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Jesper stared round him in bewilderment, and having nothing better to do with his hands, thrust them into his pockets, as he was in the habit of doing. Here he found something which turned out to be the whistle given to him by the old woman.
Just stand on your head, whack your heels together, and cry "Hurrah," and the hare is yours. 'Eh, what! said the old fellow; 'ME stand on my head, what an idea! 'Oh, very well, said Jesper, 'you needn't unless you like, you know; but then you won't get the hare.
After breakfast was over, the king said to Jesper, 'Just come with me, and I'll show you what you must do first. He led him out to the barn, and there in the middle of the floor was a large pile of grain. 'Here, said the king, 'you have a mixed heap of wheat, barley, oats, and rye, a sackful of each.
It was therefore with great surprise and annoyance that he now learned of the mysterious return of the hares and the likelihood of Jesper carrying out his task with success. 'One of them must be got out of his hands by hook or crook, said he. 'I'll go and see the queen about it; she's good at devising plans. A little later, a girl in a shabby dress came into the field and walked up to Jesper.
When Jesper presented his pearls to the king there were exclamations of wonder and delight from everyone who saw them. It was not pleasant, however, to discover that Jesper was a mere fisher-lad; that wasn't the kind of son-in-law that the king had expected, and he said so to the queen.
'Wonderful, said he; 'I couldn't have believed it possible. However, the hardest is yet to come, as you will see to-morrow. Jesper thought so too when the next day's task was set before him.
'Yes, of course, said Jesper, 'I hadn't thought of that'; and he handed over the whole of his lunch to the old woman. He had already taken a few steps on the way again, when the old woman called him back. 'Here, she said; 'take this whistle in return for your lunch.
It isn't much to look at, but if you blow it, anything that you have lost or that has been taken from you will find its way back to you in a moment. Jesper thanked her for the whistle, though he did not see of what use it was to be to him just then, and held on his way to the palace.
The next to appear on the same errand was a fat old fellow in the dress of a groom: it was the royal livery he wore, and he plainly thought a good deal of himself. 'Young man, said he, 'I want one of those hares; name your price, but I MUST have one of them. 'All right, said Jesper; 'you can have one at an easy rate.
The King of the Ants and the King of the Beetles were again marshalling their hosts, but the ants were greatly reduced in numbers, and had little hope of holding out that day. 'Come and help us, said their king to Jesper, 'or we shall be completely defeated. I may help you some day in return.
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