some time after came a war and uproar in the land, and the king had to take up arms against another king who wished to take the kingdom from him. so when the lad heard that, he begged the gaoler to go to the king and ask for a coat of mail and a sword, and for leave to go to the war. all the rest laughed when the gaoler told his errand, and begged the king to let him have an old worn-out suit, that they might have the fun of seeing such a wretch in battle. so he got that, and an old broken-down hack besides, which went upon three legs, and dragged the fourth after it.