find her in four-and-twenty hours his life is forfeited.'

Yes; the lad knew all that. Still he wished to try, and if he
couldn't find her, 'twas his look-out. Now in the castle there was a
band that played sweet tunes, and there were fair maids to dance
with, and so the lad danced away. When twelve hours were gone, the
king said:

'I pity you with all my heart. You're so poor a hand at seeking; you
will surely lose your life.'

'Stuff!' said the lad; 'while there's life there's hope! So long as
there's breath in the body there's no fear; we have lots of time';
and so he went on dancing till there was only one hour left.

Then he said he would begin to search.

'It's no use now', said the king; 'time's up.'

'Light your lamp; out with your big bunch of keys', said the lad,
'and follow me whither I wish to go. There is still a whole hour
left.'

So the lad went the same way which the king had led him the night
before, and he bade the king unlock door after door till they came
down to the pier which ran out into the sea.

'It's all no use, I tell you', said the king; 'time's up, and this
will only lead you right out into the sea.'