The whistle gave forth a sharp and prolonged sound.
Immediately, to his great astonishment, from right and left, from before him and behind him—from all sides, in fact—leapt the hundred hares, and set to quietly browsing on the meadow around him.
News was brought to the King, how the young shepherd had probably resolved the problem of the hares.
The King conferred on the matter with his daughter.
Both were greatly vexed; for if the young shepherd succeeded with the two other problems as well as he had with the first, the Princess would become the wife of a simple peasant, than which nothing could be more humiliating to royal pride.
"You think over the matter," said the Princess to her father, "and I will do the same."
The Princess retired to her chamber, and disguised herself in such a way as to render herself unrecognisable; then she had a horse brought for her, mounted it, and went to the young shepherd.
The hundred hares were frisking joyously about him.
"Will you sell me one of your hares?" asked the young Princess.
"I would not sell you one of my hares for all the gold in the world," replied the shepherd; "but you may gain one."