said the king. "thou must go to it to-morrow morning and clear it of all mud until it is as bright as a mirror, and fill it with every kind of fish." the next morning the king gave him a glass shovel and said, "the fish-pond must be done by six o’clock." so he went away, and when he came to the fish-pond he stuck his shovel in the mud and it broke in two, then he stuck his hoe in the mud, and broke it also. then he was much troubled. at noon the youngest daughter brought him something to eat, and asked him how he was getting on? so the king’s son said everything was going very ill with him, and he would certainly have to lose his head. "my tools have broken to pieces again." "oh," said she, "thou must just come and eat something, and then thou wilt be in another frame of mind." "no," said he, "i cannot eat, i am far too unhappy for that!" then she gave him many good words until at last he came and ate something. then she combed his hair again, and he fell asleep, so once more she took her handkerchief, tied a knot in it, and struck the ground thrice with the knot, and said, "earth-workers, come forth." in a moment a great many little earth-men came and asked what she desired, and she told them that in three hours’ time, they must have the fish-pond entirely cleaned out, and it must be so clear that people could see themselves reflected in it, and every kind of fish must be in it. the little earth-men went away and summoned all their kindred to help them, and in two hours it was done. then they returned to her and said, "we have done as thou hast commanded." the king’s daughter took the handkerchief and once more struck thrice on the ground with it, and said, "earth-workers, go home again." then they all went away.