Instead, there lay at his feet a large hole, big enough for two people to pass through.
Now what had happened was this.
When the princess and Hans had given up hope, and cast themselves down on the ground to die, they fell down this hole, and right through the earth as well, and at last they tumbled into a castle built of pure gold at the other side of the world, and there they lived happily.But of this, of course, the king knew nothing.
'Will anyone go down and see where the passage leads to?' he asked, turning to his guards and courtiers.'I will reward splendidly the man who is brave enough to explore it.'
For a long time nobody answered.The hole was dark and deep, and if it had a bottom no one could see it.At length a soldier, who was a careless sort of fellow, offered himself for the service, and cautiously lowered himself into the darkness.But in a moment he, too, fell down, down, down.Was he going to fall for ever, he wondered!
Oh, how thankful he was in the end to reach the castle, and to meet the princess and Hans, looking quite well and not at all as if they had been starved.They began to talk, and the soldier told them that the king was very sorry for the way he had treated his daughter, and wished day and night that he could have her back again.
Then they all took ship and sailed home, and when they came to the princess's country, Hans disguised himself as the sovereign of a neighbouring kingdom, and went up to the palace alone.He was given a hearty welcome by the king, who prided himself on his hospitality, and a banquet was commanded in his honour.That evening, whilst they sat drinking their wine, Hans said to the king: