Esben had found again his little stick , which the witch had taken from him , so he said , Fly quick , my little stick , Carry me across the stream . Next moment he was back at the king 's palace . Here things were in a bad way , for the king had thrown all the eleven brothers into prison , and they were to be executed very shortly because they had not brought him the coverlet . Esben now went up to the king and gave him the coverlet , with which the king was greatly delighted . When he touched it it could be heard over eight kingdoms , and all the other kings sat and were angry because they had not one like it . Esben also told how everything had happened , and how Sir Red had done the brothers all the ill he could devise because he was envious of them . The brothers were at once set at liberty , while Sir Red , for his wickedness , was hanged on the highest tree that could be found , and so he got the reward he deserved . Much was made of Esben and his brothers , and these now thanked him for all that he had done for them . The twelve of them received as much gold and silver as they could carry , and betook themselves home to their old father . When he saw again his twelve sons , whom he had never expected to see more , he was so glad that he wept for joy . The brothers told him how much Esben had done , and how he had saved their lives , and from that time forward he was no longer the butt of the rest at home . Princess Minon-minette Bibliotheque des Fees et aes Genies Once upon a time there lived a young king whose name was Souci , and he had been brought up , ever since he was a baby , by the fairy Inconstancy . Now the fairy Girouette had a kind heart , but she was a very trying person to live with , for she never knew her own mind for two minutes together , and as she was the sole ruler at Court till the prince grew up everything was always at sixes and sevens . At first she determined to follow the old custom of keeping the young king ignorant of the duties he would have to perform some day ; then , quite suddenly , she resigned the reins of government into his hands ; but , unluckily , it was too late to train him properly for the post . However , the fairy did not think of that , but , carried away by her new ideas , she hastily formed a Council , and named as Prime Minister the excellent ` Ditto , ' so called because he had never been known to contradict anybody . Young Prince Souci had a handsome face , and at the bottom a good deal of common sense ; but he had never been taught good manners , and was shy and awkward ; and had , besides , never learned how to use his brains . Under these circumstances it is not surprising that the Council did not get through much work . Indeed , the affairs of the country fell into such disorder that at last the people broke out into open rebellion , and it was only the courage of the king , who continued to play the flute while swords and spears were flashing before the palace gate , that prevented civil war from being declared . No sooner was the revolt put down than the Council turned their attention to the question of the young king 's marriage . Various princesses were proposed to him , and the fairy , who was anxious to get the affair over before she left the Court for ever , gave it as her opinion that the Princess Diaphana would make the most suitable wife .
Accordingly envoys were sent to bring back an exact report of the princess 's looks and ways , and they returned saying that she was tall and well made , but so very light that the equerries who accompanied her in her walks had XXXXX be always watching her , lest she should suddenly be blown away .
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