One day the eldest lad said that he would go out to earn his living ; he soon got leave to do that , and set out on his way into the world . He walked on and on for the whole day , and when night was beginning to fall he came to a royal palace . The King was standing outside on the steps , and asked where he was going . ` Oh , I am going about seeking a place , my father , ' said the youth . ` Wilt thou serve me , and watch my seven foals ? ' asked the King . ` If thou canst watch them for a whole day and tell me at night what they eat and drink , thou shalt have the Princess and half my kingdom , but if thou canst not , I will cut three red stripes on thy back . ' The youth thought that it was very easy work to watch the foals , and that he could do it well enough . Next morning , when day was beginning to dawn , the King 's Master of the Horse let out the seven foals ; and they ran away , and the youth after them just as it chanced , over hill and dale , through woods end bogs . When the youth had run thus for a long time he began to be tired , and when he had held on a little longer he was heartily weary of watching at all , and at the same moment he came to a cleft in a rock where an old woman was sitting spinning with her distaff in her hand . As soon as she caught sight of the youth , who was running after the foals till the perspiration streamed down his face , she cried : ` Come hither , come hither , my handsome son , and let me comb your hair for you . ' The lad was willing enough , so he sat down in the cleft of the rock beside the old hag , and laid his head on her knees , and she combed his hair all day while he lay there and gave himself up to idleness . When evening was drawing near , the youth wanted to go . ' I may just as well go straight home again , ' said he , ` for it is no use to go to the King 's palace . ' ` Wait till it is dusk , ' said the old hag , ` and then the King 's foals will pass by this place again , and you can run home with them ; no one will ever know that you have been lying here all day instead of watching the foals . ' So when they came she gave the lad a bottle of water and a bit of moss , and told him to show these to the King and say that this was what his seven foals ate and drank . ` Hast thou watched faithfully and well the whole day long ? ' said the King , when the lad came into his presence in the evening . ` Yes , that I have ! ' said the youth .
` Then you are able to tell me what it is XXXXX my seven foals eat and drink , ' said the King .
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