“No one could solve the riddle, and they will take me away to-morrow.”
“Tell your father,” said the lad, “to let them keep the horses in the stable over night. In the morning let them take a bundle of hay, wet and salt it and cast it before the horses outside the stable door. The mother will come out first, the two year old colt after her, and the one year old colt last.”
They did as the lad advised, and the riddle was solved. On the following day the King of the East sent to the Prince a steel shield and a steel spear, saying:
“If you can pierce this shield with this spear with one stroke, I will give my daughter to your son in marriage; if you cannot pierce it, you must give your daughter to my son in marriage.”
The Prince and all his men tried, and could not pierce the shield. The Prince then said to his daughter:
“Go, send your man; let us see if he can pierce it.”
The lad came, and at one stroke pierced the steel shield with the steel spear. Now, the Prince had no son; he therefore adopted the lad, who was already his son-in-law, and made him heir apparent to his throne. Thereupon the lad set out to go and bring the daughter of the King of the East. After a long journey he met a man who was kneeling down with his ear close to the ground.
“What man are you?” asked the lad.
“I lay my ear to the ground,” answered the man, “and listen to whatever men say all over the world.”
“Aha! what a man!” exclaimed the lad, “he can hear what is said all over the world.”