DANISH FAIRY AND FOLK TALES
with him. Then he left the town and walked out into the wide world.
One night he lost his way in a large forest, but seeing a light at a distance he walked towards it, and reached a small house where an old woman lived quite alone. The soldier asked her for a night's lodging, and was allowed to sleep in the hay up in the loft. As they fell to talking he told the good old woman how he was situated: that within two years he must marry the princess or lose his life; that he had enough money, but unless he knew what to do with it his riches were of little use to him.
"I think I can give you some advice," said the old woman. "Have a golden stag made, and let it be large enough to hold yourself. When it is finished creep into it, and hire some one to take it around and display it." She told him exactly how to proceed. Next morning the soldier bid the kind old woman good-bye, and pursued his way.
In the next town at which he arrived he engaged a jeweller to make a golden stag. It was to be large enough to hold him, and was to have a door on the one side in order that he might go in and out. His orders were promptly executed, and the door was so ingeniously concealed that no one could detect the slightest trace thereof. The soldier was much pleased with it, and paid a large sum of money to the skilful jeweller, whereupon he hired a man to display it, crept through the door, and closed it
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