“I am very hungry,” said the beggar, addressing the Prince, “and I have got nothing to eat. Please, young gentleman, get me something from the palace, for, if I have to go any further without food, I am really afraid I shall die.” “What? _I_ go in and fetch you things from the palace? A pretty idea! I tell you I am the King’s son. I never heard of such impudence.” “You may be the King’s son,” said the poor old man; “but I am starving, for all that.” For answer the Prince leaned down and struck the beggar with the end of his cherry-branch. The gardener’s son had eaten every one of his cherries but three, and he held them out to the old man. “I have nothing else to give,” he said, “but you may have these.” The beggar ate all three cherries and laid the stones in a row on the ground; he chose one, and, when he had polished it on his ragged coat, he gave it back to the gardener’s son. “Take that,” he said, “and plant it in the earth somewhere outside this garden. I will keep the other two.” Then he bade him good-day, taking no notice of the Prince, and was soon out of sight. When the boys grew into young men they still remained friends; as they had been practically brought up together, and had learned the same things, strangers often took them for brothers, more especially as they were not unlike in face. But the curious thing was, that, when the strangers found out that one was the King’s son and one the son of the head gardener, they always took the gardener’s son for the Prince. It was very awkward sometimes, and it used to make the Prince rather cross. As time went on the King did not grow any wiser; he was very foolish and self-indulgent. He never attended to his business, and let everything in the kingdom get into a dreadful mess. At last his subjects became so much disgusted that they broke into rebellion, and rushed to the palace meaning to put an end to him altogether. He had heard rumours of discontent, but he did not mind them, and would not believe people when they told him that his life was in danger; so, one day, thousands of rebels came pouring down the valley brandishing knives and spears and great flaring torches, and set fire to his palace, murdered him and the Queen, and took all the beautiful ladies and gentlemen prisoner. Then they rushed about searching for the Prince, but could not find him as he was walking with his friend, the gardener’s son, in the park which surrounded the palace garden. At last a dozen men on horseback set off with their swords to look for him, and saw the two young men strolling about together some way off.