Their king showed them what they had to do , and they set to work so hard that the grain was sorted into two heaps long before the council was over . When the king came back he could not believe his eyes ; but search as he might through the two heaps , he could not find any barley among the wheat , or any wheat amongst the barley . So he praised the prince for his industry and cleverness , and made him his steward at once . This made the two soldiers more envious still , and they began to hatch another plot . ` Your Majesty , ' they said to the king , one day , as he was standing on the steps of the palace , ` that fellow has been boasting again , that if he had the care of your treasures not so much as a gold pin should ever be lost . Put this vain fellow to the proof , we pray you , and throw the ring from the princess 's finger into the brook , and bid him find it . We shall soon see what his talk is worth . ' And the foolish king listened to them , and ordered the prince to be brought before him . ` My son , ' he said , ' I have heard that you have declared that if I made you keeper of my treasures you would never lose so much as a gold pin . Now , in order to prove the truth of your words , I am going to throw the ring from the princess 's finger into the brook , and if you do not find it before I come back from council , you will have to die a horrible death . ' It was no use denying that he had said anything of the kind . The king did not believe him ; in fact he paid no attention at all , and hurried off , leaving the poor boy speechless with despair in the corner . However , he soon remembered that though it was very unlikely that he should find the ring in the brook , it was impossible that he should find it by staying in the palace . For some time the prince wandered up and down peering into the bottom of the stream , but though the water was very clear , nothing could he see of the ring . At length he gave it up in despair , and throwing himself down at the foot of the tree , he wept bitterly . ` What is the matter , dear prince ? ' said a voice just above him , and raising his head , he saw the wild duck . ` The king of this country declares I must die a horrible death if I can not find the princess 's ring which he has thrown into the brook , ' answered the prince . ` Oh , you must not vex yourself about that , for I can help you , ' replied the bird . ' I am the king of the wild ducks , whose life you spared , and now it is my turn to save yours . '
Then he flew away , and in a few minutes a great flock of wild ducks were swimming all up and down the stream looking with all their might , and long before the king came back from his council there it was , safe XXXXX the grass beside the prince .
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