BRAVE AGAINST HIS WILL
and the queen. The king did not wish, however, to part so soon from the great hero. "There is one more deed which you must accomplish before leaving us," he said. The tailor begged to be excused, but the king of Franconia possessed one remarkable quality: when he had taken something into his head he was bent upon having his will in spite of everything.
"What does your majesty ask me to do?" at length asked the tailor.
"I desire to have you kill a wild boar which haunts the woodlands on the borders of my domain," said the king. "If you succeed in killing this monster, three hundred gold pieces will be yours, and I promise to give you a duke's rank."
When the little man heard of the borders of the land he felt relieved, and thought: "If I can only manage to cross the frontiers, I care little about the boar, the money, and the duke's title, but will return home as fast as possible." He answered, however: "Your majesty's wish shall be fulfilled; I will take the boar's life."
But his face lengthened a great deal when the king told him that one hundred brave knights were ready to follow him to the place, and that he himself intended to go also. "I am not the least afraid," concluded he, "when I am near your strong arm!"
Although the tailor did not at all enjoy the thought of having the king and the knights watch
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