twelfth herself. Then she took leave of her father, and rode away with the maidens to the court of her former bridegroom whom she loved so dearly. She asked him if he wanted any Huntsmen, and whether he would take them all into his service. The King did not recognise her, but, as they were all so handsome, he said Yes, he would engage them. So they all entered the King’s service.
Now, the King had a Lion which was a wonderful creature, for he knew all secret and hidden things. He said to the King one evening, ‘You fancy you have twelve Huntsmen there, don’t you?’
‘Yes,’ said the King.
‘You are mistaken,’ said the Lion. ‘They are twelve maidens.’
The King answered, ‘That can’t be true! How can you prove it?’
‘Oh, have some peas strewn in your ante-room to-morrow, and you will soon see. Men have a firm tread, and when they walk on peas they don’t move; but maidens trip and trot and slide, and make the peas roll about.’
The King was pleased with the Lion’s advice, and ordered the peas to be strewn on the floor.
There was, however, a servant of the King who favoured the Huntsmen, and when he heard that they were to be put to this test, he went and told them all about it, and said, ‘The Lion is going to prove to the King that you are maidens.’
The Princess thanked him, and said afterwards to her maidens, ‘Do your utmost to tread firmly on the peas.’
Next morning, when the King ordered them to be called, they walked into the ante-chamber with so firm a tread that not a pea moved When they had gone away, the King said to the Lion, ‘You lied; they walked just like men.’
But the Lion answered, ‘They had been warned of the test, and were prepared for it. Just let twelve spinning-wheels be brought into the ante-chamber, and they will be delighted at the sight, as no man would be.’
