DAPPLEGRIM THERE was once upon a time a couple of rich folks who had twelve sons , and when the youngest was grown up he would not stay at home any longer , but would go out into the world and seek his fortune . His father and mother said that they thought he was very well off at home , and that he was welcome to stay with them ; but he could not rest , and said that he must and would go , so at last they had to give him leave . When he had walked a long way , he came to a King 's palace . There he asked for a place and got it . Now the daughter of the King of that country had been carried off into the mountains by a Troll , and the King had no other children , and for this cause both he and all his people were full of sorrow and affliction , and the King had promised the Princess and half his kingdom to anyone who could set her free ; but there was no one who could do it , though a great number had tried . So when the youth had been there for the space of a year or so , he wanted to go home again to pay his parents a visit ; but when he got there his father and mother were dead , and his brothers had divided everything that their parents possessed between themselves , so that there was nothing at all left for him . ` Shall I , then , receive nothing at all of my inheritance ? ' asked the youth . ` Who could know that you were still alive -- you who have been a wanderer so long ? ' answered the brothers . ` However , there are twelve mares upon the hills which we have not yet divided among us , and if you would like to have them for your share , you may take them . ' So the youth , well pleased with this , thanked them , and at once set off to the hill where the twelve mares were at pasture . When he got up there and found them , each mare had her foal , and by the side of one of them was a big dapple-grey foal as well , which was so sleek that it shone again . ` Well , my little foal , you are a fine fellow ! ' said the youth . ` Yes , but if you will kill all the other little foals so that I can suck all the mares for a year , you shall see how big and handsome I shall be then ! ' said the Foal . So the youth did this -- he killed all the twelve foals , and then went back again . Next year , when he came home again to look after his mares and the foal , it was as fat as it could be , and its coat shone with brightness , and it was so big that the lad had the greatest difficulty in getting on its back , and each of the mares had another foal . ` Well , it 's very evident that I have lost nothing by letting you suck all my mares , ' said the lad to the yearling ; ` but now you are quite big enough , and must come away with me . '
` No , ' said the Colt , ' I must stay here another XXXXX ; kill the twelve little foals , and then I can suck all the mares this year also , and you shall see how big and handsome I shall be by summer . '
DAPPLEGRIM King Princess Troll fellow foals left palace people year