hed princess. The clothes he had on him were as
ragged as you please, but he had his crowns safe under his old cloak.

Then the smith came out, and says he, 'It's a shame for a strong, big
fellow like you to be lazy, and so much work to be done. Are you any
good with hammer and tongs? Come in and bear a hand, an I'll give you
diet and lodging, and a few pence when you earn them.' 'Never say't
twice,' says the prince. 'I want nothing but to be busy.' So he took the
hammer, and pounded away at the red-hot bar that the smith was turning
on the anvil to make into a set of horse-shoes.

They hadn't been long at work when a tailor came in, and he sat down
and began to talk. 'You all heard how the two princess were loth to
be married till the youngest would be ready with her crowns and her
sweetheart. But after the windlass loosened accidentally when they were
pulling up her bridegroom that was to be, there was no more sign of a
well, or a rope, or a windlass, than there is on the palm of your hand.
So the princes that were courting the eldest ladies wouldn't give
peace or ease to their lovers nor the king till they got consent to the
marriage, and it was to take place this morning. Myself went down out o'
curiousity, and to be sure I was delighted with the grand dresses of
the two brides, and the three crowns on their heads--gold, silver, and
copper, one inside the other. The youngest was standing by mournful
enough, and all was ready. The two bridegrooms came in as proud and
grand as you please, and up they were walking to the altar rails, when
the boards opened two yards wide under their feet, and down they went
among the dead men and the coffins in the vaults. Oh, such shrieks as
the ladies gave! and such running and racing and peeping down as there
was! but the clerk soon opened the door of the vault, and up came the
two princes, their fine clothes covered an inch thick with cobwebs and
mould.

So the king said they should put off the marriage. 'For,' says he, 'I
see there is no use in thinking of it till the youngest gets her three
crowns, and is married with the others. I'll give my youngest daughter
for a wife to whoever brings three crowns to me like the others; and if
he doesn't care to be married, some other one will, and I'll make his
fortune.'

'I wish,' says the smith, 'I could do it; but I was looking at the
crowns after the princesses got home, and I don't think there's a black
or a white smith on the face