eshment, and to put his horse in the stable, such as it was. Jack
soon felt much better after having something to eat, and began to ask
the old gentleman how he knew he was a king's son.

"Oh dear!" said the old man, "I knew that you were a king's son, and I
know what is your business better than what you do yourself. So you will
have to stay here to-night; and when you are in bed you mustn't be
frightened whatever you may hear. There will come all manner of frogs
and snakes, and some will try to get into your eyes and your mouth, but
mind, don't stir the least bit or you will turn into one of those things
yourself."

Poor Jack didn't know what to make of this, but, however, he ventured to
go to bed. Just as he thought to have a bit of sleep, round and over and
under him they came, but he never stirred an inch all night.

"Well, my young son, how are you this morning?"

"Oh, I am very well, thank you, but I didn't have much rest."

"Well, never mind that; you have got on very well so far, but you have
a great deal to go through before you can have the golden apples to go
to your father. You'd better come and have some breakfast before you
start on your way to my other brother's house. You will have to leave
your own horse here with me until you come back again, and tell me
everything about how you get on."

After that out came a fresh horse for the young prince, and the old man
gave him a ball of yarn, and he flung it between the horse's two ears.

Off he went as fast as the wind, which the wind behind could not catch
the wind before, until he came to the second oldest brother's house.
When he rode up to the door he had the same salute as from the first old
man, but this one was even uglier than the first one. He had long grey
hair, and his teeth were curling out of his mouth, and his finger- and
toe-nails had not been cut for many thousand years. He put the horse
into a much better stable, and called Jack in, and gave him plenty to
eat and drink, and they had a bit of a chat before they went to bed.

"Well, my young son," said the old man, "I suppose you are one of the
king's children come to look for the golden apples to bring him back to
health."

"Yes, I am the youngest of the three brothers, and I should like to get
them to go back with."

"Well, don't mind, my young son. Before you go to bed to-night I will
send to my eldest brother, and will tell him what you want, and he won't
have much trouble in sen