replied the tailor, and told her his fate. "if that be all," said the duck, "we can help thee. the crown fell into the water, and lies down below at the bottom; we will soon bring it up again for thee. in the meantime just spread out thy handkerchief on the bank." she dived down with her twelve young ones, and in five minutes she was up again and sat with the crown resting on her wings, and the twelve young ones were swimming round about and had put their beaks under it, and were helping to carry it. they swam to the shore and put the crown on the handkerchief. no one can imagine how magnificent the crown was; when the sun shone on it, it gleamed like a hundred thousand carbuncles. the tailor tied his handkerchief together by the four corners, and carried it to the king, who was full of joy, and put a gold chain round the tailor’s neck.