‘Very well, I shall not seek to excuse myself.’
He made his preparations. He went to keep watch. He climbed up into the tree to watch there. He stuck a needle into a twig, and leant his chin upon it.
‘Whenever I feel sleepy,’ said he to himself, ‘the needle will prick me, and I shall be aroused.’
Just at daybreak he saw a golden bird come, intending to steal one of the golden apples. He perceived this, and, firing at the bird, knocked out three feathers of gold. These he picked up and kept in his hand.
He got up in the morning and went to his father, who asked him, ‘Have you seized the thief? What have you taken from him?’
‘I have blown off a piece of his shirt with a musket-shot.’
Then said the king to him, ‘Now you may kill me.’
‘Father, I grant you your life.’
He showed him the three golden feathers, whereupon his father became blind, so dazzled was he by the terrible gleam.
‘What shall we do now, unfortunates that we are?’