"No," answered the first, "they are mine, I picked them up."
"But I saw them falling on the ground when the maiden with the golden locks was combing her hair. Give me at least two of them."
"No, not one."
Hereupon the second bird flew upon the first, and seized the three hairs of gold. Then they began to struggle for them; at last each bird got one of the three hairs in its beak, and the third one fell upon the floor with a ringing sound.
Irik looked at it, and spilt the wine.
"You have forfeited your head!" thundered out the king; "but I will be merciful to you if you find the maiden with the golden locks, and bring her to me for my wife."
What was Irik to do? If he would save his life he must go and look for this maiden, although he did not know where to seek her. He saddled his horse, and started at haphazard. He came to a dense forest; near this forest, just by the side of the road, a bush was burning. Some shepherd boys had lighted it. Under the bush was an ants' nest; the sparks were falling upon it, and the ants, carrying their white eggs, were running in all directions.
"Oh, help, Irik, help!" they cried piteously, "or we and our young ones yet unhatched will perish!"
