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The soldier wished to take away some token of the place; so he

broke off a little branch, and there came a loud noise from the

tree. Then the youngest daughter said again, 'I am sure all is

not right--did not you hear that noise? That never happened

before.' But the eldest said, 'It is only our princes, who are

shouting for joy at our approach.'

Then they came to another grove of trees, where all the leaves

were of gold; and afterwards to a third, where the leaves were

all glittering diamonds. And the soldier broke a branch from

each; and every time there was a loud noise, which made the

youngest sister tremble with fear; but the eldest still said, it

was only the princes, who were crying for joy. So they went on

till they came to a great lake; and at the side of the lake there

lay twelve little boats with twelve handsome princes in them, who

seemed to be waiting there for the princesses.