He next told them how he was king of the Golden Mountain, and was married to a princess, and had a son seven years old. But the merchant said, \\u0027that can never be true; he must be a fine king truly who travels about in a shepherd\\u0027s frock!\\u0027 At this the son was vexed;and forgetting his word, turned his ring, and wished for his queen and son. In an instant they stood before him; but the queen wept, and said he had broken his word, and bad luck would follow. He did all he could to soothe her, and she at last seemed to be appeased;but she was not so in truth, and was only thinking how she should punish him.
One day he took her to walk with him out of the town, and showed her the spot where the boat was set adrift upon the wide waters. Then he sat himself down, and said, \\u0027I am very much tired; sit by me, I will rest my head in your lap, and sleep a while.\\u0027 As soon as he had fallen asleep, however, she drew the ring from his finger, and crept softly away, and wished herself and her son at home in their kingdom. And when he awoke he found himself alone, and saw that the ring was gone from his finger. \\u0027I can never go back to my father\\u0027s house,\\u0027 said he; \\u0027they would say I am a sorcerer: I will journey forth into the world, till I come again to my kingdom.\\u0027
So saying he set out and travelled till he came to a hill, where three giants were sharing their father\\u0027s goods; and as they saw him pass they cried out and said, \\u0027Little men have sharp wits; he shall part the goods between us.\\u0027 Now there was a sword that cut off an enemy\\u0027s head whenever the wearer gave the words,\\u0027Heads off!\\u0027; a cloak that made the owner invisible,or gave him any form he pleased; and a pair of boots that carried the wearer wherever he wished. Heinel said they must first let him try these wonderful things,then he might know how to set a value upon them.Then they gave him the cloak, and he wished himself a fly, and in a moment he was a fly. \\u0027The cloak is ver well,\\u0027 said he: \\u0027now give me the sword.\\u0027 \\u0027No,\\u0027 said they;\\u0027not unless you undertake not to say, \\\"Heads off!\\\" for if you do we are all dead men.\\u0027 So they gave it him,charging him to try it on a tree. He next asked for the boots also; and the moment he had all three in his power, he wished himself at the Golden Mountain; and there he was at once. So the giants were left behind with no goods to share or quarrel about.
As Heinel came near his castle he heard the sound of merry music; and the people around told him that his queen was about to marry another husband. Then he threw his cloak around him, and passed through the castle hall, and placed himself by the side of the queen, where no one saw him. But when anything to eat was put upon her plate, he took it away and ate it himself; and when a glass of wine was handed to her,he took it and drank it; and thus, though they kept on giving her meat and drink, her plate and cup were always empty.
Upon this, fear and remorse came over her, and she went into her chamber alone, and sat there weeping; and he followed her there. \\u0027Alas!\\u0027 said she to herself, \\u0027was I not once set free? Why then does this enchantment still seem to bind me?\\u0027
\\u0027False and fickle one!\\u0027 said he. \\u0027One indeed came who set thee free, and he is now near thee again; but how have you used him? Ought he to have had such treatment from thee?\\u0027 Then he went out and sent away the company, and said the wedding was at an end, for that he was come back to the kingdom. But the princes, peers, and great men mocked at him.However, he would enter into no parley with them,but only asked them if they would go in peace or not.Then they turned upon him and tried to seize him; but he drew his sword. \\u0027Heads Off!\\u0027 cried he; and with the word the traitors\\u0027 heads fell before him, and Heinel was once more king of the Golden Mountain.