oment.'

Jesper thanked her for the whistle, though he did not see of what use it
was to be to him just then, and held on his way to the palace.

When Jesper presented his pearls to the king there were exclamations
of wonder and delight from everyone who saw them. It was not pleasant,
however, to discover that Jesper was a mere fisher-lad; that wasn't the
kind of son-in-law that the king had expected, and he said so to the
queen.

'Never mind,' said she, 'you can easily set him such tasks as he will
never be able to perform: we shall soon get rid of him.'

'Yes, of course,' said the king; 'really I forget things nowadays, with
all the bustle we have had of late.'

That day Jesper dined with the king and queen and their nobles, and at
night was put into a bedroom grander than anything of the kind he had
ever seen. It was all so new to him that he could not sleep a wink,
especially as he was always wondering what kind of tasks would be set
him to do, and whether he would be able to perform them. In spite of the
softness of the bed, he was very glad when morning came at last.

After breakfast was over, the king said to Jesper, 'Just come with me,
and I'll show you what you must do first.' He led him out to the barn,
and there in the middle of the floor was a large pile of grain. 'Here,'
said the king, 'you have a mixed heap of wheat, barley, oats, and rye, a
sackful of each. By an hour before sunset you must have these sorted out
into four heaps, and if a single grain is found to be in a wrong heap
you have no further chance of marrying my daughter. I shall lock the
door, so that no one can get in to assist you, and I shall return at the
appointed time to see how you have succeeded.'

The king walked off, and Jesper looked in despair at the task before
him. Then he sat down and tried what he could do at it, but it was soon
very clear that single-handed he could never hope to accomplish it
in the time. Assistance was out of the question--unless, he suddenly
thought--unless the King of the Ants could help. On him he began to
call, and before many minutes had passed that royal personage made his
appearance. Jesper explained the trouble he was in.

'Is that all?' said the ant; 'we shall soon put that to rights.' He gave
the royal signal, and in a minute or two a stream of ants came pouring
into the barn, who under the king's orders set to work to separate the
grain into the proper heaps.

Jesper watched them for a wh