The next morning when the goldsmith had slept off the effects of the
drink, he was not quite so confident about the job. He wailed and wept
and blew up his apprentice, who had got him into such a scrape while
he was drunk. The best thing would be to make short work of himself at
once, he said, for there could be no hope for his life; when the best
and grandest goldsmiths could not make such checkers, was it likely
that he could do it?

"Don't fret on that account," said the soldier, "but let me have the
gold and I'll get the checkers ready in time; but I must have a room
to myself to work in," he said. This he got, and thanks into the
bargain.

The time wore on, and the soldier did nothing but lounge about, and
the goldsmith began to grumble, because he would not begin with the
work.

"Don't worry yourself about it," said the soldier, "there is plenty of
time! If you are not satisfied with what I have promised you had
better make them yourself." The same thing went on both that day and
the next; and when the smith heard neither hammer nor file from the
soldier's room the whole of the last day, he quite gave himself up for
lost; it was now no use to think any longer about saving his life, he
thought.

But when the night came on the soldier opened the window and blew his
whistle. The eagle then came and asked what he wanted.

"Those gold checkers, which the _Princesses_ had in the blue
mountain," said the soldier; "but you'll want something to eat first,
I suppose? I have two ox carcases lying ready for you in the hay-loft
yonder; you had better finish them," he said. When the eagle had done
she did not tarry, and long before the sun rose she was back again
with the checkers. The soldier then put them under his bed and lay
down to sleep.

Early next morning the goldsmith came and knocked at his door.

"What are you after now again?" asked the soldier. "You rush about
enough in the day, goodness knows! If one cannot have peace when one
is in bed, whoever would be an apprentice here?" said he.

Neither praying nor begging helped that time; the goldsmith must and
would come in, and at last he was let in.

And then, you may be sure, there was soon an end to his wailing.

But still more glad than the goldsmith were the _Princesses_, when he
came up to the palace with the checkers, and gladdest of all was the
youngest _Princess_.

"Have you made them yourself?" she asked.

"No, if I must speak the truth, it i