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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。 Jesper
again refused； but the old lady was so pressing； and would take
no refusal； that at last he said：
'Very well； you shall have a hare； and pay nothing for it either；
if you will only walk round me on tiptoe； look up to the sky； and
cackle like a hen。'
'Fie；' said she； 'what a ridiculous thing to ask anyone to do；
just think what the neighbours would say if they saw me。 They
would think I had taken leave of my senses。'
'Just as you like；' said Jesper； 'you know best whether you want
the hare or not。'
There was no help for it； and a pretty figure the old lady made
in carrying out her task； the cackling wasn't very well done； but
Jesper said it would do； and gave her the hare。 As soon as she
had left the field； the whistle was sounded again； and back came
long…legs…and…ears at a marvellous speed。
The next to appear on the same errand was a fat old fellow in the
dress of a groom： it was the royal livery he wore； and he
plainly thought a good deal of himself。
'Young man；' said he； 'I want one of those hares； name your
price； but I MUST have one of them。'
'All right；' said Jesper； 'you can have one at an easy rate。
Just stand on your head； whack your heels together； and cry
〃Hurrah；〃 and the hare is yours。'
'Eh； what！' said the old fellow； 'ME stand on my head； what an
idea！'
'Oh； very well；' said Jesper； 'you needn't unless you like； you
know； but then you won't get the hare。'
It went very much against the grain； one could see； but after
some efforts the old fellow had his head on the grass and his
heels in the air； the whacking and the 'Hurrah' were rather
feeble； but Jesper was not very exacting； and the hare was handed
over。 Of course； it wasn't long in coming back again； like the
others。
Evening came； and home came Jesper with the hundred hares behind
him。 Great was the wonder over all the palace； and the king and
queen seemed very much put out； but it was noticed that the
princess actually smiled to Jesper。
'Well； well；' said the king； 'you have done that very well
indeed。 If you are as successful with a little task which I
shall give you to…morrow we shall consider the matter settled；
and you shall marry the princess。'
Next day it was announced that the task would be performed in the
great hall of the palace； and everyone was invited to come and
witness it。 The king and queen sat on their thrones； with the
princess beside them； and the lords and ladies were all round the
hall。 At a sign from the king； two servants carried in a large
empty tub； which they set down in the open space before the
throne； and Jesper was told to stand beside it。
'Now；' said the king； 'you must tell us as many undoubted truths
as will fill that tub； or you can't have the princess。'
'But how are we to know when the tub is full？' said Jesper。
'Don't you trouble about that；' said the king； 'that's my part of
the business。'
This seemed to everybody present rather unfair； but no one liked
to be the first to say so； and Jesper had to put the best face he
could on the matter； and begin his story。
'Yesterday；' he said； 'when I was herding the hares； there came
to me a girl； in a shabby dress； and begged me to give her one of
them。 She got the hare； but she had to give me a kiss for it；
AND THAT GIRL WAS THE PRINCESS。 Isn't that true？' said he；
looking at her。
The princess blushed and looked very uncomfortable； but had to
admit that it was true。
'That hasn't filled much of the tub；' said the king。 'Go on
again。'
'After that；' said Jesper； 'a stout old woman； in a peasant's
dress； came and begged for a hare。 Before she got it； she had to
walk round me on tiptoe； turn up her eyes； and cackle like a hen；
AND THAT OLD WOMAN WAS THE QUEEN。 Isn't that true； now？'
The queen turned very red and hot； but couldn't deny it。
'H…m；' said the king； 'that is something； but the tub isn't full
yet。' To the queen he whispered； 'I didn't think you would be
such a fool。'
'What did YOU do？' she whispered in return。
'Do you suppose I would do anything for HIM？' said the king； and
then hurriedly ordered Jesper to go on。
'In the next place；' said Jesper； 'there came a fat old fellow on
the same errand。 He was very proud and dignified； but in order
to get the hare he actually stood on his head； whacked his heels
together； and cried 〃Hurrah〃； and that old fellow was the'
'Stop； stop；' shouted the king； 'you needn't say another word；
the tub is full。' Then all the court applauded； and the king and
queen accepted Jesper as their son…in… law； and the princess was
very well pleased； for by this time she had quite fallen in love
with him； because he was so handsome and so clever。 When the old
king got time to think over it； he was quite convinced that his
kingdom would be safe in Jesper's hands if he looked after the
people as well as he herded the hares。
＇Scandinavian。＇