But again the kind servant warned the disguised maidens, and they resolved not even to glance in the direction of the spinning-wheels. Next morning the King ordered the twelve huntsmen to be called, and as they walked across the royal chamber there was not one of them but looked straight into the eyes of the King. It seemed as though they had not known that the spinning-wheels were there. After they had gone the King turned to the lion, and again he said, "You have spoken falsely." Then he told the royal beast that the twelve huntsmen had not even glanced in the direction of the spinning-wheels. "They must have been warned," repeated the lion, but the King believed him no longer. So the huntsmen stayed with the King and went out a-hunting with him, and the more he saw of them the more he liked them. One day, while they were in the forest, news was brought that the princess whom the King was to marry was on her way to meet the hunting-party. When the true bride heard it, she grew white as a lily, and, staggering, fell backward. Fortunately, the trunk of a tree supported her until the King, wondering what had happened to his dear huntsman, ran to the spot and pulled off her glove. Looking at the white hand, what was his surprise to see upon the middle finger the ring he had given to the maiden he loved. Then he looked into her face and recognized her, and in a flash he understood that she had come to court as a huntsman, only to be near him. The King was so touched that he kissed her white cheeks till they grew rosy, and her blue eyes opened in wonder. "You shall be my queen," he said, "and none in all the wide world shall separate us." Then he sent a messenger to the princess who was coming to meet him, saying he was sorry he must ask her to return home, as the maiden that he loved and was going to marry was with him in the forest. And the next day the bells pealed loud and far, and at the royal wedding the lion was an honored guest, because it had at last been proved that he spoke the truth. THE TWELVE DANCING PRINCESSES Once upon a time there was a King who had twelve daughters, each more beautiful than the other. The twelve princesses slept in a large hall, each in a little bed of her own. After they were snugly settled for the night, their father, the King, used to bolt the door on the outside. He then felt sure that his daughters would be safe until he withdrew the bolt next morning. But one day when the King unbolted the hall door, and peeped in as usual, he saw twelve worn-out pairs of little slippers lying about the floor. "What! shoes wanted again," he exclaimed, and after breakfast a messenger was sent to order a new pair for each of the princesses. But the next morning the new shoes were worn out, how no one knew.