en they had walked on a little farther they came to a brook which ran
through a green meadow, and there the younger said that they ought to
christen each other. 'As we had to make such haste, and had no time to
do it at home, we may as well do it here,' said he.

'What will you be called?' asked the elder.

'I will be called Minnikin,' answered the second; 'and you, what will
you be called?'

'I will be called King Pippin,' answered the elder.

They christened each other and then went onwards. When they had walked
for some time they came to a crossway, and there they agreed to part,
and each take his own road. This they did, but no sooner had they walked
a short distance than they met again. So they parted once more, and
each took his own road, but in a very short time the same thing happened
again--they met each other before they were at all aware, and so it
happened the third time also. Then they arranged with each other that
each should choose his own quarter, and one should go east and the other
west.

'But if ever you fall into any need or trouble,' said the elder, 'call
me thrice, and I will come and help you; only you must not call me until
you are in the utmost need.'

'In that case we shall not see each other for some time,' said Minnikin;
so they bade farewell to each other, and Minnikin went east and King
Pippin went west.

When Minnikin had walked a long way alone, he met an old, old
crook-backed hag, who had only one eye. Minnikin stole it.

'Oh! oh!' cried the old hag, 'what has become of my eye?'

'What will you give me to get your eye back?' said Minnikin.

'I will give thee a sword which is such a sword that it can conquer a
whole army, let it be ever so great,' replied the woman.

'Let me have it, then,' said Minnikin.

The old hag gave him the sword, so she got her eye back. Then Minnikin
went onwards, and when he had wandered on for some time he again met
an old, old crook-backed hag, who had only one eye. Minnikin stole it
before she was aware.

'Oh! oh! what has become of my eye?' cried the old hag.

'What will you give me to get your eye back?' said Minnikin.

'I will give thee a ship which can sail over fresh water and salt water,
over high hills and deep dales,' answered the old woman.

'Let me have it then,' said Minnikin.

So the old woman gave him a little bit of a ship which was no bigger
than he could put in his pocket, and then she got her eye back, and she
went her wa