Peter was so amazed that he could say nothing for himself , but the king said quite enough for both , and Peter was glad to get away home again as fast as his legs would carry him . To his father and brothers , however , he gave no account of his attempt , except that it had been a failure . Next day Paul set out to try his luck . He soon came upon the King of the Ants and the King of the Beetles , who with their armies had encamped on the field of battle all night , and were ready to begin the fight again . ` Come and help me , ' said the King of the Ants ; ` we got the worst of it yesterday . I may help you some day in return . ' ' I do n't care though you get the worst of it to-day too , ' said Paul . ' I have more important business on hand than mixing myself up in your quarrels . ' So he walked on , and presently the same old woman met him . ` Good morning , ' said she ; ` what have YOU got in your basket ? ' ` Cinders , ' said Paul , who was quite as insolent as his brother , and quite as anxious to teach other people good manners . ` Very well , cinders be it , ' the old woman shouted after him , but Paul neither looked back nor answered her . He thought more of what she said , however , after his pearls also turned to cinders before the eyes of king and court : then he lost no time in getting home again , and was very sulky when asked how he had succeeded . The third day came , and with it came Jesper 's turn to try his fortune . He got up and had his breakfast , while Peter and Paul lay in bed and made rude remarks , telling him that he would come back quicker than he went , for if they had failed it could not be supposed that he would succeed . Jesper made no reply , but put his pearls in the little basket and walked off . The King of the Ants and the King of the Beetles were again marshalling their hosts , but the ants were greatly reduced in numbers , and had little hope of holding out that day . ` Come and help us , ' said their king to Jesper , ` or we shall be completely defeated . I may help you some day in return . ' Now Jesper had always heard the ants spoken of as clever and industrious little creatures , while he never heard anyone say a good word for the beetles , so he agreed to give the wished-for help .
At the first charge he made , the ranks of the beetles broke and fled XXXXX dismay , and those escaped best that were nearest a hole , and could get into it before Jesper 's boots came down upon them .
So after as for in of though to upon while