ejoicing over his
victorious return. The King's first act on reaching home was to thank
Heaven for the victory he had gained over the enemies who had risen
against him. He then entered his palace, and the three Princesses
stepped forward to meet him. His joy was great when he saw that they
were all well, for the youngest did her best not to appear sad.

In spite of this, however, it was not long before the King noticed that
his third daughter was getting very thin and sad-looking. And all of a
sudden he felt as if a hot iron were entering his soul, for it flashed
through his mind that she had disobeyed his word. He felt sure he
was right; but to be quite certain he called his daughters to him,
questioned them, and ordered them to speak the truth. They confessed
everything, but took good care not to say which had led the other two
into temptation.

The King was so distressed when he heard it that he was almost overcome
by grief. But he took heart and tried to comfort his daughters, who
looked frightened to death. He saw that what had happened had happened,
and that a thousand words would not alter matters by a hair's-breadth.

Well, these events had almost been forgotten when one fine day a prince
from the East appeared at the Court and asked the King for the hand of
his eldest daughter. The King gladly gave his consent. A great wedding
banquet was prepared, and after three days of feasting the happy pair
were accompanied to the frontier with much ceremony and rejoicing.

After some time the same thing befell the second daughter, who was wooed
and won by a prince from the West.

Now when the young Princess saw that everything fell out exactly as had
been written in the book, she grew very sad. She refused to eat, and
would not put on her fine clothes nor go out walking, and declared that
she would rather die than become a laughing-stock to the world. But the
King would not allow her to do anything so wrong, and he comforted her
in all possible ways.

So the time passed, till lo and behold! one fine day an enormous pig
from the North walked into the palace, and going straight up to the
King said, 'Hail! oh King. May your life be as prosperous and bright as
sunrise on a clear day!'

'I am glad to see you well, friend,' answered the King, 'but what wind
has brought you hither?'

'I come a-wooing,' replied the Pig.

Now the King was astonished to hear so fine a speech from a Pig, and at
once it occurred to him tha