her.

'Thank goodness we have got rid of that idiot,' exclaimed the two elder.
'Now let us have some breakfast.' And they sat down by the roadside and
began to eat.

They had only half finished, when a lame fox came out of a wood and
begged them to give him something to eat. But they jumped up and chased
him off with their sticks, and the poor fox limped away on his three
pads. As he ran he reached the spot where the youngest son was getting
out the food he had brought with him, and the fox asked him for a crust
of bread. The simpleton had not very much for himself, but he gladly
gave half of his meal to the hungry fox.

'Where are you going, brother?' said the fox, when he had finished his
share of the bread; and the young man told him the story of his father
and the wonderful vine.

'Dear me, how lucky!' said the fox. 'I know what has become of it.
Follow me!' So they went on till they came to the gate of a large
garden.

'You will find here the vine that you are seeking, but it will not be at
all easy to get it. You must listen carefully to what I am going to say.
Before you reach the vine you will have to pass twelve outposts, each
consisting of two guards. If you see these guards looking straight at
you, go on without fear, for they are asleep. But if their eyes are shut
then beware, for they are wide awake. If you once get to the vine, you
will find two shovels, one of wood and the other of iron. Be sure not to
take the iron one; it will make a noise and rouse the guards, and then
you are lost.'

The young man got safely through the garden without any adventures till
he came to the vine which yielded a tun of wine an hour. But he thought
he should find it impossible to dig the hard earth with only a wooden
shovel, so picked up the iron one instead. The noise it made soon
awakened the guards. They seized the poor simpleton and carried him to
their master.

'Why do you try to steal my vine?' demanded he; 'and how did you manage
to get past the guards?'

'The vine is not yours; it belongs to my father, and if you will not
give it to me now, I will return and get it somehow.'

'You shall have the vine if you will bring me in exchange an apple off
the golden apple-tree that flowers every twenty-four hours, and bears
fruit of gold.' So saying, he gave orders that the simpleton should be
released, and this done, the youth hurried off to consult the fox.

'Now you see,' observed the fox, 'this comes of not fo