They now thought it safer to go farther into the wood, and when they had made their way to where the trees were thickest and the shade deepest, they suddenly came upon a little empty house, that had been raised by the magic of some good or evil fairy.
"Oh!" they cried, "this is just the place for us to live in; you, Benjamin, as you are the youngest and weakest, must stay at home and keep house, while we go and look for provisions."
So the elder brothers went into the wood, and there they found plenty of game to shoot: wild deer, hares, pigeons and other birds, as well as many other things that were good for food. When they had finished their day's sport, they went home, and then it was Benjamin's turn to busy himself with preparing and cooking the food, and glad enough they were of a meal, for by this time they were all very hungry. In this way they lived on in the little house for ten years, and the time passed so quickly that the brothers never found it long.
Meanwhile, the little daughter who had been born at the castle, was growing up. She was good at heart and beautiful in face, and had a gold star on her forehead.
One day about this time, she happened to catch sight of twelve little shirts which were lying among some of her mother's things.
"Mother," she said, "to whom do those shirts belong? for they are too small for my father to wear."
It was with a heavy heart that the poor mother answered. "Those shirts, dear child, belong to your twelve brothers."
"My twelve brothers," cried the girl, "why I never even heard of them. Where are they now?"
