The young man trembled with excitement at the news , and his voice shook as he answered : ` That will be a prize indeed , I should like to see the race . ' ` Oh , that is quite easy -- anyone can go , ' replied the weaver . ' I would take you myself , but I have promised to weave this cloth for the king . ' ` That is a pity , ' returned the young man politely , but in his heart he rejoiced , for he wished to be alone . Leaving the house , he entered a grove of trees which stood behind , and took the box from his pocket . He raised the lid , and out flew the three little birds . ` Good master , what shall we do for thee ? ' asked they , and he answered , ` Bring me the finest horse that ever was seen , and the grandest dress , and glass shoes . ' ` They are here , master , ' said the birds , and so they were , and never had the young man seen anything so splendid . Mounting the horse he rode into the ground where the horses were assembling for the great race , and took his place among them . Many good beasts were there which had won many races , but the horse of the fisher 's son left them all behind , and he was first at the winning post . The king 's daughter waited for him in vain to claim his prize , for he went back to the wood , and got off his horse , and put on his old clothes , and bade the box place some gold in his pockets . After that he went back to the weaver 's house , and told him that the gold had been given him by the man who had won the race , and that the weaver might have it for his kindness to him . Now as nobody had appeared to demand the hand of the princess , the king ordered another race to be run , and the fisher 's son rode into the field still more splendidly dressed than he was before , and easily distanced everybody else . But again he left the prize unclaimed , and so it happened on the third day , when it seemed as if all the people in the kingdom were gathered to see the race , for they were filled with curiosity to know who the winner could be . ` If he will not come of his own free will , he must be brought , ' said the king , and the messengers who had seen the face of the victor were sent to seek him in every street of the town . This took many days , and when at last they found the young man in the weaver 's cottage , he was so dirty and ugly and had such a strange appearance , that they declared he could not be the winner they had been searching for , but a wicked robber who had murdered ever so many people , but had always managed to escape . ` Yes , it must be the robber , ' said the king , when the fisher 's son was led into his presence ; ` build a gallows at once and hang him in the sight of all my subjects , that they may behold him suffer the punishment of his crimes . ' So the gallows was built upon a high platform , and the fisher 's son mounted the steps up to it , and turned at the top to make the speech that was expected from every doomed man , innocent or guilt . As he spoke he happened to raise his arm , and the king 's daughter , who was there at her father 's side , saw the name which she had written under it .
With a shriek she sprang from her seat , and the eyes of the spectators were XXXXX towards her .
answered build claim expected go hang rode stood turned waited