worn out by the long journey. The man held up his foot so that
they could see the sole of his shoe; it was worn as thin as paper,
and there was a hole in the middle of it.

'These shoes were quite new when I left Rome,' he said, 'and look
at them now; that will tell you whether you are far from it or not.'

This discouraged the old people so much that they gave up all
thought of finishing the journey, and only wished to get back to
Denmark as quickly as they could. What with the winter and bad
roads they took longer to return than they had taken to go, but in
the end they found themselves in sight of the forest where they had
slept before.

'What's this?' said Rasmus. 'Here's a big house built since we
passed this way before.'

'So it is,' said Peter; 'let's stay all night in it.'

'No, we can't afford that,' said the old people; 'it will be too dear for
the like of us.'

However, when they saw what was written above the door, they
were all well pleased to get a night's lodging for nothing. They
were well received, and had so much attention given to them, that
the old people were quite put out by it. After they had got time to
rest themselves, the princess's steward came to hear their story.

'You saw what was written above the door,' he said to the father.
'Tell me who you are and what your history has been.'