A PUZZLE AND A STORY.

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 44, 14 May 1927, Page 25 (Supplement)

A PUZZLE AND A STORY.

IN A CASTLE UNDERGROUND.

There was once a king who had 12 beautiful daughters. He was very fond of them, but every night they stole away and danced their slippers right through, and no one knew where they had been.

Then the king made it known to all the land that if any person could discover the secret, and find out where it was that the danced in the night, he should have the one he liked for his wife; but whoever tried and failed after three days and nights, should be put to death. Princes came from all parts of the world, but could not discover the secret of the 12 princesses, and chop! chop! their heads were soon cut off.

Now it chanced one day that an old soldier passed through the country where the king reigned. In the woods he met an old woman who asked him where he was going. “To the king’s palace,” he replied, “to find out where it is that the princesses dance.” “Well,” said the old dame, “that is no hard task. Only be careful not to drink any of the wine which one of the princesses will bring you early in the evening. And here is a cloak that will make you invisible.” In due time the soldier reached the king’s palace. He was given fine robes, and led to the room next to that where the 12 princesses slept. The eldest princess brought him a cup of wine, but when she was not looking he threw it awav.

Then the eldest princess went back to her own room, and clapped her hands, and her bed sank into the floor, and a trapdoor opened. Down, dow r n! went the 12 princesses with the soldier after them. In the middle of the stairs he trod on the gown of the youngest princess, and she cried out to her sisters. “All is not right ! Someone took hold of my gown.” “You silly creature,” said tne eldest, “Tis but a nail in the floor.” The 12 princesses went through a grove of trees to a wonderful illuminated castle, from which came the merry music of horns and trumpets. Here they danced all night with 12 princes till their shoes were worn out. On the way back the soldier broke a branch from one of the trees in the magic forest.

The next night, and the next the soldier followed the princesses, and the third time he brought away a golden cup. On the fourth day he was taken before the king. “Where do my 12 daughters dance at night?” asked the father, and the soldier replied, “With 12 princes in a castle underground.” The king called for his daughters, who seeing that they were discovered confessed all. The king asked the soldier which one of them he would choose for his wife, and he answered. “I am no longer young, so I will have the eldest.”

So they were married that very day, and the soldier was chosen to be the king’s heir