but the eyelids of the prince grew heavy as lead, and he fell asleep, and when he awoke in the morning, all twelve had been to the dance, for their shoes were standing there with holes in the soles. on the second and third nights it fell out just the same, and then his head was struck off without mercy. many others came after this and undertook the enterprise, but all forfeited their lives. now it came to pass that a poor soldier, who had a wound, and could serve no longer, found himself on the road to the town where the king lived. there he met an old woman, who asked him where he was going. "i hardly know myself,"