The third brother said, “I have as much right to be king as either of them.”
Neither of the three was willing to yield his claim, or obey one of the others; but they were all ready to fight while their strength lasted.
“Your trouble can be settled easily,” said Dianvir; “if ye are willing.”
“Settle it, and do us a service,” said the eldest brother.
“I will; but ye must take my judgment and obey it.”
“We will,” said all the brothers. “We will accept your decision, and do what you tell us.”
“Listen, then,” said Dianvir: “you, the eldest, will be king for this year. You, the second, will be king in his place the second year; and you, the youngest brother, will be king the third year. The fourth year, you, the eldest brother, will be king again for a year; and so it will go on, and you and your two brothers will be spending time happily all your lives.”
The three brothers agreed, and were glad. The eldest was king that first year. Dianvir went his way; but he had hardly gone out of their sight when the youngest of the three brothers said, “That man will make trouble for us yet; my advice is to follow him, and put an end to himself and his men before they can harm us.”
“Oh,” said the eldest, “sure ye would not kill the man who gave us good counsel and settled our difficulty?”