“Listen,” said she.  “He shall not treat you as he has treated others.  Count seventy to the left from where you are working, and begin again.  But do not let him know that you have made a fresh start.  And do a little at the old place from time to time, as a blind.”  And before he could thank her, the old woman was gone.  Without more ado, however, he counted seventy from the old place, and hit the seventieth tree such a blow with his axe, that it came crashing down then and there.  And he found that, one after another, the trees yielded to his blows as if they were touch-wood.  He did a good day’s work, gave a few strokes in the old spot, and came home, taking care to look as gloomy as before.

Day by day he got deeper and deeper into the wood, the trees falling before him like dry elder twigs; and now the hardest part of his work was walking backwards and fowards to the giant’s home, for the forest seemed almost interminable.  But on the three hundred and sixty-sixth day from his first meeting with the giant, the soldier cut fairly through on to an open plain, and as the light streamed in, a magpie flew away, and on searching her nest, the soldier found his mother’s wedding-ring.  He also found many precious stones of priceless value, which were evidently the lost crown jewels.  And as his term of service with the giant was now ended, he did not trouble himself to return, but with the ring and the jewels in his pocket set off to find his way to the capital.

He soon fell in with a good-humoured, fellow who showed him the way, and pointed out everything of interest on the road.  As they drew near, one of the royal carriages was driving out of the city gates, in which sat three beautiful ladies who were the king’s daughters.

“The two eldest are engaged to marry two neighbouring princes,” said the companion.

“And whom is the youngest to marry?” asked the soldier, “for she is by far the most beautiful.”

“She will never marry,” answered his companion, “for she is pledged to the man who shall find the crown jewels, and cut a path through the stone-wood forest that borders the king’s domains.  And that is much as if she were promised to the man who should fetch down the moon for her to play with.  For the jewels are lost beyond recall, and the wood is an enchanted forest.”

“Nevertheless she shall be wed with my mother’s ring,” thought the soldier.  But he kept his own counsel, and only waited till he had smartened himself up, before he sought an audience of the king.

His claim to the princess was fully proved; the king heaped honours and riches upon him; and he made himself so acceptable to his bride-elect, that the wedding was fixed for an early day.

“May I bring my old father, madam?” he asked of the princess.

“That you certainly may,” said she.  “A good son makes a good husband.”

As he entered his native village the hedges were in blossom, the sun shone; and the bells rang for his return.