The king said to his daughter: \\u0027I will proclaim a great feast that shall last for three days, and you shall throw a golden apple. Perhaps the unknown man will show himself.\\u0027 When the feast was announced, the youth went out to the forest, and called Iron Hans.\\u0027What do you desire?\\u0027 asked he. \\u0027That I may catch the king\\u0027s daughter\\u0027s golden apple.\\u0027 \\u0027It is as safe as if you had it already,\\u0027 said Iron Hans. \\u0027You shall likewise have a suit of red armour for the occasion, and ride on a spirited chestnut-horse.\\u0027 When the day came, the youth galloped to the spot, took his place amongst the knights, and was recognized by no one. The king\\u0027s daughter came forward, and threw a golden apple to the knights, but none of them caught it but he, only as soon as he had it he galloped away.
On the second day Iron Hans equipped him as a white knight, and gave him a white horse. Again he was the only one who caught the apple, and he did not linger an instant, but galloped off with it. The king grew angry, and said: \\u0027That is not allowed; he must appear before me and tell his name.\\u0027 He gave the order that if the knight who caught the apple, should go away again they should pursue him, and if he would not come back willingly, they were to cut him down and stab him.
On the third day, he received from Iron Hans a suit of black armour and a black horse, and again he caught the apple. But when he was riding off with it,the king\\u0027s attendants pursued him, and one of them got so near him that he wounded the youth\\u0027s leg with the point of his sword. The youth nevertheless escaped from them, but his horse leapt so violently that the helmet fell from the youth\\u0027s head, and they could see that he had golden hair. They rode back and announced this to the king.
The following day the king\\u0027s daughter asked the gardener about his boy. \\u0027He is at work in the garden;the queer creature has been at the festival too, and only came home yesterday evening; he has likewise shown my children three golden apples which he has won.\\u0027
The king had him summoned into his presence, and he came and again had his little cap on his head. But the king\\u0027s daughter went up to him and took it off, and then his golden hair fell down over his shoulders, and he was so handsome that all were amazed. \\u0027Are you the knight who came every day to the festival, always in different colours, and who caught the three golden apples?\\u0027 asked the king. \\u0027Yes,\\u0027 answered he, \\u0027and here the apples are,\\u0027 and he took them out of his pocket,and returned them to the king. \\u0027If you desire further proof, you may see the wound which your people gave me when they followed me. But I am likewise the knight who helped you to your victory over your enemies.\\u0027 \\u0027If you can perform such deeds as that, you are no gardener\\u0027s boy; tell me, who is your father?\\u0027\\u0027My father is a mighty king, and gold have I in plenty as great as I require.\\u0027 \\u0027I well see,\\u0027 said the king, \\u0027that I owe my thanks to you; can I do anything to please you?\\u0027 \\u0027Yes,\\u0027 answered he, \\u0027that indeed you can. Give me your daughter to wife.\\u0027 The maiden laughed, and said: \\u0027He does not stand much on ceremony, but I have already seen by his golden hair that he was no gardener\\u0027s boy,\\u0027 and then she went and kissed him. His father and mother came to the wedding, and were in great delight, for they had given up all hope of ever seeing their dear son again. And as they were sitting at the marriage-feast, the music suddenly stopped, the doors opened, and a stately king came in with a great retinue. He went up to the youth, embraced him and said: \\u0027I am Iron Hans, and was by enchantment a wild man, but you have set me free; all the treasures which I possess, shall be your property.\\u0027