“It’s no use now,” said the king; “time’s up.”
“Light your lamp; out with your big bunch of keys,” said the lad, “and follow me whither I wish to go. There is still a whole hour left.”
So the lad went the same way which the king had led him the night before, and he bade the king unlock door after door till they came down to the pier which ran out into the sea.
“It’s all no use, I tell you,” said the king; “time’s up, and this will only lead you right out into the sea.”
“Still five minutes more,” said the lad, as he pulled and pushed at the posts and pins, and the house floated up.
“Now the time is up,” bawled the king; “come hither, headsman, and take off his head.”
“Nay, nay!” said the lad; “stop a bit, there are still three minutes! Out with the key, and let me get into this house.”
But there stood the king and fumbled with his keys, to draw out the time. At last he said he hadn’t any key.
“Well, if you haven’t, I _have_,” said the lad, as he gave the door such a kick that it flew to splinters inwards on the floor.
At the door the Princess met him, and told her father this was her deliverer, on whom her heart was set. So she had him; and this was how the beggar boy came to marry the king’s daughter of Arabia.
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ONE day the Bear met the Fox, who came slinking along with a string of fish he had stolen.
“Whence did you get those from?” asked the Bear.
“Oh! my Lord Bruin, I’ve been out fishing and caught them,” said the Fox.
So the Bear had a mind to learn to fish too, and bade the Fox tell him how he was to set about it.
“Oh! it’s an easy craft for you,” answered the Fox, “and soon learnt. You’ve only got to go upon the ice, and cut a hole and stick your tail down into it; and so you must go on holding it there as long as you can. You’re not to mind if your tail smarts a little; that’s when the fish bite. The longer you hold it there the more fish you’ll get; and then all at once out with it, with a cross pull sideways, and with a strong pull too.”
Yes; the Bear did as the Fox had said, and held his tail a long, long time down in the hole, till it was fast frozen in. Then he pulled it out with a cross pull, and it snapped short off. That’s why Bruin goes about with a stumpy tail this very day.