When the youth had done what the horse desired, there arose a large stone mountain behind them.  So the Troll was obliged to go home after something with which to bore through the mountain; and while he was thus employed, the youth rode on a considerable way.  But now the horse again bade him look back:  he then saw a multitude like a whole army; they were so bright that they glittered in the sun.  “Well, that is the Troll with all his friends,” said the horse.  “Now throw the water bottle behind you, but take good care to spill nothing on me!” The youth did so, but notwithstanding his caution he happened to spill a drop on the horse’s loins.  Immediately there rose a vast lake, and the spilling of the few drops caused the horse to stand far out in the water; nevertheless, he at last swam to the shore.

When the Trolls came to the water they lay down to drink it all up, and they gulped and gulped till they burst.  “Now we are quit of them,” said the horse.

When they had traveled on a very long way they came to a green plain in a wood.  “Take off your armor now,” said the horse, “and put on your rags only; lift my saddle off and hang everything up in that large hollow linden; make yourself then a wig of pine-moss, go to the royal palace which lies close by, and there ask for employment.  When you desire to see me, come to this spot, shake the bridle, and I will instantly be with you.”

The youth did as the horse told him; and when he put on the moss wig he became so pale and miserable to look at that no one would have recognized him.  On reaching the palace, he only asked if he might serve in the kitchen to carry wood and water to the cook; but the cook-maid asked him why he wore such an ugly wig?  “Take it off,” said she:  “I will not have anybody here so frightful.”  “That I cannot,” answered the youth, “for I am not very clean in the head.”  “Dost thou think then that I will have thee in the kitchen, if such be the case?” said she; “go to the master of the horse:  thou art fittest to carry muck from the stables.”  When the master of the horse told him to take off his wig, he got the same answer, so he refused to have him.  “Thou canst go to the gardener,” said he, “thou art only fit to go and dig the ground.”  The gardener allowed him to remain, but none of the servants would sleep with him, so he was obliged to sleep alone under the stairs of the summer-house, which stood upon pillars and had a high staircase, under which he laid a quantity of moss for a bed, and there lay as well as he could.

When he had been some time in the royal palace, it happened one morning, just at sunrise, that the youth had taken off his moss wig and was standing washing himself, and appeared so handsome it was a pleasure to look on him.  The princess saw from her window this comely gardener, and thought she had never before seen any one so handsome.

She then asked the gardener why he lay out there under the stairs.  “Because none of the other servants will lie with him,” answered the gardener.  “Let him come this evening and lie by the door in my room,” said the princess:  “they cannot refuse after that to let him sleep in the house.”