Boots did as Dapplegrim bade him. He took his gun out to the pond behind the stable, and there, sure enough, was a white duck floating about in the sunshine. Boots took aim at it as though to shoot. Then the Princess was terribly frightened. “Do not shoot,” she cried; “it is I, the Princess.” So Boots had found her once. The next time the Princess hid she turned herself into a loaf of bread, and lay with the other loaves on the kitchen table. Boots hunted for her high and low, but nowhere could he find her. Then he went out to Dapplegrim’s stall. “What shall I do about it now?” he said. “I have hunted for the Princess everywhere, and still I cannot find her.” “Why did you not come to me in the first place?” asked Dapplegrim. “Do you take a knife and lay it on the middle loaf that is on the kitchen table, as though to cut it, and you will find the Princess fast enough.” Well, Boots was not slow to do as Dapplegrim bade him. He took a sharp knife and went into the castle kitchen, and there were seven fresh loaves of bread on the table. Boots drew the middle loaf toward him, and laid the sharp edge of the knife on it as though to cut it. Then the loaf cried aloud in a woeful voice, “Alas, do not cut me! It is I, your Princess.” And so Boots had found the Princess for the second time. Now it was Boots’ turn to hide, and while the Princess was not looking he changed himself into a fly and hid in Dapplegrim’s ear. The Princess hunted for him everywhere, all through the castle, but she could not find him. Last of all she came to Dapplegrim’s stall to look there, but when she tried to enter Dapplegrim would not let her. He kicked and snorted and bit until the Princess was fairly frightened. At last she was obliged to own that she could not find Boots. Then at once he stood before her in his own proper shape. “You have failed once,” he said. “Now let us see whether you will be any more clever the second time.” The next thing Boots did was to change himself into a clod of earth and hide in the hollow of Dapplegrim’s foot. The Princess hunted for him everywhere, but she could not find him. Then she came to Dapplegrim’s stall, and this time he let her enter. The Princess looked him all over but could not find Boots. Last of all she tried to lift Dapplegrim’s feet to look under them, but this she could not do. The great grey horse stood like a rock, and she could not move him. Then the Princess was obliged to own herself beaten. At once Boots stood before her. “Now,” said he, “I have fairly won you for a bride, and you shall not say no to me.” “Yes, yes; that is right,” said the Princess. “Now I know that you are the cleverest as well as the bravest man in all the world, and you and you alone shall be my husband.” So Boots and the Princess were married with great rejoicing and magnificence, and if anyone were sorry it was not the Princess nor Boots.