Its trunk was of iron , its leaves were of silk , its flowers of gold , and its fruit of diamonds , and one evening , though the girl did not know it , a soft breeze took one of the leaves , and blew it across the sea to the feet of one of the king 's attendants . ` What a curious leaf ! I have never beheld one like it before . I must show it to the king , ' he said , and when the king saw it he declared he would never rest until he had found the tree which bore it , even if he had to spend the rest of his life in visiting the islands that lay all round . Happily for him , he began with the island that was nearest , and here in the forest he suddenly saw standing before him the iron tree , its boughs covered with shining leaves like the one he carried about him . ` But what sort of a tree is it , and how did it get here ? ' he asked of the attendants he had with him . No one could answer him , but as they were about to pass out of the forest a little boy went by , and the king stopped and inquired if there was anyone living in the neighbourhood whom he might question . ` Seven girls live in a hut down there , ' replied the boy , pointing with his finger to where the sun was setting . ` Then go and bring them here , and I will wait , ' said the king , and the boy ran off and told the sisters that a great chief , with strings of jewels round his neck , had sent for them . Pleased and excited the six elder sisters at once followed the boy , but the youngest , who was busy , and who did not care about strangers , stayed behind , to finish the work she was doing . The king welcomed the girls eagerly , and asked them all manner of questions about the tree , but as they had never even heard of its existence , they could tell him nothing . ` And if we , who live close by the forest , do not know , you may be sure no one does , ' added the eldest , who was rather cross at finding this was all that the king wanted of them . ` But the boy told me there were seven of you , and there are only six here , ' said the king . ` Oh , the youngest is at home , but she is always half asleep , and is of no use except to cut wood for the fire , ' replied they in a breath . ` That may be , but perhaps she dreams , ' answered the king . ` Anyway , I will speak to her also . ' Then he signed to one of his attendants , who followed the path that the boy had taken to the hut . Soon the man returned , with the girl walking behind him . And as soon as she reached the tree it bowed itself to the earth before her , and she stretched out her hand and picked some of its leaves and flowers and gave them to the king .
` The maiden who can work such wonders is fitted to be the wife XXXXX the greatest chief , ' he said , and so he married her , and took her with him across the sea to his own home , where they lived happily for ever after .
across as at behind by if in of though to