That was good! A hundred dollars were a hundred dollars. If the councillor would give him that much he might get into the sack himself, and then he could learn all the wisdom that he wanted, and more besides.
So Boots crawled out of the sack, and the councillor paid his hundred dollars and crawled in.
As soon as he was in all snug and safe, Boots drew the mouth of the sack together and tied it tightly. Then he flung sack, councillor, and all over his shoulder, and started away to the king’s house, and anybody who met them could see with half an eye that the councillor was going against his will.
When Boots came to the king’s castle he laid the councillor down in the goose-house, and then he went to the king.
When the king saw Boots again, he bit his lips with vexation. “Well,” said he, “have you fooled the councillor?”
“Oh, yes!” says Boots, “I have done that.”
And where was the councillor now?
Oh, Boots had just left him down in the goose-house. He was tied up safe and sound in a sack, waiting till the king should send for him.
So the councillor was sent for, and when he came the king saw at once that he had been brought against his will.
“And now may I marry the princess?” said Boots.