DANISH FAIRY AND FOLK TALES
and obtained passage for himself and his wife, as servants, and the princess felt much relieved when at last they were out of her father's domains, although she had no idea of their destination.
The voyage ended in Denmark, and when they had safely landed, Greyfoot proceeded to rent a small hut in the neighborhood of the royal palace. It consisted of only one little room with a stone floor and an open fireplace, where she must prepare their frugal meals. In a little while Greyfoot went out, and returned with an old spinning-wheel and a large bundle of tow, of the meanest quality. "While you work with this," he said, "I must try to find some occupation, as best I can. Neither of us can afford to be idle."
Thus time passed slowly and quietly. Greyfoot had secured work at the palace as a wood-cutter, and returned every evening with a loaf of bread and a few pennies. His wife was spinning until her finger-tips were scorched, and her knees shaking under her. One evening Greyfoot brought home a wheelbarrow filled with earthen-ware. This he had bought on credit, he said, and she was in duty bound to go to town the next day and sell the things. She of course made no objections. The next day Greyfoot went to his work, as usual, and his wife set out for the town with her earthen-ware. But when she had just managed to sell a few of them, a troop of stately knights came galloping down the street. One of the horses became wild
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