DANISH FAIRY AND FOLK TALES
and silver, I cannot use, but this one suits me." "Take it," said the dwarf, smilingly, "and keep it."
In another room they saw a great many beautiful horns. James looked around, trying to make a choice. At last he seized a plain-looking bugle-horn which some one had thrown into a corner. "All the others will do for kings and knights," said he, "but this one will suit me." The dwarf told him it was his, and added, "Now we will go into the stables and find a horse for you."
The stables were filled with the choicest horses of all kinds, from the fabled three-legged horse which walks past the windows at night, when some one is to die, to the charger which helps the soldier slay the enemies of his land. Near the door, James caught sight of a small gray steed, rumpled and badly kept; he pointed to this horse, saying, "I choose this little one; he matches the gun and the horn and me." The dwarf confirmed his choice, and in the next second James was standing outside the hill, with his rusty musket, his dented horn, and the little gray horse. He jumped into the saddle and rode straight to the king's court, where a sentry inquired about his errand. "I wish to become one of the royal hunters," said James. "Then you had better apply to the king's adjutant. If he has any use for you, he may engage your service," returned the sentry.
So James rode along an avenue shaded by tall chestnut-trees, and leading to the gateway of the
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