“Why, my good man,” said the prince, “what makes you shiver so on this hot day?”
“Alas!” groaned the man, “the hotter the day the colder I am; the sun freezes the very marrow in my bones; and when it is what you call cold, I begin to grow hot, so that I nearly burn to death. I cannot bear cold because it is so hot, nor heat because it is so cold.”
“Well, you are an odd fellow,” said the prince. “Suppose you get up and join my train?” So the man agreed.
The next man they met was standing in a field turning his head from side to side in a way that made your neck ache to watch him.
“What are you looking for?” asked the prince.
“I am looking for nothing,” answered the man. “But I have such keen sight that I can see all over the world, through woods and forests, and hills and mountains; nothing can escape my eyes.”
“Well,” said the prince, “if you are willing to take service, join my train, for I have need of such as you.”
Then they all journeyed on together in a very merry fashion, for the prince was light-hearted at the thought of his beautiful bride that was to be. You see, he had quite made up his mind to get the better of the wicked queen. Soon they reached the palace, and the prince presented himself to the queen, and said:
“I am come to ask the hand of your daughter in marriage. Set me what task you like, so long as I may marry her when it is done.”
“Three tasks I will set you,” said the queen, “and when they are done you shall be her husband. First, you must find me the ring that I have dropped in the sea near the palace.”