hen she would come for him with the carriage, as she
had promised. He was greatly pleased at this, and next morning, when
the time was drawing near, went out into the garden; but the little
fair-haired lad took a big pin out of his pocket, and stuck it into the
back of the Irishman's coat without his noticing it, whereupon he fell
sound asleep.

Before long the Princess came with the carriage and four horses, and
asked the lad whether his master was awake. He said that he wasn't. 'It
is bad for him,' said she, 'when the night is not long enough for him to
sleep. Tell him that if he doesn't meet me at this time to-morrow it is
not likely that he will ever see me again all his life.'

As soon as she was gone the lad took the pin out of his master's coat,
who instantly awoke. The first word he said to the lad was, 'Have you
seen her?'

'Yes,' said he, 'and she bade me tell you that if you don't meet her at
nine o'clock to-morrow you will never see her again.'

He was very sorry when he heard this, and could not understand why the
sleep should have fallen upon him just when she was coming. He decided,
however, to go early to bed that night, in order to rise in time nest
morning, and so he did. When it was getting near nine o'clock he went
out to the garden to wait till she came, and the fair-haired lad along
with him; but as soon as the lad got the chance he stuck the pin into
his master's coat again and he fell asleep as before. Precisely at nine
o'clock came the Princess in the carriage with four horses, and asked
the lad if his master had got up yet; but he said 'No, he was asleep,
just as he was the day before.' 'Dear! dear!' said the Princess, 'I am
sorry for him. Was the sleep he had last night not enough for him? Tell
him that he will never see me here again; and here is a sword that you
will give him in my name, and my blessing along with it.'

With this she went off, and as soon as she had gone the lad took the pin
out of his master's coat. He awoke instantly, and the first word he said
was, 'Have you seen her?' The lad said that he had, and there was the
sword she had left for him. The Irishman was ready to kill the lad out
of sheer vexation, but when he gave a glance over his shoulder not a
trace of the fair-haired lad was left.

Being thus left all alone, he thought of going into the room where all
the men were lying asleep, and there among the rest he found his two
comrades who had deserted along with him