n do;
perhaps you will be able to see better with your three eyes than One
Eye can."

One Eye slid down from the tree, and Three Eyes climbed up. But Three
Eyes was not more skilful; with all her efforts she could not draw the
branches, nor the fruit, near enough to pluck even a leaf, for they
sprang back as she put out her hand.

At last the mother was impatient, and climbed up herself, but with no
more success, for, as she appeared to grasp a branch, or fruit, her
hand closed upon thin air.

"May I try?" said little Two Eyes; "perhaps I may succeed."

"You, indeed!" cried her sisters; "you, with your two eyes, what can
you do?"

But Two Eyes climbed up, and the golden apples did not fly back from
her when she touched them, but almost laid themselves on her hand,
and she plucked them one after another, till she carried down her own
little apron full.

The mother took them from her, and gave them to her sisters, as she
said little Two Eyes did not handle them properly, but this was only
from jealousy, because little Two Eyes was the only one who could
reach the fruit, and she went into the house feeling more spiteful to
her than ever.

It happened that while all three sisters were standing under the tree
together a young knight rode by. "Run away, quick, and hide yourself,
little Two Eyes; hide yourself somewhere, for we shall be quite
ashamed for you to be seen." Then they pushed the poor girl, in great
haste, under an empty cask, which stood near the tree, and several of
the golden apples that she had plucked along with her.

As the knight came nearer they saw he was a handsome man; and
presently he halted, and looked with wonder and pleasure at the
beautiful tree with its silver leaves and golden fruit.

At last he spoke to the sisters, and asked: "To whom does this
beautiful tree belong? If a man possessed only one branch he might
obtain all he wished for in the world."

"This tree belongs to us," said the two sisters, "and we will break
off a branch for you if you like." They gave themselves a great deal
of trouble in trying to do as they offered; but all to no purpose,
for the branches and the fruit evaded their efforts, and sprung back
at every touch.

"This is wonderful," exclaimed the knight, "that the tree should
belong to you, and yet you are not able to gather even a branch."

They persisted, however, in declaring that the tree was their own
property. At this moment little Two Eyes, who was