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She again gave him a handful of ducats, but he would not keep

them, and gave them to the gardener for playthings for his

children. On the third day things went just the same; she could

not get his cap away from him, and he would not have her money.

Not long afterwards, the country was overrun by war. The king

gathered together his people, and did not know whether or not he

could offer any opposition to the enemy, who was superior in

strength and had a mighty army. Then said the gardener's boy: 'I

am grown up, and will go to the wars also, only give me a horse.'

The others laughed, and said: 'Seek one for yourself when we are

gone, we will leave one behind us in the stable for you.' When

they had gone forth, he went into the stable, and led the horse

out; it was lame of one foot, and limped hobblety jib, hobblety

jib; nevertheless he mounted it, and rode away to the dark

forest. When he came to the outskirts, he called 'Iron Hans'

three times so loudly that it echoed through the trees.