` Farewell , ' said the king 's son , glad in his heart to get rid of him so easily . The king 's son remained in the inn for some time , so as to let the young man have a good start ; them he ordered his horse and rode after him . But he was very sociable and the way seemed long and dull by himself . ` Oh , if I could only meet with a true friend , ' he thought , ` so that I should have some one to speak to . I hate being alone . ' Soon after he came up with a young man , who stopped and asked him , ` Where are you going , my fine fellow ? ' The king 's son explained the object of his journey , and the young man answered , as the other had done , that he also was fulfilling the vow of his mother made at his birth . ` Well , we can ride on together , ' said the king 's son , and the road seemed much shorter now that he had some one to talk to . At length they reached an inn , and the king 's son exclaimed , ' I am very hungry ; let us go in and get something to eat . ' When they had finished the king 's son drew an apple out of his pocket and cut it in two ; he held the big bit and the little bit out to his companion , who took the big bit at once and soon ate it up . ` You are no friend of mine , ' thought the king 's son , and began to declare he felt so ill he could not continue his journey . When he had given the young man a good start he set off himself , but the way seemed even longer and duller than before . ` Oh , if I could only meet with a true friend he should be as a brother to me , ' he sighed sadly ; and as the thought passed through his mind , he noticed a youth going the same road as himself . The youth came up to him and said , ` Which way are you going , my fine fellow ? ' And for the third time the king 's son explained all about his mother 's vow . Why , that is just like me , ' cried the youth . ` Then let us ride on together , ' answered the king 's son . Now the miles seemed to slip by , for the new comer was so lively and entertaining that the king 's son could not help hoping that he indeed might prove to be the true friend . More quickly than he could have thought possible they reached an inn by the road-side , and turning to his companion the king 's son said , ' I am hungry ; let us go in and have something to eat . ' So they went in and ordered dinner , and when they had finished the king 's son drew out of his pocket the last apple , and cut it into two unequal parts , and held both out to the stranger .
And the stranger took the little piece , and the heart XXXXX the king 's son was glad within him , for at last he had found the friend he had been looking for .
after at by if like of on than through with