Part 17 (1/2)

The wild boars had not been fed for a week, and when the Shepherd was thrust into their den they rushed at him to tear him to pieces

But the Shepherd took a little flute out of the sleeve of his jacket, and began to play a merry tune, on which the wild boars first of all shrank shyly away, and then got up on their hind legs and danced gaily The Shepherd would have given anything to be able to laugh, they looked so funny; but he dared not stop playing, for he kneell enough that the moment he stopped they would fall upon him and tear him to pieces His eyes were of no use to him here, for he could not have stared ten wild boars in the face at once; so he kept playing, and the wild boars danced very slowly, as if in a rees he played faster and faster, till they could hardly twist and turn quickly enough, and ended by all falling over each other in a heap, quite exhausted and out of breath

Then the Shepherd ventured to laugh at last; and he laughed so long and so loud that when the Lord Cha to find only his bones, the tears were still running down his cheeks fro was dressed the Shepherd was again brought before hiry than ever to think the wild boars had not torn the man to bits, and he said:

”Well, you have learned what it feels to be near ten deaths, _now_ say 'To ood health'!”

But the shepherd broke in with:

”I do not fear a hundred deaths; and I will only say it if I o to a hundred deaths!” roared the King, and ordered the Shepherd to be thron the deep vault of scythes

The guards dragged hieon, in the middle of which was a deep ith sharp scythes all round it At the bottoht by which one could see, if anyone was thrown in, whether he had fallen to the bottoed the guards to leave hiht look down into the pit of scythes; perhaps he ood health” to the King

So the guards left hi his cloak round the stick and put his hat on the top He also hung his knapsack up beside the cloak, so that it ht seem to have souards and said that he had considered the matter, but after all he could not uards came in, threw the hat and cloak, knapsack and stick all down in the well together, watched to see how they put out the light at the botto that now there was really an end to the Shepherd But he had hidden in a dark corner, and was now laughing to hi came the Lord Chamberlain with a lamp, and he nearly fell backwards with surprise when he saw the Shepherd alive and well He brought hireater than ever, but who cried:

”Well, now you have been near a hundred deaths; will you say, 'To your good health'?”

But the Shepherd only gave the answer:

”I won't say it till the Princess is my wife”

”Perhaps, after all, you , who saw that there was no chance ofaith the shepherd; and he ordered the state coach to be got ready; then he et in with him and sit beside him, and ordered the coachman to drive to the silver wood

When they reached it, he said:

”Do you see this silver wood? Well, if you will say 'To your good health,' I will give it to you”

The shepherd turned hot and cold by turns, but he still persisted:

”I will not say it till the Princess iswas much vexed; he drove further on till they caold, and then he said:

”Do you see this golden castle? Well, I will give you that too, the silver wood and the gold castle, if only you will say one thing to aped and wondered, and was quite dazzled but he still said:

”No, I will not say it till I have the Princess for rief, and gave orders to drive on to the diamond pond and there he tried once more:

”You shall have the all--all, if you will but say 'To your good health'”