ton. And
so when the poor silly youth entered the room, he discovered that the
iron walls were red hot. But, fortunately, his comrade with the straw
on his back had entered behind him, and when the door was shut upon
them he scattered the straw about, and suddenly the red-hot walls
cooled down, and it became so very cold that the Simpleton could
scarcely bear to take a bath, and all the water in the room froze. So
the Simpleton climbed up upon the stove, and, wrapping himself up in
the bath blankets, lay there the whole night. And in the morning when
they opened the door there he lay sound and safe, singing cheerfully
to himself.

Now when this strange tale was told to the King he became quite sad,
not knowing what he should do to get rid of so undesirable a
son-in-law, when suddenly a brilliant idea occurred to him.

'Tell the rascal to raise me an army, now at this instant!' he
exclaimed to one of his courtiers. 'Inform him at once of this, my
royal will.' And to himself he added, 'I think I shall do for him this
time.'

As on former occasions, the quick-eared comrade had overheard the
King's command and repeated it to the Simpleton.

'Alas, alas!' he groaned; 'now I am quite done for.'

'Not at all,' replied one of his comrades (the one who had dragged the
bundle of wood through the forest). 'Have you quite forgotten me?'

In the meantime the courtier, who had run all the way from the palace,
reached the ship panting and breathless, and delivered the King's
message.

[Illustration: Simpleton's Army Appears Before the King]

'Good!' remarked the Simpleton. 'I will raise an army for the King,'
and he drew himself up. 'But if, after that, the King refuses to
accept me as his son-in-law, I will wage war against him, and carry
the Princess off by force.'

During the night the Simpleton and his comrade went together into a
big field, not forgetting to take the bundle of wood with them, which
the man spread out in all directions--and in a moment a mighty army
stood upon the spot, regiment on regiment of foot and horse soldiers;
the bugles sounded and the drums beat, the chargers neighed, and their
riders put their lances in rest, and the soldiers presented arms.

In the morning when the King awoke he was startled by these warlike
sounds, the bugles and the drums, and the clatter of the horses, and
the shouts of the soldiers. And, stepping to the window, he saw the
lances gleam in the sunlight and the armour and