Then they went away again, and the King said to the lion, “Thou hast lied to me, they walk just like men.”

The lion said, “They have got to know that they were going to be put to the test, and have assumed some strength. Just let twelve spinning-wheels be brought into the antechamber some day, and they will go to them and be pleased with them, and that is what no man would do.” The King liked the advice, and had the spinning-wheels placed in the antechamber.

But the servant, who was well disposed to the huntsmen, went to them, and disclosed the project. Then when they were alone the King’s daughter said to her eleven girls, “Put some constraint on yourselves, and do not look round at the spinning-wheels.” And next morning when the King had his twelve huntsmen summoned, they went through the antechamber, and never once looked at the spinning wheels.

Then the King again said to the lion, “Thou hast deceived me, they are men, for they have not looked at the spinning-wheels.”