Peter and Paul were grown men , while Jesper was just coming to manhood . The two elder brothers were much bigger and stronger than the youngest , but Jesper was far the cleverest of the three , though neither Peter nor Paul would admit this . It was a fact , however , as we shall see in the course of our story . One day the fisherman went out fishing , and among his catch for the day he brought home three dozen oysters . When these were opened , every shell was found to contain a large and beautiful pearl . Hereupon the three brothers , at one and the same moment , fell upon the idea of offering themselves as suitors for the princess . After some discussion , it was agreed that the pearls should be divided by lot , and that each should have his chance in the order of his age : of course , if the oldest was successful the other two would be saved the trouble of trying . Next morning Peter put his pearls in a little basket , and set off for the king 's palace . He had not gone far on his way when he came upon the King of the Ants and the King of the Beetles , who , with their armies behind them , were facing each other and preparing for battle . ` Come and help me , ' said the King of the Ants ; ` the beetles are too big for us . I may help you some day in return . ' ' I have no time to waste on other people 's affairs , ' said Peter ; ` just fight away as best you can ; ' and with that he walked off and left them . A little further on the way he met an old woman . ` Good morning , young man , ' said she ; ` you are early astir . What have you got in your basket ? ' ` Cinders , ' said Peter promptly , and walked on , adding to himself , ` Take that for being so inquisitive . ' ` Very well , cinders be it , ' the old woman called after him , but he pretended not to hear her . Very soon he reached the palace , and was at once brought before the king . When he took the cover off the basket , the king and all his courtiers said with one voice that these were the finest pearls they had ever seen , and they could not take their eyes off them . But then a strange thing happened : the pearls began to lose their whiteness and grew quite dim in colour ; then they grew blacker and blacker till at last they were just like so many cinders .
Peter was so amazed that he could say nothing for himself , but the king said quite enough XXXXX both , and Peter was glad to get away home again as fast as his legs would carry him .
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