sadness.  They were told that the princess’s every breath was her last.  Then the youngest brother remembered his wonderful apple, and thought that it would never be more wanted to show its healing power than now.  He therefore went straight into the bed-room of the princess and placed the apple under her right arm.  And at the same moment it was as if a new breath of life flushed through the whole body of the princess; her eyes opened, and after a little while she began to speak to the folk around her.  This and the return of the king’s sons caused great joy at the court of the king.

Now some time went by until the princess was fully recovered.  Then a large meeting was called together, at which the brothers were bidden to show their treasures.  First the eldest made his appearance, and showing his spy-glass told what a wonderful thing it was, and also how it was due to this glass that the life of the fair princess had ever been saved, as he had seen through it how matters stood in the town.  He therefore did not doubt for a moment that his gift was the one which would secure him the fair princess.

Next stepped forward the second brother with the cloth.  Having described its powers, he said, “I am of opinion that my brother’s having seen the princess first would have proved of little avail had I not had the cloth, for thereupon we came so quickly to the place to save the princess; and I must declare that to my mind, the cloth is the chief cause of the king’s daughter’s recovery.”

Next stepped forward the youngest prince and said, as he laid the apple before the people, “Little would the glass and the cloth have availed to save the princess’s live had I not had the apple.  What could we brothers have profited in being only witnesses of the beloved damsel’s death?  What would this have done, but awaken our grief and regret?  It is due alone to the apple that the princess is yet alive; wherefore I find myself the most deserving of her.”

Then a long discussion arose in the meeting, and the decision at last came out, that all the three things had worked equally towards the princess’s recovery, as might be seen from the fact that if one had been wanting the others would have been worthless.  It was therefore declared that, as all gifts had equal claim to the prize, no one could decide to whom the princess should belong.

After this the king planned another contrivance in order to come to some end of the matter.  He soon should try their skill in shooting, and he who proved to be the ablest shooter of them should have the princess.  So a mark was raised and the eldest brother stepped forward with his bow and quiver.  He shot, and no great distance from the mark fell his arrow.  After that stepped forward the second brother, and his arrow well-nigh reached the mark.  Last of all stepped forward the third and youngest brother, and his arrow seemed to go farther than the others, but in spite of continued search for many days it could not be found.  The king decided in this matter that his second son should marry the princess They were married accordingly, and as the king, the father of the princess, was dead, his daughter now succeeded him, and her husband became king over his wife’s inheritance.  They are now out of this tale, as is also the eldest brother, who settled in life abroad.