earn her once
more, he said. So in the morning when they heard the _King_ rattling
at the posts outside, the lad drew on the hide and lay down by the
stove.

"Well, has it lain still?" the king asked.

"I should think so," said the _Princess_; "it hasn't so much as turned
or stretched itself once."

When they got up to the castle again, the captain took the bear and
led it away, and then the lad threw off the hide, and went to a tailor
and ordered clothes fit for a prince; and when they were fitted on he
went to the _King_, and said he wanted to find the _Princess_.

"You're not the first who has wished the same thing," said the _King_,
"but they have all lost their lives; for if any one who tries can't
find her in four-and-twenty hours his life is forfeited."

Yes; the lad knew all that. Still he wished to try, and if he
couldn't find her, 'twas his look-out. Now in the castle there was a
band that played sweet tunes, and there were fair maids to dance with,
and so the lad danced away.

When twelve hours were gone, the _King_ said:

"I pity you with all my heart. You're so poor a hand at seeking; you
will surely lose your life."

"Stuff!" said the lad; "while there's life there's hope! So long as
there's breath in the body there's no fear; we have lots of time!" and
so he went on dancing till there was only one hour left.

Then he said he would begin to search.

"It's no use now," said the _King_; "time's up."

"Light your lamp; out with your big bunch of keys," said the lad, "and
follow me whither I wish to go. There is still a whole hour left."

So the lad went the same way which the _King_ had led him the night
before, and he bade the _King_ unlock door after door till they came
down to the pier which ran out into the sea.

"It's all no use, I tell you," said the _King_; "time's up, and this
will only lead you right out into the sea."

"Still five minutes more," said the lad, as he pulled and pushed at
the posts and pins, and the house floated up.

"Now the time is up," bawled the _King_; "come hither, headsman, and
take off his head."

"Nay, nay!" said the lad; "stop a bit, there are still three minutes!
Out with the key, and let me get into this house."

But there stood the _King_ and fumbled with his keys, to draw out the
time. At last he said he hadn't any key.

"Well, if you haven't, I _have_," said the lad, as he gave the door
such a kick that it flew to splinters inwards on the floor.