“Do you see anything?”
“No,” said Boots.
So they travelled a good bit still.
“And now?” asked the Foal.
“No, I see nothing,” said Boots.
So they travelled many many miles again, over hill and dale.
“Now then,” said the Foal, “do you see anything now?”
“Yes,” said Boots, “now I see something like a blue stripe, far, far
away.”
“Yes,” said the Foal, “that’s a river we’ve got to cross.”
Over the river was a long grand bridge; and when they had got over to
the other side, they travelled on a long, long way. At last the Foal
asked again,—
“If Boots didn’t see anything?”
“Yes, this time he saw something that looked black far, far away, just
as though it were a church steeple.”
“Yes,” said the Foal, “that’s where we’re going to turn in.”
So when the foals got into the churchyard, they became men again, and
looked like Princes, with such fine clothes that it glistened from them;
and so they went into the church, and took the bread and wine from the
priest who stood at the altar. And Boots he went in too; but when the
priest had laid his hands on the Princes, and given them the blessing,
they went out of the church again, and Boots went out too; but he took
with him a flask of wine and a wafer. And as soon as ever the seven
Princes came out into the churchyard, they were turned into foals again,
and so Boots got up on the back of the youngest, and so they all went
back the same way that they had come, only they went much, much faster.
First they crossed the bridge, next they passed the trunk, and then they
passed the old hag, who sat at the cleft and span, and they went by her
so fast, that Boots couldn’t hear what the old hag screeched after him;
but he heard so much as to know she was in an awful rage.
It was almost dark when they got back to the palace, and the King
himself stood out on the steps and waited for them.
“Have you watched well and true the whole day?” said he to Boots.
“I’ve done my best,” answered Boots.
“Then you can tell me what my seven foals eat and drink,” said the King.
Then Boots pulled out the flask of wine and the wafer, and showed them
to the King.
“Here you see their meat, and here you see their drink,” said he.
“Yes,” said the King, “you have watched true and well, and you shall
have the Princess and half the kingdom.”
So they made ready the wedding-feast, and the King said it should be
such a grand one, it should be the talk far and near.
But when they sat down to the bridal feast, the bridegroom got up and
went down to the stable, for he said he had forgotten something, and
must go to fetch it. And when he got down there, he did as the foals had
said, and hewed their heads off all seven, the eldest first, and the
others after him; and at the same time he took care to lay each head at
the tail of the foal to which it belonged; and as he did this, lo! they
all became Princes again.
So when he went into the bridal hall with the seven princes, the King
was so glad he both kissed Boots and patted him on the back, and his
bride was still more glad of him than she had been before.
“Half the kingdom you have got already,” said the King, “and the other
half you shall have after my death; for my sons can easily get
themselves lands and wealth, now they are princes again.”
And so, like enough, there was mirth and fun at that wedding. I was
there too; but there was no one to care for poor me; and so I got
nothing but a bit of bread and butter, and I laid it down on the stove,
and the bread was burnt and the butter ran, and so I didn’t get even the
smallest crumb. Wasn’t that a great shame?
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