“You are a little goose,” answered the eldest, “you are always afraid. Why! I need not have put a sleeping powder in the soldier’s wine. He would have slept without it. Now, are you all ready?”
The twelve princesses then stood on tiptoe at the hall door, and peered into the little room where the soldier lay, seemingly sound asleep. Yes, they were quite safe once more.
Back they went into the hall. The eldest princess tapped upon her bed. Immediately it sank into the earth, and, through the opening it had made, the princesses went down one by one.
The soldier who, peeping, had seen twelve little heads peer out of the hall door, at once threw his invisible cloak around him, and followed the princesses into the hall, unseen. He was just in time to reach the youngest, as she disappeared through the opening in the floor. Halfway down he trod upon her frock.
“Oh, what was that?” screamed the little princess, terrified. “Some one is tramping on my dress.”
“Nonsense, be quiet,” said the eldest, “it must have caught on a hook.” Then they all went down, down, until they reached a beautiful avenue of silver trees.
Thought the soldier, “I must take away a remembrance of the place to show the King,” and he broke off a twig.
“Oh, did you hear that crackling sound?” cried the youngest princess. “I told you something was going to happen.”
“Baby!” replied the eldest. “The sound was a salute.”
Next they came to an avenue where the trees were golden. Here the soldier again broke off a twig, and again was heard the crackling sound.