When he approached the battle-field a great many of the King's men had already fallen, and before long the rest must have given in. Then the youth, at the head of his iron troop, charged, and bore down the enemy like a mighty wind, smiting everything which came in their way. They tried to fly, but the youth fell upon them, and did not stop while one remained alive. Instead of joining the King, he led his troop straight back to the wood and called Iron Hans again. 'What do you want?' asked the Wild Man. 'Take back your charger and your troop, and give me back my three-legged steed.' His request was granted, and he rode his three-legged steed home. When the King returned to the castle his daughter met him and congratulated him on his victory. 'It was not I who won it,' he said; 'but a strange Knight, who came to my assistance with his troop.' His daughter asked who the strange Knight was, but the King did not know, and said, 'He pursued the enemy, and I have not seen him since.' She asked the Gardener about his assistant, but he laughed, and said, 'He has just come home on his three-legged horse, and the others made fun of him, and said, "Here comes our hobbler back again," and asked which hedge he had been sleeping under. He answered, "I did my best, and without me things would have gone badly." Then they laughed at him more than ever.' The King said to his daughter, 'I will give a great feast lasting three days, and you shall throw a golden apple. Perhaps the unknown Knight will come among the others to try and catch it.' When notice was given of the feast, the youth went to the wood and called Iron Hans. 'What do you want?' he asked. 'I want to secure the King's golden apple,' he said. 'It is as good as yours already,' answered Iron Hans. 'You shall have a tawny suit, and ride a proud chestnut.' When the day arrived the youth took his place among the other Knights, but no one knew him. The Princess stepped forward and threw the apple among the Knights, and he was the only one who could catch it. As soon as he had it he rode away. On the second day Iron Hans fitted him out as a White Knight, riding a gallant grey. Again he caught the apple; but he did not stay a minute, and, as before, hurried away. The King now grew angry, and said, 'This must not be; he must come before me and give me his name.' He gave an order that if the Knight made off again he was to be pursued and brought back. On the third day the youth received from Iron Hans a black outfit, and a fiery black charger. Again he caught the apple; but as he was riding off with it the King's people chased him, and one came so near that he wounded him in the leg. Still he escaped, but his horse galloped so fast that his helmet fell off, and they all saw that he had golden hair. So they rode back, and told the King what they had seen. Next day the Princess asked the Gardener about his assistant.