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was the cue for which the youth had been in- 

 structed to wait. * Here are your clothes, missy ! ' 

 said he, stepping from his concealment : 5 a rogue 

 had stolen them, while you were bathing ; but I 

 took them from him, and have brought them 

 back/ — 6 Well, young man, I will keep my pro- 

 mise to you. You are going to court, I know; 

 and I know also, that the headman will chop off 

 your head, unless at first sight you can tell him 

 which of his three daughters is the youngest. 

 Now I am she ; and in order that you may not 

 mistake, I will take care to make a sign ; and then 

 do not you fail to pitch upon me.' The young 

 man assured her, that, having once seen her, he 

 never could possibly mistake her for any other, 

 and then set forwards with a lightened heart. The 

 headman received him very graciously, feasted 

 him with magnificence, and told him that he 

 would present him to his three daughters, only 

 that there was a slight rule respecting them to 

 which he must conform. Whoever could not 

 point out which was the youngest, must immedi- 

 ately lose his head. The young man kissed the 

 ground in obedience, the door opened, and in 

 walked three little black dogs. Now, then, the 

 necessity of the precaution taken by the prin- 

 cess was evident; the youth looked at the dogs 

 earnestly; something induced the headman to 

 turn away his eyes for a moment, and in that 

 moment one of the dogs lifted up its fore paw. 



