So the next oldest son was willing to show what he could do . He went to the barn and lay down to sleep , as his brother had done ; but when night was drawing near there was a great rumbling , and then an earthquake , which was even worse than that on the former St. John 's night , and when the youth heard it he was terrified , and went off , running as if for a wager . The year after , it was Cinderlad 's turn , but when he made ready to go the others laughed at him , and mocked him . `` Well , you are just the right one to watch the hay , you who have never learned anything but how to sit among the ashes and bake yourself ! '' said they . Cinderlad , however , did not trouble himself about what they said , but when evening drew near rambled away to the outlying field . When he got there he went into the barn and lay down , but in about an hour 's time the rumbling and creaking began , and it was frightful to hear it . `` Well , if it gets no worse than that , I can manage to stand it , '' thought Cinderlad . In a little time the creaking began again , and the earth quaked so that all the hay flew about the boy . `` Oh ! if it gets no worse than that I can manage to stand it , '' thought Cinderlad . But then came a third rumbling , and a third earthquake , so violent that the boy thought the walls and roof had fallen down , but when that was over everything suddenly grew as still as death around him . `` I am pretty sure that it will come again , '' thought Cinderlad ; but no , it did not . Everything was quiet , and everything stayed quiet , and when he had lain still a short time he heard something that sounded as if a horse were standing chewing just outside the barn door . He stole away to the door , which was ajar , to see what was there , and a horse was standing eating . It was so big , and fat , and fine a horse that Cinderlad had never seen one like it before , and a saddle and bridle lay upon it , and a complete suit of armor for a knight , and everything was of copper , and so bright that it shone again . `` Ha , ha ! it is thou who eatest up our hay then , '' thought the boy ; `` but I will stop that . '' So he made haste , and took out his steel for striking fire , and threw it over the horse , and then it had no power to stir from the spot , and became so tame that the boy could do what he liked with it . So he mounted it and rode away to a place which no one knew of but himself , and there he tied it up .
When he went home again his brothers laughed and asked how he had got XXXXX .
So after as if like near of on than that