THERE was once upon a time a couple of rich folks who had twelve sons, and when the youngest was grown up he would not stay at home any longer, but would go out into the world and seek his fortune.His father and mother said that they thought he was very well off at home, and that he was welcome to stay with them; but ho could not rest, and said that he must and would go, so at last they had to give him leave.When he had walked a long way, he came to a King's palace.There he asked for a place and got it.
Now the daughter of the King of that country had been carried off into the mountains by a Troll, and the King had no other children, and for this cause both he and all his people were full of sorrow and affliction, and the King had promised the Princess and half his kingdom to anyone who could set her free; but there was no one who could do it, though a great number had tried.So when the youth had been there for the space of a year or so, he wanted to go home again to pay his parents a visit; but when he got there his father and mother were dead, and his brothers had divided everything that their parents possessed between themselves, so that there was nothing at all left for him.
`Shall I, then, receive nothing at all of my inheritance?' asked the youth.
`Who could know that you were still alive--you who have been a wanderer so long?' answered the brothers.`However, there are twelve mares upon the hills which we have not yet divided among us, and if you would like to have them for your share, you may take them.'
So the youth, well pleased with this, thanked them, and at once set off to the hill where the twelve mares were at pasture.When he got up there and found them, each mare had her foal, and by the side of one of them was a big dapple-grey foal as well.which was so sleek that it shone again.
`Well, my little foal, you are a fine fellow!' said the youth.
`Yes, but if you will kill all the other little foals so that I can suck all the mares for a year, you shall see how big and handsome I shall be then!' said the Foal.
So the youth did this--he killed all the twelve foals, and then went back again.
Next year, when he came home again to look after his mares and the foal, it was as fat as it could be, and its coat shone with brightness, and it was so big that the lad had the greatest difficulty in getting on its back, and each of the mares had another foal.
`Well, it's very evident that I have lost nothing by letting you suck all my mares,' said the lad to the yearling; `but now you are quite big enough, and must come away with me.'
`No,' said the Colt, `I must stay here another year; kill the twelve little foals, and then I can suck all the mares this year also, and you shall see how big and handsome I shall be by summer.'
So the youth did it again, and when he went up on the hill next year to look after his colt and the mares, each of the mares had her foal again; but the dappled colt was so big that when the lad wanted to feel its neck to see how fat it was, he could not reach up to it, it was so high? and it was so bright that the light glanced off its coat.
`Big and handsome you were last year, my colt, but this year you are ever so much handsomer,' said the youth; `in all the King's court no such horse is to be found.But now you shall come away with me.'
`No,' said the dappled Colt once more; `here I must stay for another year.Just kill the twelve little foals again, so that I can suck the mares this year also, and then come and look at me in the summer.'
So the youth did it--he killed all the little foals, and then went home again.
But next year, when he returned to look after the dappled colt and the mares, he was quite appalled.He had never imagined that any horse could become so big and overgrown, for the dappled horse had to lie down on all fours before the youth could get on his back, and it was very hard to do that even when it was lying down, and it was so plump that its coat shone and glistened just as if it had been a looking-glass.This time the dappled horse was not unwilling to go away with the youth, so he mounted it, and when he came riding home to his brothers they all smote their hands together and crossed themselves, for never in their lives had they either seen or heard tell of such a horse as that.
`If you will procure me the best shoes for my horse, and the most magnificent saddle and bridle that can be found,' said the youth, `you may have all my twelve mares just as they are standing out on the hill, and their twelve foals into the bargain.' For this year also each mare had her foal.The brothers were quite willing to do this; so the lad got such shoes for his horse that the sticks and stones flew high up into the air as he rode away over the hills, and such a gold saddle and such a gold bridle that they could be seen glittering and glancing from afar.
`And now we will go to the King's palace,' said Dapplegrim--that was the horse's name, `but bear in mind that you must ask the King for a good stable and excellent fodder for me.'
So the lad promised not to forget to do that.He rode to the palace, and it will be easily understood that with such a horse as he had he was not long on the way.
When he arrived there, the King was standing out on the steps, and how he did stare at the man who came riding up!
`Nay,' said he, `never in my whole life have I seen such a man and such a horse.'
And when the youth inquired if he could have a place in the King's palace, the King was so delighted that he could have danced on the steps where he was standing, and there and then the lad was told that he should have a place.
`Yes; but I must have a good stable and most excellent fodder for my horse,' said he.
So they told him that he should have sweet hay and oats, and as much of them as the dappled horse chose to have, and all the other riders had to take their horses out of the stable that Dapplegrim might stand alone and really have plenty of room.