in a certain mill lived an old miller who had neither wife nor child, and three apprentices served under him. as they had been with him several years, he one day said to them, "i am old, and want to sit in the chimney-corner, go out, and whichsoever of you brings me the best horse home, to him will i give the mill, and in return for it he shall take care of me till my death." the third of the boys was, however, the drudge, who was looked on as foolish by the others; they begrudged the mill to him, and afterwards he would not have it. then all three went out together, and when they came to the village, the two said to stupid hans, "thou mayst just as well stay here, as long as thou livest thou wilt never get a horse." hans, however, went with them, and when it was night they came to a cave in which they lay down to sleep. the two sharp ones waited until hans had fallen asleep, then they got up, and went away leaving him where he was. and they thought they had done a very clever thing, but it was certain to turn out ill for them. when the sun arose, and hans woke up, he was lying in a deep cavern. he looked around on every side and exclaimed, "oh, heavens, where am i?"