The princess was filled with gladness, and standing with her father’s arms round her, said, “I cannot, however, break my word. When in Kostey’s palace I made a vow to bestow my hand only on that man who should guess the six riddles I put to him. I am sure the heroic man, who has done so much, will not refuse to submit to this last trial for my sake.”
To this the fisherman bowed a willing assent.
The first riddle was: “Without legs it walks. Without arms it strikes. Without life it moves continually.”
“A clock,” he answered promptly, and to the great satisfaction of the princess, to whom this good beginning seemed to presage a happy ending.
The second riddle ran thus: “Without being either bird, reptile, insect, or any animal whatsoever, it ensures the safety of the whole house.”
“A bolt,” said her lover.
“Good! Now this is the third: ‘Who is that pedestrian who walks fully armed, seasons dishes, and in his sides has two darts? He swims across the water without the help of a boatman.’”
“A lobster.”
The princess clapped her hands and begged him to guess the fourth.
“It runs, it moves along on two sides, it has but one eye, an overcoat of polished steel, and a tail of thread.”