“I know,” answered she; “I spoke to a wise woman to-day, and got the right cure for you.” With that the henwife went down to a spring that belonged to the king’s youngest daughter, and pulled up nine rushes growing near it. Three of these she threw away, and kept six of them. She cut the white from the green parts, crushed them in water, gave Shawn some of the water to drink, and rubbed the rest on his body. A week was not gone, when he was as sound and well as ever.
Shawn heard now the whole story of the dog-feeder’s lies and prosperity. He took service himself in the castle; and a few days after that the king gave a hunt, and invited all the guests in the castle to go with him. Shawn had to go as a basket-boy, and carry provisions like any servant. Toward evening, when the company were on a wild moor twenty miles from the castle, a thick mist fell, and all were afraid that their lives would be gone from them.
“I can take you to a castle,” said Shawn.
“Take us,” said the king.
“I will if you will give me your daughter to marry.”
“She is promised to another,” said the king.
“I have the best right to her,” said Shawn. “It was I cleared the island.”
“I don’t believe you,” said the king.
“We’ll be lost, every man of us,” said the chief hunter; “give him the promise, he may be dead before the day of the wedding.”