When twelve hours were gone, the King said:
“I pity you with all my heart. You’re so poor a hand at seeking; you will surely lose your life.”
“Stuff!” said the lad; “while there’s life there’s hope! So long as there’s breath in the body there’s no fear; we have lots of time!” and so he went on dancing till there was only one hour left.
Then he said he would begin to search.
“It’s no use now,” said the King; “time’s up.”
“Light your lamp; out with your big bunch of keys,” said the lad, “and follow me whither I wish to go. There is still a whole hour left.”
So the lad went the same way which the King had led him the night before, and he bade the King unlock door after door till they came down to the pier which ran out into the sea.
“It’s all no use, I tell you,” said the King; “time’s up, and this will only lead you right out into the sea.”
“Still five minutes more,” said the lad, as he pulled and pushed at the posts and pins, and the house floated up.