The boy wandered on and on till he came to a large town . Here he took service in the king 's palace , and as no one troubled themselves about him he lived quietly on . One day news was brought to the king that he must go out to war . He was horribly frightened for he had a very small army , but he had to go all the same . When they had all left , the prince said to the housekeeper : ` Give me leave to go to the next village -- I owe a small bill there , and I want to go and pay it ' ; and as there was nothing to be done in the palace the housekeeper gave him leave . When he got beyond the town he took out his golden apple , and when the horse sprang out he swung himself into the saddle . Then he took the silver and the copper apples , and with all these fine soldiers he joined the king 's army . The king saw them approach with fear in his heart , for he did not know if it might not be an enemy ; but the prince rode up , and bowed low before him . ' I bring your Majesty reinforcements , ' said he . The king was delighted , and all dread of his enemy at once disappeared . The princesses were there too , and they were very friendly with the prince and begged him to get into their carriage so as to talk to them . But he declined , and remained on horseback , as he did not know at what moment the battle might begin ; and whilst they were all talking together the youngest princess , who was also the loveliest , took off her ring , and her sister tore her handkerchief in two pieces , and they gave these gifts to the prince . Suddenly the enemy came in sight . The king asked whether his army or the prince 's should lead the way ; but the prince set off first and with his hussars he fought so bravely that only two of the enemy were left alive , and these two were only spared to act as messengers . The king was overjoyed and so were his daughters at this brilliant victory . As they drove home they begged the prince to join them , but he would not come , and galloped off with his hussars . When he got near the town he packed his soldiers and his fine horse all carefully into the apple again , and then strolled into the town . On his return to the palace he was well scolded by the housekeeper for staying away so long . Well , the whole matter might have ended there ; but it so happened that the younger princess had fallen in love with the prince , as he had with her . And as he had no jewels with him , he gave her the copper apple and staff .
One XXXXX , as the princesses were talking with their father , the younger one asked him whether it might not have been their servant who had helped him so much .
apple day first hussars left love palace princesses reinforcements war