hope to accomplish it in the time。 Assistance was out of the
questionunless； he suddenly thoughtunless the King of the
Ants could help。 On him he began to call； and before many
minutes had passed that royal personage made his appearance。
Jesper explained the trouble he was in。
'Is that all？' said the ant； 'we shall soon put that to rights。'
He gave the royal signal； and in a minute or two a stream of ants
came pouring into the barn； who under the king's orders set to
work to separate the grain into the proper heaps。
Jesper watched them for a while； but through the continual
movement of the little creatures； and his not having slept during
the previous night； he soon fell sound asleep。 When he woke
again； the king had just come into the barn； and was amazed to
find that not only was the task accomplished； but that Jesper had
found time to take a nap as well。
'Wonderful；' said he； 'I couldn't have believed it possible。
However； the hardest is yet to come； as you will see to…morrow。'
Jesper thought so too when the next day's task was set before
him。 The king's gamekeepers had caught a hundred live hares；
which were to be let loose in a large meadow； and there Jesper
must herd them all day； and bring them safely home in the
evening： if even one were missing； he must give up all thought
of marrying the princess。 Before he had quite grasped the fact
that this was an impossible task； the keepers had opened the
sacks in which the hares were brought to the field； and； with a
whisk of the short tail and a flap of the long ears； each one of
the hundred flew in a different direction。
'Now；' said the king； 'as he walked away； 'let's see what your
cleverness can do here。'
Jesper stared round him in bewilderment； and having nothing
better to do with his hands； thrust them into his pockets； as he
was in the habit of doing。 Here he found something which turned
out to be the whistle given to him by the old woman。 He
remembered what she had said about the virtues of the whistle；
but was rather doubtful whether its powers would extend to a
hundred hares； each of which had gone in a different direction
and might be several miles distant by this time。 However； he
blew the whistle； and in a few minutes the hares came bounding
through the hedge on all the four sides of the field； and before
long were all sitting round him in a circle。 After that； Jesper
allowed them to run about as they pleased； so long as they stayed
in the field。
The king had told one of the keepers to hang about for a little
and see what became of Jesper； not doubting； however； that as
soon as he saw the coast clear he would use his legs to the best
advantage； and never show face at the palace again。 It was
therefore with great surprise and annoyance that he now learned
of the mysterious return of the hares and the likelihood of
Jesper carrying out his task with success。
'One of them must be got out of his hands by hook or crook；' said
he。 'I'll go and see the queen about it； she's good at devising
plans。'
A little later； a girl in a shabby dress came into the field and
walked up to Jesper。
'Do give me one of those hares；' she said； 'we have just got
visitors who are going to stay to dinner； and there's nothing we
can give them to eat。'
'I can't；' said Jesper。 'For one thing； they're not mine； for
another； a great deal depends on my having them all here in the
evening。'
But the girl （and she was a very pretty girl； though so shabbily
dressed） begged so hard for one of them that at last he said：
'Very well； give me a kiss and you shall have one of them。'
He could see that she didn't quite care for this； but she
consented to the bargain； and gave him the kiss； and went away
with a hare in her apron。 Scarcely had she got outside the
field； however； when Jesper blew his whistle； and immediately the
hare wriggled out of its prison like an eel； and went back to its
master at the top of its speed。
Not long after this the hare…herd had another visit。 This time
it was a stout old woman in the dress of a peasant； who also was
after a hare to provide a dinner for unexpected visitors。 Jesper
again refused； but the old lady was so pressing； and would take
no refusal； that at last he said：
'Very well； you shall have a hare； and pay nothing for it either；
if you will only walk round me on tiptoe； look up to the sky； and
cackle like a hen。'
'Fie；' said she； 'what a ridiculous thing to ask anyone to do；
just think what the neighbours would say if they saw me。 They
would think I had taken leave of my senses。'
'Just as you like；' said Jesper； 'you know best whether you want
the hare or not。'
There was no help for it； and a pretty figure the old lady made
in carrying out her task； the cackling wasn't very well done； but
Jesper said it would do； and gave her the hare。 As soon as she
had left the field； the whistle was sounded again； and back came
long…legs…and…ears at a marvellous speed。
The next to appear on the same errand was a fat old fellow in the
dress of a groom： it was the royal livery he wore； and he
plainly thought a good deal of himself。
'Young man；' said he； 'I want one of those hares； name your
price； but I MUST have one of them。'
'All right；' said Jesper； 'you can have one at an easy rate。
Just stand on your head； whack your heels together； and cry
〃Hurrah；〃 and the hare is yours。'
'Eh； what！' said the old fellow； 'ME stand on my head； what an
idea！'
'Oh； very well；' said Jesper； 'you needn't unless you like； you
know； but then you won't get the hare。'
It went very much against the grain； one could see； but after
some efforts the old fellow had his head on the grass and his
heels in the air； the whacking and the 'Hurrah' were rather
feeble； but Jesper was not very exacting； and the hare was handed
over。 Of course； it wasn't long in coming back again； like the
others。
Evening came； and home came Jesper with the hundred hares behind
him。 Great was the wonder over all the palace； and the king and
queen seemed very much put out； but it was noticed that the
princess actually smiled to Jesper。
'Well； well；' said the king； 'you have done that very well
indeed。 If you are as successful with a little task which I
shall give you to…morrow we shall consider the matter settled；
and you shall marry the princess。'
Next day it was announced that the task would be performed in the
great hall of the palace； and everyone was invited to come and
witness it。 The king and queen sat on their thrones； with the
princess beside them； and the lords and ladies were all round the
hall。 At a sign from the king； two servants carried in a large
empty tub； which they set down in the open space before the
throne； and Jesper was told to stand beside it。
'Now；' said the king； 'you must tell us as many undoubted truths
as will fill that tub； or you can't have the princess。'
'But how are we to know when the tub is full？' said Jesper。
'Don't you trouble about that；' said the king； 'that's my part of
the business。'
This seemed to everybody present rather unfair； but no one liked
to be the first to say so； and Jesper had to put the best face he
could on the matter； and begin his story。
'Yesterday；' he said； 'when I was herding the hares； there came
to me a girl； in a shabby dress； and begged me to give her one of
them。 She got the hare； but she had to give me a kiss for it；
AND THAT GIRL WAS THE PRINCESS。 Isn't that true？' said he；
looking at her。
The princess blushed and looked very uncomfortable； but had to
admit that it was true。
'That hasn't filled much of the tub；' said the king。 'Go on
again。'
'After that；' said Jesper； 'a stout old woman； in a peasant's
dress； came and begged for a hare。 Before she got it； she had to
walk round me on tiptoe； turn up her eyes； and cackle like a hen；
AND THAT OLD WOMAN WAS THE QUEEN。 Isn't that true； now？'
The queen turned very red and hot； but couldn't deny it。
'H…m；' said the king； 'that is something； but the tub isn't full
yet。' To the queen he whispered； 'I didn't think you would be
such a fool。'
'What did YOU do？' she whispered in return。
'Do you suppose I would do anything for HIM？' said the king； and
then hurriedly ordered Jesper to go on。
'In the next place；' said Jesper； 'there came a fat old fellow on
the same errand。 He was very proud and dignified； but in order
to get the hare he actually stood on his head； whacked his heels
together； and cried 〃Hurrah〃； and that old fellow was the'
'Stop； stop；' shouted the king； 'you needn't say another word；
the tub is full。' Then all the court applauded； and the king and
queen accepted Jesper as their son…in… law； and the princess was
very well pleased； for by this time she had quite fallen in love
with him； because he was so handsome and so clever。 When the old
king got time to think over it； he was quite convinced that his
kingdom would be safe in Jesper's hands if he looked after the
people as well as he herded the hares。
＇Scandinavian。＇