e of the road. The two
elder brothers were about to destroy it, when the simpleton said, "Leave
the poor ants alone. I will not let you disturb them."

They went on their way until they came to a pond upon which two ducks
were swimming. The two older brothers were about to kill them, when the
simpleton said, "Leave them alone. I will not let you kill them."

Soon the three came to a tree, in the trunk of which was a wild bee's
nest. The two older brothers wished to steal the honey. They started to
make a fire under the tree and smoke out the bees. The simpleton said,
"Leave the poor bees alone. I will not let you rob them."

II

At last the three brothers came to a castle where everything looked as
if it had been turned to stone. There was not a single human being to be
seen. They walked along the great wide hall, but still they saw no one.

"The castle must be enchanted," the brothers said to one another.

After passing through many rooms, they came to a door in which there
were three locks. In the middle of the door was a little grating through
which they could look into the room beyond.

They saw a little man, dressed in gray, seated at a table. Twice they
called to him, but he did not answer. They called a third time. Then he
rose, opened the three locks, and came out.

He said not a word, but led them to a table on which a feast was spread.
When they had eaten and drunk as much as they wished, the old man showed
each of them to a bedroom. There they rested well all night.

The next morning the little gray man came to the eldest brother and
beckoned him to follow. He led him to a room in which there was a stone
table, and on the table there lay three stone tablets.

[Illustration: The little gray man and the tablets]

On the table near the tablets was written:

"This castle is enchanted. Before the enchantment can be broken, there
are three tasks to be performed. The one who performs these three tasks
shall marry the youngest and dearest of the three princesses who now lie
asleep in the castle."

When the eldest brother had read this, the old man gave him the first
tablet. On it was written:

"In the forest, hidden beneath the thick moss, are the pearls which
belonged to the princesses. They are a thousand in number. These must be
collected by sunset. If one single pearl is missing, then he who has
sought them shall be turned to stone."

The eldest brother searched the whole day long, but by sun