Then the soldier ordered them to be thrown into a cart as if they had been so many sacks, and said, “Now drive them straight to prison.” The huntsman, however, took one of the men aside and gave him another commission besides. “Brother Bright-boots,” said the soldier, “we have safely routed the enemy and been well fed, now we will quietly walk behind them as if we were stragglers!” When they approached the town, the soldier saw a crowd of people pouring through the gate of the town who were raising loud cries of joy, and waving green boughs in the air. Then he saw that the entire bodyguard was coming up. “What can this mean?” said he to the huntsman.

“Dost thou not know?” he replied, “that the King has for a long time been absent from his kingdom, and that today he is returning, and everyone is going to meet him.”

“But where is the King?” said the soldier, “I do not see him.”