The youngest brother stayed at home with his father, highly displeased at the decision the latter had given concerning the marriage of the princess.  He was wont to wander about every day where he fancied his arrow had fallen, and at last he found it fixed in an oak in the forest, and saw that it had by far outstripped the mark.  He now called together witnesses to the place where the arrow was, with the intention of bringing about some justice m his case.  But of this there was no chance, for the king said he could by no means alter his decision.  At this the king’s son was so grieved that he went well-nigh out of his wits.  One day he busked for a journey, with the full intention of never again setting foot m his country.  He took with him all he possessed of fine and precious things, nobody knowing his rede, not even his father, the king.

He went into a great forest and wandered about there many days, without knowing whither he was going, and at last, yielding to hunger and weariness, he found himself no longer equal to travelling; so he sat down under a tree, thinking that his sad and sorrowful life would here come to a close.  But after he had sat thus awhile he saw ten people, all in fine attire and bright armour, come riding towards the stone.  On arriving there they dismounted, and having greeted the king’s son begged him to go with them, and mount the spare horse they had with them, saddled and bridled in royal fashion.  He accepted this offer and mounted the horse, and after this they rode on their way till they came to a large city.  The riders dismounted and led the prince into the town, which was governed by a young and beautiful maiden-queen.  The riders led the king’s son at once to the virgin-queen, who received him with great kindness.  She told him that she had heard of all the ill-luck that had befallen him and also that he had fled from his father.  “Then,” quoth she, “a burning love for you was kindled in my breast and a longing to heal your wounds.  You must know that it was I who sent the ten riders to find you out and bring you hither.  I give you the chance of staying here; I offer you the rule of my whole kingdom, and I will try to sweeten your embittered life;—­ this is all that I am able to do.”  Although the prince was in a sad and gloomy state of mind, he saw nothing better than to accept this generous offer and agree to the marriage with the maiden-queen.  A grand feast was made ready, and they were married according to the ways of that country.  And the young king took at once in hand the government, which he managed with much ability.