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THE FORTUNE SEEKERS. |
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"There remains no other way for me," he said, "and if you will do this, then I shall keep my kingdom, and peace will be restored."
The king's daughter had no objection to a husband, so the marriage took place very quickly, and, for a time, everything was peaceable.
But the princess, who could not endure that the people should think of her husband as a common man, was much annoyed at his persisting to wear such a shabby hat, and to carry an old knapsack about with him. All her anxiety now was to get rid of these odious things, and she thought day and night of the best way to manage it. At last it occurred to her that perhaps his wonderful power was contained in the old knapsack, and she determined to find out.
So she pretended to be very fond of him, and coaxed him till his heart was softened towards her, and then she said, "I wish you would not wear that ugly old knapsack; it disfigures you so much, and makes me quite ashamed of you."
"Dearest child," he replied, "that knapsack is my greatest treasure; as long as I have it, I fear no power in the world."
Then she threw her arms round his neck, as if she were going to kiss him, and with great cleverness unfastened the knapsack from his shoulder and ran away with it.
As soon as she was alone, she knocked on it, and when the soldiers appeared, she ordered them to arrest their former master, and carry him out of the king's palace.
They obeyed, and the false wife called to a number of people to follow her, that her husband might be carried away out of the country.
Then would he have been lost if he had not had the wonderful hat. No sooner were his hands free, than he raised it and waved it twice over his head. In a moment the shots fell so thick and fast, that the soldiers and the people were glad to escape, and even the king's daughter herself was obliged to ask for pardon before the shooting was allowed to cease.
After this she was so gentle and affectionate, and spoke so kindly to him, that he allowed himself to be talked over, and willingly for* gave thern all She behaved to him for a long time very kindly, and as if she loved him dearly, for she knew she could at anytime deceive him. And as he had trusted her about the power he |
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