it so befell that once when they were all standing together by the tree, a young knight came up. "quick, two-eyes," cried the two sisters, "creep under this, and don’t disgrace us!" and with all speed they turned an empty barrel which was standing close by the tree over poor two-eyes, and they pushed the golden apples which she had been gathering, under it too. when the knight came nearer he was a handsome lord, who stopped and admired the magnificent gold and silver tree, and said to the two sisters, "to whom does this fine tree belong? any one who would bestow one branch of it on me might in return for it ask whatsoever he desired." then one-eye and three-eyes replied that the tree belonged to them, and that they would give him a branch. they both took great trouble, but they were not able to do it, for the branches and fruit both moved away from them every time. then said the knight, "it is very strange that the tree should belong to you, and that you should still not be able to break a piece off." they again asserted that the tree was their property. whilst they were saying so, two-eyes rolled out a couple of golden apples from under the barrel to the feet of the knight, for she was vexed with one-eye and three-eyes, for not speaking the truth. when the knight saw the apples he was astonished, and asked where they came from. one-eye and three-eyes answered that they had another sister, who was not allowed to show herself, for she had only two eyes like any common person. the knight, however, desired to see her, and cried, "two-eyes, come forth." then two-eyes, quite comforted, came from beneath the barrel, and the knight was surprised at her great beauty, and said, "thou, two-eyes, canst certainly break off a branch from the tree for me." "yes," replied two-eyes, "that i certainly shall be able to do, for the tree belongs to me." and she climbed up, and with the greatest ease broke off a branch with beautiful silver leaves and golden fruit, and gave it to the knight.