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223 daughter in her chamber, and told her she should not have leave to go out day or night. She cried and prayed for herself and the lad, but all to no purpose. The king only got more vexed at it. In a while a war broke out in the land, and the king had to take up arms against another king, who wanted to take the kingdom from him. When the lad heard this he asked the keeper to go to the king and ask for a suit of armour and a sword and permission to go to the war. AH lai^hed when the keeper delivered his message, and asked the king to give him some old rusty suit, that they might have the fun of seeing this poor wretch going to fight in the war. So the lad got permission and an old, wretched horse



in the bargain, who jogged along on three legs and dragged the fourth after him. So they all set out to meet the enemy ; but they had not got far from the palace before the lad got stuck in a bog with his nag. There he sat and kicked away and cried; "Gee up, gee up!" to his nag. All amused themselves at this sight, and laughed and made game of the lad as they rode past. But no sooner were they out of sight than the lad ran to the ■ lime-tree, put on his suit of armour, and shook the bridle. The horse appeared at once, and said : " You do your best, and I will