adful, as did the
old man. He could scarcely walk from his toe-nails curling up like ram's
horns that had not been cut for many hundred years, and big long hair.
They come to a well, and the old man gives the Prince a sword, and tells
him to cut his head off, and throw it in that well. The young man has to
do it against his wish, but has to do it.

No sooner has he flung the head in the well, than up springs one of the
finest young gentlemen you would wish to see; and instead of the old
house and the frightful-looking place, it was changed into a beautiful
hall and grounds. And they went back and enjoyed themselves well, and
had a good laugh about the castle.

The young Prince leaves this young gentleman in all his glory, and he
tells the young Prince before leaving that he will see him again before
long. They have a jolly shake-hands, and off he goes to the next oldest
brother; and, to make my long story short, he has to serve the other two
brothers the same as the first.

Now the youngest brother began to ask him how things went on. "Did you
see my two brothers?"

"Yes."

"How did they look?"

"Oh! they looked very well. I liked them much. They told me many things
what to do."

"Well, did you go to the castle?"

"Yes, my uncle."

"And will you tell me what you see in there? Did you see the young
lady?"

"Yes, I saw her, and plenty of other frightful things."

"Did you hear any snake biting you in my oldest brother's bed?"

"No, there were none there; I slept well."

"You won't have to sleep in the same bed to-night. You will have to cut
my head off in the morning."

The young Prince had a good night's rest, and changed all the appearance
of the place by cutting his friend's head off before he started in the
morning. A jolly shake-hands, and the uncle tells him it's very probable
he shall see him again soon when he is not aware of it. This one's
mansion was very pretty, and the country around it beautiful, after his
head was cut off. Off Jack goes, over hills, dales, valleys, and
mountains, and very near losing his apples again.

At last he arrives at the cross-roads, where he has to meet his brothers
on the very day appointed. Coming up to the place, he sees no tracks of
horses, and, being very tired, he lays himself down to sleep, by tying
the horse to his leg, and putting the apples under his head. Presently
up come the other brothers the same time to the minute, and found him
fast asleep; and t