` Then you 'll catch it , ' shouted the witch . The stick carried Esben with the dove back to the king 's palace , and his brothers were greatly delighted . The king thanked them many times for the dove , and gave them in return both silver and gold . At this Sir Red became still more embittered , and again thought of how to avenge himself on the brothers . One day he went to the king and told him that the dove was by no means the best thing that the brothers could get for him ; for one day he had heard them talking quietly among themselves , and they had said that they could procure a boar whose bristles were of gold and silver time about . The king again summoned the brothers before him , and asked whether it was true that they had said that they could get for him a boar whose bristles were of gold and silver time about . ` No , ' said the brothers ; they had never said nor thought such a thing , and they did not believe that there was such a boar in the whole world . ` You must get me that boar within three days , ' said the king , ` or it will cost you your heads . ' With that they had to go . This was still worse than before , they thought . Where could they get such a marvellous boar ? They all went about hanging their heads ; but when only one day remained of the three Esben came along . When he saw his brothers ' sorrowful looks he cried , ` Hallo , what 's the matter now ? ' ` Oh , what 's the use of telling you ? ' said his brothers . ` You ca n't help us , at any rate . ' ` Ah , you do n't know that , ' said Esben ; ` I 've helped you before . ' In the end they told him how Sir Red had stirred up the king against them , so that he had ordered them to get for him a boar with bristles of gold and silver time about . ` That 's all right , ' said Esben ; ` give me a sack of malt , and it is not quite impossible that I may be able to help you . ' Esben got his sack of malt ; then he took his little white stick , set himself upon it , and said , Fly quick , my little stick , Carry me across the stream .
Off went the stick with him , and very soon he was again XXXXX the witch 's courtyard .
against before by for in than up upon whether with