"
His sister cried and said, "Now you will go and be killed, and leave
me here alone in the forest, forsaken by all the world; I will not let
you go out."
"Then I shall die here of grief," answered the roe: "for when I hear
the sound of the horn, I do feel as if I could jump out of my shoes."
So his sister could not do less than open the door with a heavy heart,
and the roe sprang out joyfully into the forest.
As soon as the king saw him, he said to his huntsmen, "Now hunt him
all day till evening, but don't do anything to hurt him."
When the sun was set the king said to his huntsman, "Now come and show
me the little house you saw in the wood." And when he was before the
door he knocked and cried, "Dear little sister, let me in."
Immediately the door opened, the king entered, and there stood a
maiden more beautiful than any one he had ever seen. The damsel was
frightened when she found there had come in, not her roe, but a man
who wore a golden crown on his head. But the king looked kindly at
her, took her hand and said, "Wilt thou go with me to my castle, and
be my dear wife?"
"Oh yes," answered the maiden, "but the roe must come with me, for I
cannot forsake him."
The king replied, "He shall remain with you as long as you live, and
shall want for nothing."
At this moment he came springing in, his sister tied the cord of
rushes round his neck, led him with her own hand, and they all left
the little house together.
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