` No , no , ' replied Bensurdatu , ' I certainly will not leave you down here . There is nothing to fear from my comrades . ' ` If it is your wish I will go up then ; but first I swear that if you do not follow to marry me , I shall stay single for the rest of my life . ' Then he bound the rope round her , and the generals drew her up . But instead of lowering the rope again into the river , envy at the courage and success of Bensurdatu so filled the hearts of the two generals , that they turned away and left him to perish . And , more than that , they threatened the princesses , and forced them to promise to tell their parents that it was the two generals who had set them free . ` And if they should ask you about Bensurdatu , you must say you have never seen him , ' they added ; and the princesses , fearing for their lives , promised everything , and they rode back to court together . The king and queen were beside themselves with joy when they saw their dear children once more . But when the generals had told their story , and the dangers they had run , the king declared that they had gained their reward , and that the two eldest princesses should become their wives . And now we must see what poor Bensurdatu was doing . He waited patiently a long , long time , but when the rope never came back he knew he had been wrong , and that his comrades had betrayed him . ` Ah , now I shall never reach the world again , ' murmured he ; but being a brave man , and knowing that moaning his fate would profit him nothing , he rose and began to search through the three halls , where , perhaps , he might find something to help him . In the last one stood a dish , covered with food , which reminded him that he was hungry , and he sat down and ate and drank . Months passed away , when , one morning , as he was walking through the halls , he noticed a purse hanging on the wall , which had never been there before . He took it down to examine it , and nearly let it fall with surprise when a voice came from the purse saying : ` What commands have you ? ' ` Oh , take me out of this horrible place , and up into the world again ; ' and in a moment he was , standing by the river bank , with the purse tightly grasped in his hand . ` Now let me have the most beautiful ship that ever was built , all manned and ready for sea . ' And there was the ship , with a flag floating from its mast on which were the words , ` King with the three crowns . ' Then Bensurdatu climbed on board , and sailed away to the city where the three princesses dwelt ; and when he reached the harbour he blew trumpets and beat drums , so that every one ran to the doors and windows . And the king heard too , and saw the beautiful vessel , and said to himself : ` That must indeed be a mighty monarch , for he has three crowns while I have only one . '
So he hastened to greet the stranger , and invited him to his castle , for , thought he , ` this will be a fine husband XXXXX my youngest daughter . '
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