L. Gonzenbach . There was once a rich merchant who had three sons , and when they were grown up the eldest said to him , ` Father , I wish to travel and see the world . I pray you let me . ' So the father ordered a beautiful ship to be fitted up , and the young man sailed away in it . After some weeks the vessel cast anchor before a large town , and the merchant 's son went on shore . The first thing he saw was a large notice written on a board saying that if any man could find the king 's daughter within eight days he should have her to wife , but that if he tried and failed his head must be the forfeit . ` Well , ' thought the youth as he read this proclamation , ` that ought not to be a very difficult matter ; ' and he asked an audience of the king , and told him that he wished to seek for the princess . ` Certainly , ' replied the king . ` You have the whole palace to search in ; but remember , if you fail it will cost you your head . ' So saying , he commanded the doors to be thrown open , and food and drink to be set before the young man , who , after he had eaten , began to look for the princess . But though he visited every corner and chest and cupboard , she was not in any of them , and after eight days he gave it up and his head was cut off . All this time his father and brothers had had no news of him , and were very anxious . At last the second son could bear it no longer , and said , ` Dear father , give me , I pray you , a large ship and some money , and let me go and seek for my brother . ' So another ship was fitted out , and the young man sailed away , and was blown by the wind into the same harbour where his brother had landed . Now when he saw the first ship lying at anchor his heart beat high , and he said to himself , ` My brother can not surely be far off , ' and he ordered a boat and was put on shore . As he jumped on to the pier his eye caught the notice about the princess , and he thought , ` He has undertaken to find her , and has certainly lost his head . I must try myself , and seek him as well as her . It can not be such a very difficult matter . ' But he fared no better than his brother , and in eight days his head was cut off . So now there was only the youngest at home , and when the other two never came he also begged for a ship that he might go in search of his lost brothers .
And when the vessel started a high wind arose , and blew him straight XXXXX the harbour where the notice was set .
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