How long he sat there, neither I nor anybody else can tell you, but by and by three little fishes came swimming to the shore.
"One good turn deserves another," they called, for they were the very fish that Hans had thrown into the stream. "You helped us, and we have come to help you."
Then down they went to the very bottom of the sea where the king's ring lay. One of them took it in his mouth and so brought it safely to Hans who ran with it to the king.
And when the king saw the ring he knew that he must let Hans go; he did not dare to keep him any longer.
So Hans mounted his horse and rode joyfully to his mother's home where he stayed till the time came when he must return to the good king, his master, which he did by another road.
He worked well and was happy serving his master faithfully, and making friends with birds and beasts, all the days of his life; but never again did he go to the wicked king's country. And I for one think he showed his good sense by that.
THE GREAT WHITE BEAR
