Brick Fairy Tales: Cinderella, Rapunzel, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Hansel and Gretel, and More (70 page)

the princes rowed them back again over the lake, and this time the soldier seated himself by the eldest.

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?”