narrower until at last it was not
broader than his hand. And when he came to the very beginning of it,
what do you think he found?

He found a walnut shell out of which the water was spouting as from a
fountain.

"Good-morning, Mr Spring," said Jack. "Are you not tired staying here
all alone in this little nook where nobody comes to see you?"

"Ah, my master," answered the spring in the walnut shell, "I have been
waiting a long time for you."

"Well, here I am," said Jack; and he took the walnut shell and put it
into his cap.

His brothers were just waking up when he rejoined them.

"Well, Mr Why-and-How," said Peter, "did you find where the brook
comes from?"

"Indeed, I did," answered Jack. "It spouts up from a spring."

"You are too clever for this world," growled Paul.

"Clever or not clever," said Jack, "I have seen what I wished to see,
and I have learned what I wished to learn."

_Jack's Victory at the Palace_

At last the three boys came to the King's palace. They saw the great
oak that darkened the windows, and on the gateposts they saw a big
poster printed in red and black letters.

"See there, Jack," said Paul. "Read that, and tell us what it says."

"Yes, I wonder what it says," said Jack, laughing. And this is what he
read:

NOTICE

Know all men by these presents: If anyone will cut down this
oak-tree and carry it away, the King will give him three
bags full of gold. If anyone will dig a well in the
courtyard so as to supply the palace with water, he may wed
the King's daughter and the King will give him half of
everything.

The King has said it and it shall be done.

"Better and better," said Peter. "There are three tasks instead of
one, and the prize is more than double."

"But it will take someone smarter than you to win it," said Paul; and
he stroked his head gently.

"It will take someone stronger than you," answered Peter; and he
rolled up his shirt-sleeves and swung his big arms around till their
muscles stood out like whipcords.

The boys went into the courtyard. There they saw another placard
posted over the door of the great hallway.

"Read that, Jack," said Paul. "Read it and tell us what it says."

"Yes," said Jack, "I wonder what it says."

SECOND NOTICE

Know all men by these presents: If anyone shall try to cut
down the oak and shall not succeed, he shall have both his
ears cut off. If anyone shal