ould be
her husband, but should she guess it he must forfeit his head. She
claimed three days in which to think over the riddles, but she was so
very clever that she invariably guessed them in a much shorter time.
Nine suitors had already lost their lives when the King's son arrived,
and, dazzled by her beauty, determined to risk his life in hopes of
winning her.

So he came before her and propounded his riddle. 'What is this?' he
asked. 'One slew none and yet killed twelve.'

She could not think what it was! She thought, and thought, and looked
through all her books of riddles and puzzles, but she found nothing to
help her, and could not guess; in fact, she was at her wits' end. As she
could think of no way to guess the riddle, she ordered her maid to steal
at night into the Prince's bedroom and to listen, for she thought that
he might perhaps talk aloud in his dreams and so betray the secret. But
the clever servant had taken his master's place, and when the maid came
he tore off the cloak she had wrapped herself in and hunted her off with
a whip.

On the second night the Princess sent her lady-in-waiting, hoping that
she might succeed better, but the servant took away her mantle and
chased her away also.

On the third night the King's son thought he really might feel safe, so
he went to bed. But in the middle of the night the Princess came
herself, all huddled up in a misty grey mantle, and sat down near him.
When she thought he was fast asleep, she spoke to him, hoping he would
answer in the midst of his dreams, as many people do; but he was wide
awake all the time, and heard and understood everything very well.

Then she asked: 'One slew none--what is that?' and he answered: 'A raven
which fed on the carcase of a poisoned horse.'

She went on: 'And yet killed twelve--what is that?' 'Those are twelve
murderers who ate the raven and died of it.'

As soon as she knew the riddle she tried to slip away, but he held her
mantle so tightly that she was obliged to leave it behind.

Next morning the Princess announced that she had guessed the riddle, and
sent for the twelve judges, before whom she declared it. But the young
man begged to be heard, too, and said: 'She came by night to question
me, otherwise she never could have guessed it.'

The judges said: 'Bring us some proof.' So the servant brought out the
three cloaks, and when the judges saw the grey one, which the Princess
was in the habit of wearing, they s