only be able to come right up to the
top, and down the other side; but when she saw him turning back, she
threw the second apple after him, and it rolled down and fell into his
shoe. But, as soon as ever he had come down from the _Hill of Glass_,
he rode off so fast that no one could see what became of him.

At even, when all were to go in before the king and the _Princess_,
that he who had the golden apple might show it, in they went, one
after the other, but there was no one who had any apple to show, and
the two brothers, as they had done on the former day, went home and
told how things had gone, and how all had ridden at the hill, and none
got up.

"But, last of all," they said, "came one in a silver suit, and his
horse had a silver saddle and a silver bridle. He was just a chap to
ride; and he got two-thirds up the hill, and then turned back. He was
a fine fellow, and no mistake; and the _Princess_ threw the second
gold apple to him."

"Oh!" said _Boots_, "I should so like to have seen him too, that I
should."

"A pretty story," they said. "Perhaps you think his coat of mail was
as bright as the ashes you are always poking about, and sifting, you
nasty dirty beast."

The third day everything happened as it had happened the two days
before. _Boots_ begged to go and see the sight, but the two wouldn't
hear of his going with them. When they got to the hill there was no
one who could get so much as a yard up it; and now all waited for the
knight in silver mail, but they neither saw nor heard of him. At last
came one riding on a steed, so brave that no one had ever seen his
match; and the knight had a suit of golden mail, and a golden saddle
and bridle, so wondrous bright that the sunbeams gleamed from them a
mile off. The other knights and princes could not find time to call
out to him not to try his luck, for they were amazed to see how grand
he was. So he rode right at the hill, and tore up it like nothing, so
that the _Princess_ hadn't even time to wish that he might get up the
whole way. As soon as ever he reached the top, he took the third
golden apple from the _Princess'_ lap, and then turned his horse and
rode down again. As soon as he got down, he rode off at full speed,
and was out of sight in no time.

Now, when the brothers got home at even, you may fancy what long
stories they told, how the riding had gone off that day; and amongst
other things, they had a deal to say about the knight in golden mai