to numberless
pieces of flint, and from this come all the flint stones that one finds
about the country.

Esben had found again his little stick, which the witch had taken from
him, so he said,

Fly quick, my little stick, Carry me across the stream.

Next moment he was back at the king's palace. Here things were in a bad
way, for the king had thrown all the eleven brothers into prison, and
they were to be executed very shortly because they had not brought him
the coverlet. Esben now went up to the king and gave him the coverlet,
with which the king was greatly delighted. When he touched it it could
be heard over eight kingdoms, and all the other kings sat and were angry
because they had not one like it.

Esben also told how everything had happened, and how Sir Red had done
the brothers all the ill he could devise because he was envious of
them. The brothers were at once set at liberty, while Sir Red, for his
wickedness, was hanged on the highest tree that could be found, and so
he got the reward he deserved.

Much was made of Esben and his brothers, and these now thanked him for
all that he had done for them. The twelve of them received as much gold
and silver as they could carry, and betook themselves home to their old
father. When he saw again his twelve sons, whom he had never expected to
see more, he was so glad that he wept for joy. The brothers told him
how much Esben had done, and how he had saved their lives, and from that
time forward he was no longer the butt of the rest at home.

Princess Minon-minette

Bibliotheque des Fees et aes Genies

Once upon a time there lived a young king whose name was Souci, and he
had been brought up, ever since he was a baby, by the fairy Inconstancy.
Now the fairy Girouette had a kind heart, but she was a very trying
person to live with, for she never knew her own mind for two minutes
together, and as she was the sole ruler at Court till the prince grew
up everything was always at sixes and sevens. At first she determined to
follow the old custom of keeping the young king ignorant of the duties
he would have to perform some day; then, quite suddenly, she resigned
the reins of government into his hands; but, unluckily, it was too late
to train him properly for the post. However, the fairy did not think of
that, but, carried away by her new ideas, she hastily formed a Council,
and named as Prime Minister the excellent 'Ditto,' so called because he
had never