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said he would remember the offer； and walked on。 At a turn of
the road he suddenly came upon the old woman。 'Good morning；'
said she； 'what have YOU got in your basket？'
'Pearls；' said Jesper； 'I'm going to the palace to win the
princess with them。' And in case she might not believe him； he
lifted the cover and let her see them。
'Beautiful；' said the old woman； 'very beautiful indeed； but they
will go a very little way towards winning the princess； unless
you can also perform the tasks that are set you。 However；' she
said； 'I see you have brought something with you to eat。 Won't
you give that to me： you are sure to get a good dinner at the
palace。'
'Yes； of course；' said Jesper； 'I hadn't thought of that'； and he
handed over the whole of his lunch to the old woman。
He had already taken a few steps on the way again； when the old
woman called him back。
'Here；' she said； 'take this whistle in return for your lunch。
It isn't much to look at； but if you blow it； anything that you
have lost or that has been taken from you will find its way back
to you in a moment。'
Jesper thanked her for the whistle； though he did not see of what
use it was to be to him just then； and held on his way to the
palace。
When Jesper presented his pearls to the king there were
exclamations of wonder and delight from everyone who saw them。
It was not pleasant； however； to discover that Jesper was a mere
fisher…lad； that wasn't the kind of son…in…law that the king had
expected； and he said so to the queen。
'Never mind；' said she； 'you can easily set him such tasks as he
will never be able to perform： we shall soon get rid of him。'
'Yes； of course；' said the king； 'really I forget things
nowadays； with all the bustle we have had of late。'
That day Jesper dined with the king and queen and their nobles；
and at night was put into a bedroom grander than anything of the
kind he had ever seen。 It was all so new to him that he could
not sleep a wink； especially as he was always wondering what kind
of tasks would be set him to do； and whether he would be able to
perform them。 In spite of the softness of the bed； he was very
glad when morning came at last。
After breakfast was over； the king said to Jesper； 'Just come
with me； and I'll show you what you must do first。' He led him
out to the barn； and there in the middle of the floor was a large
pile of grain。 'Here；' said the king； 'you have a mixed heap of
wheat； barley； oats； and rye； a sackful of each。 By an hour
before sunset you must have these sorted out into four heaps； and
if a single grain is found to be in a wrong heap you have no
further chance of marrying my daughter。 I shall lock the door；
so that no one can get in to assist you； and I shall return at
the appointed time to see how you have succeeded。'
The king walked off； and Jesper looked in despair at the task
before him。 Then he sat down and tried what he could do at it；
but it was soon very clear that single… handed he could never
hope to accomplish it in the time。 Assistance was out of the
questionunless； he suddenly thoughtunless the King of the
Ants could help。 On him he began to call； and before many
minutes had passed that royal personage made his appearance。
Jesper explained the trouble he was in。
'Is that all？' said the ant； 'we shall soon put that to rights。'
He gave the royal signal； and in a minute or two a stream of ants
came pouring into the barn； who under the king's orders set to
work to separate the grain into the proper heaps。
Jesper watched them for a while； but through the continual
movement of the little creatures； and his not having slept during
the previous night； he soon fell sound asleep。 When he woke
again； the king had just come into the barn； and was amazed to
find that not only was the task accomplished； but that Jesper had
found time to take a nap as well。
'Wonderful；' said he； 'I couldn't have believed it possible。
However； the hardest is yet to come； as you will see to…morrow。'
Jesper thought so too when the next day's task was set before
him。 The king's gamekeepers had caught a hundred live hares；
which were to be let loose in a large meadow； and there Jesper
must herd them all day； and bring them safely home in the
evening： if even one were missing； he must give up all thought
of marrying the princess。 Before he had quite grasped the fact
that this was an impossible task； the keepers had opened the
sacks in which the hares were brought to the field； and； with a
whisk of the short tail and a flap of the long ears； each one of
the hundred flew in a different direction。
'Now；' said the king； 'as he walked away； 'let's see what your
cleverness can do here。'
Jesper stared round him in bewilderment； and having nothing
better to do with his hands； thrust them into his pockets； as he
was in the habit of doing。 Here he found something which turned
out to be the whistle given to him by the old woman。 He
remembered what she had said about the virtues of the whistle；
but was rather doubtful whether its powers would extend to a
hundred hares； each of which had gone in a different direction
and might be several miles distant by this time。 However； he
blew the whistle； and in a few minutes the hares came bounding
through the hedge on all the four sides of the field； and before
long were all sitting round him in a circle。 After that； Jesper
allowed them to run about as they pleased； so long as they stayed
in the field。
The king had told one of the keepers to hang about for a little
and see what became of Jesper； not doubting； however； that as
soon as he saw the coast clear he would use his legs to the best
advantage； and never show face at the palace again。 It was
therefore with great surprise and annoyance that he now learned
of the mysterious return of the hares and the likelihood of
Jesper carrying out his task with success。
'One of them must be got out of his hands by hook or crook；' said
he。 'I'll go and see the queen about it； she's good at devising
plans。'
A little later； a girl in a shabby dress came into the field and
walked up to Jesper。
'Do give me one of those hares；' she said； 'we have just got
visitors who are going to stay to dinner； and there's nothing we
can give them to eat。'
'I can't；' said Jesper。 'For one thing； they're not mine； for
another； a great deal depends on my having them all here in the
evening。'
But the girl （and she was a very pretty girl； though so shabbily
dressed） begged so hard for one of them that at last he said：
'Very well； give me a kiss and you shall have one of them。'
He could see that she didn't quite care for this； but she
consented to the bargain； and gave him the kiss； and went away
with a hare in her apron。 Scarcely had she got outside the
field； however； when Jesper blew his whistle； and immediately the
hare wriggled out of its prison like an eel； and went back to its
master at the top of its speed。
Not long after this the hare…herd had another visit。 This time
it was a stout old woman in the dress of a peasant； who also was
after a hare to provide a dinner for unexpected visitors。 Je