Just at that moment the old man entered the stable , and sat down to milk the cow himself , but not a drop of milk could he get . ` Have you really managed it all yourself , or did somebody help you ? ' ' I have nobody to help me , ' answered the prince , ` but my own poor head . ' The old man got up from his seat and went away . That night , when the prince went to his master to hear what his next day 's work was to be , the old man said : ' I have a little hay-stack out in the meadow which must be brought in to dry . To-morrow you will have to stack it all in the shed , and , as you value your life , be careful not to leave the smallest strand behind . ' The prince was overjoyed to hear he had nothing worse to do . ` To carry a little hay-rick requires no great skill , ' thought he , ` and it will give me no trouble , for the horse will have to draw it in . I am certainly not going to spare the old grandmother . ' By-and-by the maiden stole up to ask what task he had for the next day . The young man laughed , and said : ` It appears that I have got to learn all kinds of farmer 's work . To-morrow I have to carry a hay-rick , and leave not a stalk in the meadow , and that is my whole day 's work ! ' ` Oh , you unlucky creature ! ' cried she ; ` and how do you think you are to do it . If you had all the men in the world to help you , you could not clear off this one little hay-rick in a week . The instant you have thrown down the hay at the top , it will take root again from below . But listen to what I say . You must steal out at daybreak to-morrow and bring out the white horse and some good strong ropes . Then get on the hay-stack , put the ropes round it , and harness the horse to the ropes . When you are ready , climb up the hay-stack and begin to count one , two , three .
The horse will ask you what you are counting , and you must be sure to answer what I whisper XXXXX you . '
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