the other, 'I think I will
spend some of my money in trying to build that ship, as I should like
to have the king for my father-in-law.' So he called together all the
shipbuilders in the land, and gave them orders to begin the ship without
delay. And trees were cut down, and great preparations made, and in a
few days everybody knew what it was all for; and there was a crowd of
old people pressing round the gates of the yard, where the young man
spent the most of his day.

'Ah, master, give us work,' they said, 'so that we may earn our bread.'

But he only gave them hard words, and spoke roughly to them. 'You are
old, and have lost your strength; of what use are you?' And he drove
them away. Then came some boys and prayed him, "master, give us work,'
but he answered them, 'Of what use can you be, weaklings as you are! Get
you gone!' And if any presented themselves that were not skilled workmen
he would have none of them.

At last there knocked at the gate a little old man with a long white
beard, and said, 'Will you give me work, so that I may earn my bread?'
But he was only driven away like the rest.

The ship took a long while to build, and cost a great deal of money, and
when it was launched a sudden squall rose, and it fell to pieces, and
with it all the young man's hopes of winning the princess. By this time
he had not a penny left, so he went back to his two brothers and
told his tale. And the second brother said to himself as he listened,
'Certainly he has managed very badly, but I should like to see if I
can't do better, and win the princess for my own self.' So he called
together all the shipbuilders throughout the country, and gave them
orders to build a ship which should float on the land as well as on the
sea. But his heart was no softer than his brother's, and every man that
was not a skilled workman was chased away with hard words. Last came the
white-bearded man, but he fared no better than the rest.

When the ship was finished the launch took place, and everything seemed
going smoothly when a gale sprang up, and the vessel was dashed to
pieces on the rocks. The young man had spent his whole fortune on it,
and now it was all swallowed up, was forced to beg shelter from his
youngest brother. When he told his story the youngest said to himself,
'I am not rich enough to support us all three. I had better take my
turn, and if I manage to win the princess there will be her fortune
as well as my own for us