'My father,' she replied, 'I owe my life to this youth, who saved me
from a terrible death.'

Upon which the King turned to Martin with a gracious smile, saying: 'I
will reward your courage by granting you whatever your heart desires.
Take as much gold, silver, and precious stones as you choose.'

'I thank you, mighty King, for your gracious offer,' answered Martin,
'but I do not covet either gold, silver, or precious stones; yet if
you will grant me a favour, give me, I beg, the ring from off the
little finger of your royal hand. Every time my eye falls on it I
shall think of your gracious Majesty, and when I marry I shall present
it to my bride.'

So the King took the ring from his finger and gave it to Martin,
saying: 'Take it, good youth; but with it I make one condition--you
are never to confide to anyone that this is a magic ring. If you do,
you will straightway bring misfortune on yourself.'

Martin took the ring, and, having thanked the King, he set out on the
same road by which he had come down into the Under-world. When he had
regained the upper air he started for his old home, and having found
his mother still living in the old house where he had left her, they
settled down together very happily. So uneventful was their life that
it almost seemed as if it would go on in this way always, without let
or hindrance. But one day it suddenly came into his mind that he would
like to get married, and, moreover, that he would choose a very grand
wife--a King's daughter, in short. But as he did not trust himself as
a wooer, he determined to send his old mother on the mission.

'You must go to the King,' he said to her, 'and demand the hand of his
lovely daughter in marriage for me.'

'What are you thinking of, my son?' answered the old woman, aghast at
the idea. 'Why cannot you marry someone in your own rank? That would
be far more fitting than to send a poor old woman like me a-wooing to
the King's Court for the hand of a Princess. Why, it is as much as our
heads are worth. Neither my life nor yours would be worth anything if
I went on such a fool's errand.'

'Never fear, little mother,' answered Martin. 'Trust me; all will be
well. But see that you do not come back without an answer of some
kind.'

And so, obedient to her son's behest, the old woman hobbled off to the
palace, and, without being hindered, reached the courtyard, and began
to mount the flight of steps leading to the royal presence chamber.