The prince wandered about in the forest and lived as best he could
for five years. One day he came upon a poor little cottage in which
was an old man. They began to talk, and the prince told his story
and sad fate. Then they recognised each other, for the old fellow
was no other than the hairy man whom the prince had set free, and
who had lived ever since in the forest.

The prince stayed here for two years; then he wished to go further.
The old man begged him hard to stay, but he would not, so his
hairy friend gave him a golden apple out of which came a horse
with a golden mane, and a golden staff with which to guide the
horse. The old man also gave him a silver apple out of which came
the most beautiful hussars and a silver staff; and a copper apple
from which he could draw as many foot soldiers as ever he wished,
and a copper staff. He made the prince swear solemnly to take the
greatest care of these presents, and then he let him go.

The boy wandered on and on till he came to a large town. Here he
took service in the king's palace, and as no one troubled themselves
about him he lived quietly on.

One day news was brought to the king that he must go out to war.
He was horribly frightened for he had a very small army, but he had
to go all the same.

When they had all left, the prince said to the housekeeper:

'Give me leave to go to the next village--I owe a small bill there,
and I want to go and pay it'; and as there was nothing to be done in