the one from the other, he would give up to him the other princess
and half the kingdom, for he thought one-half was quite enough.

Well, as soon as ever this came into his mind, he went outside the
palace and called on King Sturdy, but no one came. So he called a
second time a little louder, but still no one came. Then he called
out the third time 'King Sturdy' with all his might, and there stood
his brother before him. 'Didn't I say!' he said to Shortshanks,
'didn't I say you were not to call me except in your utmost need? and
here there is not so much as a gnat to do you any harm', and with
that he gave him such a box on the ear that Shortshanks tumbled head
over heels on the grass.

'Now shame on you to 'hit so hard!' said Shortshanks. 'First of all I
won a princess and half the kingdom, and then I won another princess
and the other half of the kingdom; and now I'm thinking to give you
one of the princesses and half the kingdom. Is there any rhyme or
reason in giving me such a box on the ear?'

When King Sturdy heard that, he begged his brother to forgive him,
and they were soon as good friends as ever again.

'Now', said Shortshanks, 'you know, we are so much alike, that no one
can tell the one from the other; so just change clothes with me and
go into the palace; then the princesses will think it is I that am
coming in, and the one that kisses you first you shall have for your
wife, and I will have the other for mine.'

And he said this because he knew well enough that the elder king's
daughter was the stronger, and so he could very well guess how things