good friends and
helpers. All right! we'll talk again this evening."

In the evening the old man said, "I have no work for you to-morrow, but
you must come to my bedside to-morrow morning, and shake hands with me."

The prince was amused at the old man's queer whim, and laughed when he
told the maiden. But when she heard it she became very serious, and
said, "Now you must look to yourself, for the old man intends to eat you
to-morrow morning, and there is only one way of escape. You must heat a
shovel red-hot in the stove,[115] and offer it to him instead of your
own hand." Then she hastened away, and the prince went to bed. Next
morning he took good care to heat the shovel red-hot before the old man
awoke. At last he heard him shouting, "What has become of you, you lazy
fellow? Come and shake hands with me." But when the prince entered the
room with the red-hot shovel in his hand, the old man cried out with a
whining voice, "I am very ill to-day, and cannot take your hand. But
come back this evening to receive my orders."

The prince loitered about all day, and went to the old man in the
evening as usual to receive his commands for the morrow. He found him
very friendly, and he said, "I am well pleased with you. Come to me
to-morrow morning with the maiden, for I know that you have long been
attached to each other, and I will give her to you as your bride."

The prince would have liked to dance and shout for joy, but by good luck
he remembered the strict rules of the house, and kept silent. But when
he spoke to his betrothed of his good fortune, and expected that she
would receive the news with equal delight, he saw her turn as white as
the wall with terror, and her tongue seemed to be paralysed. As soon as
she recovered herself a little, she said, "The Old Boy has discovered
that I have been your counsellor, and has resolved to destroy us both.
We must fly this very night, or we are lost. Take an axe, and strike off
the head of the white-headed calf with a heavy blow, and then split the
skull in two with a second stroke. In the brain of the calf you will
find a shining red reel, which you must bring me. I will arrange
whatever else is needful." The prince thought, "I would rather kill an
innocent calf than sacrifice both myself and this dear girl, and if our
flight succeeds, I shall see my home once more. The peas I sowed must
have sprung up by this time, so that we cannot miss our way."

He went into the stall,