The drive had made them very hungry , and they ate with a hearty appetite , till almost all the food had disappeared . When they had quite done , they said to their parents : ` Now we should like to wander about the garden a little , but when you want to go home , just call to us . ' And they ran off , laughing , down a green glade , which led to the garden . But no sooner had they stepped across the fence , than a dark cloud came down and covered them , and prevented them seeing whither they were going . -LSB- Illustration : NOW THE THREE PRINCESSES WERE LOST -RSB- Meanwhile the king and queen sat lazily among the heather , and an hour or two slipped away . The sun was dropping towards the horizon , and they began to think it was time to go home . So they called to their daughters and called again , but no one answered them . Frightened at the silence , they searched every corner of the garden , the house , and the neighbouring wood , but no trace of the girls was to be found anywhere . The earth seemed to have swallowed them up . The poor parents were in despair . The queen wept all the way home , and for many days after , and the king issued a proclamation that whoever should bring back his lost daughters should have one of them to wife , and should , after his death , reign in his stead . Now two young generals were at that time living at the court , and when they heard the king 's declaration , they said one to the other : ` Let us go in search of them ; perhaps we shall be the lucky persons . ' And they set out , each mounted on a strong horse , taking with them a change of raiment and some money . But though they inquired at every village they rode through , they could hear nothing of the princesses , and by-and-by their money was all spent , and they were forced to sell their horses , or give up the search . Even this money only lasted a little while longer , and nothing but their clothes lay between them and starvation . They sold the spare garments that were bound on their saddles , and went in the coats they stood up in to the inn , to beg for some food , as they were really starving . When , however , they had to pay for what they had eaten and drank , they said to the host : ` We have no money , and naught but the clothes we stand up in . Take these , and give us instead some old rags , and let us stay here and serve you . ' And the innkeeper was content with the bargain , and the generals remained , and were his servants . All this time the king and queen remained in their palace hungering for their children , but not a word was heard of either of them or of the generals who had gone to seek for them .
Now there was living in the palace a faithful servant of the king 's called Bensurdatu , who had served him XXXXX many years , and when Bensurdatu saw how grieved the king was , he lifted up his voice and said to him : ` Your majesty , let me go and seek your daughters . '
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