'I want a strong horse to go to the war.'
'You shall have it, and more besides.'
The Wild Man went back into the wood, and before long a Groom came
out, leading a fiery charger with snorting nostrils. Behind him
followed a great body of warriors, all in armour, and their swords
gleaming in the sun. The youth handed over his three-legged steed to
the Groom, mounted the other, and rode away at the head of the troop.
When he approached the battle-field a great many of the King's men had
already fallen, and before long the rest must have given in. Then the
youth, at the head of his iron troop, charged, and bore down the enemy
like a mighty wind, smiting everything which came in their way. They
tried to fly, but the youth fell upon them, and did not stop while one
remained alive.
Instead of joining the King, he led his troop straight back to the
wood and called Iron Hans again.
'What do you want?' asked the Wild Man.
'Take back your charger and your troop, and give me back my
three-legged steed.'
His request was granted, and he rode his three-legged steed home.
When the King returned to the castle his daughter met him and
congratulated him on his victory.
'It was not I who won it,' he said; 'but a strange Knight, who came to
my assistance with his troop.' His daughter asked who the strange
Knight was, but the King did not know, and said, 'He pursued the
enemy, and I have not seen him since.'
She asked the Gardener about his assistant, but he laughed, and said,
'He has just come home on his three-legged horse, and the others made
fun of him, and said, "Here comes our hobbler back again," and asked
which hedge he had been sleeping under. He answered, "I did my best,
and without me things would have gone badly." Then they laughed at him
more than ever.'
The King said to his daughter, 'I will give a great feast lasting
three days, and you shall throw a golden apple. Perhaps the unknown
Knight will come among the others to try and catch it.'
When notice was given of the feast, the youth went to the wood and
called Iron Hans.
'What do you want?' he asked.
'I want to secure the King's golden apple,' he said.
'It is as good as yours already,' answered Iron Hans. 'You shall have
a tawny suit, and ride a proud chestnut.'
When the day arrived the youth took his place among the other Knights,
but no one knew him. The Princess stepped forward and threw the apple
among the Knights, and he was the only one who could catch it. As soon
as he had it he rode away.
On the second day Iron Hans fitted him out as a White Knight, riding a
gallant grey. Again he caught the apple; but he did not stay a minute,
and, as before, hurried away.
The King now grew angry, and said, 'This must not be; he must come
before me and give me his name.'
He gave an order that if the Knight made off again he was to be
pursued and brought back.
On the third day the youth received from Iron Hans a black outfit, and
a fiery black charger.
Again he caught the apple; but as he was riding off with it the King's
people chased him, and one came so near that he wounded him in the
leg. Still he escaped, but his horse galloped so fast that his helmet
fell off, and they all saw that he had golden hair. So they rode back,
and told the King what they had seen.
Next day the Princess asked the Gardener about his assistant.
'He is working in the garden. The queer fellow went to the feast, and
he only came back last night. He has shown my children three golden
apples which he won.'
The King ordered him to be brought before him. When he appeared he
still wore his cap. But the Princess went up to him and took it off;
then all his golden hair fell over his shoulders, and it was so
beautiful that they were all amazed by it.
'Are you the Knight who came to the feast every day in a different
colour, and who caught the three golden apples?' asked the King.
'Yes,' he answered, 'and here are the apples,' bringing them out of
his pocket, and giving them to the King. 'If you want further proof,
here is the wound in my leg given me by your people when they pursued
me. But I am also the Knight who helped you to conquer the enemy.'
'If you can do such deeds you are no Gardener's boy. Tell me who is
your father?'
'My father is a powerful King, and I have plenty of gold--as much as
ever I want.'
'I see very well,' said the King, 'that we owe you many thanks. Can I
do anything to please you?'
'Yes,' he answered; 'indeed, you can. Give me your daughter to be my
wife!'
The maiden laughed, and said, 'He does not beat about the bush; but I
saw long ago that he was no Gardener's boy.'
Then she went up to him and kissed him.
His father and mother came to the wedding, and they were full of joy,
for they had long given up all hope of ever seeing their dear son
again. As they were all sitting at the wedding feast, the music
suddenly stopped, the doors flew open, and a proud King walked in at
the head of a great following. He went up to the Bridegroom, embraced
him, and said, 'I am Iron Hans, who was bewitched and changed into a
Wild Man; but you have broken the spell and set me free. All the
treasure that I have is now your own.'
Printed in Great Britain by
T. and A. Constable, Printers to His Majesty
at the University Press, Edinburgh