and down came horse and
rider with a sound like thunder among the mountains。 The next
time that he rode at it he got a little farther up； but then one of
Dapplegrim's fore legs slipped； and down they went with the sound
of a landslip。 But the third time Dapplegrim said： ‘Now we must
show what we can do；' and went at it once more till the stones
sprang up sky high； and thus they got up。 Then the lad rode into
the mountain cleft at full gallop and caught up the Princess on his
saddle…bow； and then out again before the Troll even had time to
stand up； and thus the Princess was set free。
When the youth returned to the palace the King was both
happy and delighted to get his daughter back again； as may easily
be believed； but somehow or other the people about the Court had
so worked on him that he was angry with the lad too。 ‘Thou shalt
have my thanks for setting my Princess free；' he said； when the
youth came into the palace with her； and was then about to go away。
She ought to be just as much my Princess as she is yours now；
for you are a man of your word；' said the youth。
‘Yes； yes；' said the King。 ‘Have her thou shalt； as I have said
it； but first of all thou must make the sun shine into my palace
here。'
For there was a large and high hill outside the windows which
overshadowed the palace so much that the sun could not shine in。
‘That was no part of our bargain；' answered the youth。 ‘But
as nothing that I can say will move you； I suppose I shall have to
try to do my best； for the Princess I will have。'
So he went down to Dapplegrim again and told him what the
King desired； and Dapplegrim thought that it might easily be
done； but first of all he must have new shoes； and ten pounds of
iron and twelve pounds of steel must go to the making of them；
and two smiths were also necessary； one to hammer and one to
hold； and then it would be very easy to make the sun shine into
the King's palace。
The lad asked for these things and obtained them instantly；
for the King thought that for very shame he could not refuse to
give them； and so Dapplegrim got new shoes； and they were good
ones。 The youth seated himself on him； and once more they went
their way； and for each hop that Dapplegrim made； down went the
hill fifteen ells into the earth； and so they went on until there was
no hill left for the King to see。
When the youth came down again to the King's palace he
asked the King if the Princess should not at last be his； for now no
one could say that the sun was not shining into the palace。 But
the other people in the palace had again stirred up the King； and
he answered that the youth should have her； and that he had never
intended that he should not； but first of all he must get her quite
as good a horse to ride to the wedding on as that which he had
himself。 The youth said that the King had never told him he was to
do that； and it seemed to him that he had now really earned the
Princess； but the King stuck to what he had said； and if the youth
were unable to do it he was to lose his life； the King said。 The
youth went down to the stable again； and very sad and sorrowful
he was； as anyone may well imagine。 Then he told Dapplegrim
that the King had now required that he should get the Princess as
good a bridal horse as that which the bridegroom had； or he should
lose his life。 ‘But that will be no easy thing to do；' said he； ‘for
your equal is not to be found in all the world；'
‘Oh yes； there is one to match me；' said Dapplegrim。 ‘But it
will not be easy to get him； for he is underground。 However； we
will try。 Now you must go up to the King and ask for new shoes
for me； and for them we must again have ten pounds of iron；
twelve pounds of steel； and two smiths； one to hammer and one
to hold； but be very particular to see that the hooks are very sharp。
And you must also ask for twelve barrels of rye； and twelve
slaughtered oxen must we have with us； and all the twelve ox…hides
with twelve hundred spikes set in each of them； all these things
must we have； likewise a barrel of tar with twelve tons of tar in it。
The youth went to the King and asked for all the things that
Dapplegrim had named； and once more； as the King thought that
it would be disgraceful to refuse them to him； he obtained them all。
So he mounted Dapplegrim and rode away from the Court； and
when he had ridden for a long； long time over hills and moors；
Dapplegrim asked： ‘Do you hear anything？'
‘Yes； there is such a dreadful whistling up above in the air
that I think I am growing alarmed；' said the youth。
‘That is all the wild birds in the forest flying about； they are
sent to stop us；' said Dapplegrim。 ‘But just cut a hole in the corn
sacks； and then they will be so busy with the corn that they will
forget us。'
The youth did it。 He cut holes in the corn sacks so that barley
and rye ran out on every side； and all the wild birds that were in
the forest came in such numbers that they darkened the sun。 But
when they caught sight of the corn they could not refrain from it；
but flew down and began to scratch and pick at the corn and rye；
and at last they began to fight among themselves； and forgot all
about the youth and Dapplegrim； and did them no harm。
And now the youth rode onwards for a long； long time； over
hill and dale； over rocky places and morasses； and then Dapplegrim
began to listen again； and asked the youth if he heard anything now。
‘Yes； now I hear such a dreadful crackling and crashing in the
forest on every side that I think I shall be really afraid；' said the
youth。
‘That is all the