go out, happen what might. So they begged and entreated
and urged the sentinel, all three of them, that he should let them
down into the garden. "He could see for himself how warm and pleasant
it was; no snowy weather could come on such a day." Well, he didn't
think it looked much like it either, and if they must go they had
better go, the soldier said; but it must only be for a minute, and he
himself would go with them and look after them.

When they got down into the garden they ran up and down, and filled
their laps with flowers and green leaves, the prettiest they could
find. At last they could manage no more, but just as they were going
indoors they caught sight of a large rose at the other end of the
garden. It was many times prettier than any they had gathered, so they
must have that also. But just as they bent down to take the rose a big
dense snowdrift came and carried them away.

[Illustration: Just as they bent down to take the rose a big dense
snow-drift came and carried them away.]

There was great mourning over the whole country, and the _King_ made
known from all the churches that any one who could save the
_Princesses_ should have half the kingdom and his golden crown and
whichever princess he liked to choose.

You can well understand there were plenty who wanted to gain half the
kingdom, and a princess into the bargain; so there were people of both
high and low degree who set out for all parts of the country. But
there was no one who could find the _Princesses_, or even get any
tidings of them.

When all the grand and rich people in the country had had their turn,
a captain and a lieutenant came to the Palace, and wanted to try their
luck. The _King_ fitted them out both with silver and gold, and wished
them success on their journey.

Then came a soldier, who lived with his mother in a little cottage
some way from the Palace. He had dreamt one night that he also was
trying to find the _Princesses_. When the morning came he still
remembered what he had dreamt, and told his mother about it.

"Some witchery must have got hold of you," said the woman, "but you
must dream the same thing three nights running, else there is nothing
in it." And the next two nights the same thing happened; he had the
same dream, and he felt he must go. So he washed himself and put on
his uniform, and went into the kitchen at the Palace. It was the day
after the captain and the lieutenant had set out.

"You had better