Page:Popular tales from the Norse (1912).djvu/581

 Rh they had seen both him and many of his costly things before.

"He who has so many fine things," said the youngest Princess, "must surely have something still more precious, and which suits us better even than these."

"Maybe I have," said the Pedlar.

But now all the others cried "Hush," and bade her bear in mind what Ritter Red had said he would do.

"Well, some time after the Princesses sat and looked out of the window, and then the King's son came again with the great sea-cloak thrown about him, and the press with the gold crowns at his back; and when he got into the palace hall he unlocked the press before the Princesses, and when each of them knew her own gold crown again, the youngest said,—

"I think it only right that he who set us free should get the meed that is his due; and he is not Ritter Red, but this man who has brought us our gold crowns. He it is that set us free."

Then the King's son cast off the sailor's cloak, and stood there far finer and grander than all the rest; and so the old King made them put Ritter Red to death. And now there was real right down joy in the palace; each took his own bride, and there just was a wedding! Why, it was heard of and talked about over twelve kings' realms.