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And turning to the two wicked brothers he said； 'Suggest
something for him to do； no matter how difficult； he must succeed
in it or die。'
They did not think long； but replied； 'Let him build your Majesty
in one day a more beautiful palace than this； and if he fails in
the attempt let him be hung。'
The King was pleased with this proposal； and commanded Ferko to
set to work on the following day。 The two brothers were
delighted； for they thought they had now got rid of Ferko for
ever。 The poor youth himself was heart…broken； and cursed the
hour he had crossed the boundary of the King's domain。 As he was
wandering disconsolately about the meadows round the palace；
wondering how he could escape being put to death； a little bee
flew past； and settling on his shoulder whispered in his ear；
'What is troubling you； my kind benefactor？ Can I be of any help
to you？ I am the bee whose wing you healed； and would like to
show my gratitude in some way。'
Ferko recognised the queen bee； and said； 'Alas！ how could you
help me？ for I have been set to do a task which no one in the
whole world could do； let him be ever such a genius！ To…morrow I
must build a palace more beautiful than the King's； and it must
be finished before evening。'
'Is that all？' answered the bee； 'then you may comfort yourself；
for before the sun goes down to…morrow night a palace shall be
built unlike any that King has dwelt in before。 Just stay here
till I come again and tell you that it is finished。' Having said
this she flew merrily away； and Ferko； reassured by her words；
lay down on the grass and slept peacefully till the next morning。
Early on the following day the whole town was on its feet； and
everyone wondered how and where the stranger would build the
wonderful palace。 The Princess alone was silent and sorrowful；
and had cried all night till her pillow was wet； so much did she
take the fate of the beautiful youth to heart。
Ferko spent the whole day in the meadows waiting the return of
the bee。 And when evening was come the queen bee flew by； and
perching on his shoulder she said； 'The wonderful palace is
ready。 Be of good cheer； and lead the King to the hill just
outside the city walls。' And humming gaily she flew away again。
Ferko went at once to the King and told him the palace was
finished。 The whole court went out to see the wonder； and their
astonishment was great at the sight which met their eyes。 A
splendid palace reared itself on the hill just outside the walls
of the city； made of the most exquisite flowers that ever grew in
mortal garden。 The roof was all of crimson roses； the windows of
lilies； the walls of white carnations； the floors of glowing
auriculas and violets； the doors of gorgeous tulips and narcissi
with sunflowers for knockers； and all round hyacinths and other
sweet…smelling flowers bloomed in masses； so that the air was
perfumed far and near and enchanted all who were present。
This splendid palace had been built by the grateful queen bee；
who had summoned all the other bees in the kingdom to help her。
The King's amazement knew no bounds； and the Princess's eyes
beamed with delight as she turned them from the wonderful
building on the delighted Ferko。 But the two brothers had grown
quite green with envy； and only declared the more that Ferko was
nothing but a wicked magician。
The King； although he had been surprised and astonished at the
way his commands had been carried out； was very vexed that the
stranger should escape with his life； and turning to the two
brothers he said； 'He has certainly accomplished the first task；
with the aid no doubt of his diabolical magic； but what shall we
give him to do now？ Let us make it as difficult as possible； and
if he fails he shall die。'
Then the eldest brother replied； 'The corn has all been cut； but
it has not yet been put into barns； let the knave collect all the
grain in the kingdom into one big heap before to…morrow night；
and if as much as a stalk of corn is left let him be put to
death。
The Princess grew white with terror when she heard these words；
but Ferko felt much more cheerful than he had done the first
time； and wandered out into the meadows again； wondering how he
was to get out of the difficulty。 But he could think of no way
of escape。 The sun sank to rest and night came on； when a little
mouse started out of the grass at Ferko's feet； and said to him；
'I'm delighted to see you； my kind benefactor； but why are you
looking so sad？ Can I be of any help to you； and thus repay your
great kindness to me？'
Then Ferko recognised the mouse whose front paws he had healed；
and replied； 'Alas I how can you help me in a matter that is
beyond any human power！ Before to…morrow night all the grain in
the kingdom has to be gathered into one big heap； and if as much
as a stalk of corn is wanting I must pay for it with my life。'
'Is that all？' answered the mouse； 'that needn't distress you
much。 Just trust in me； and before the sun sets again you shall
hear that your task is done。' And with these words the little
creature scampered away into the fields。
Ferko； who never doubted that the mouse would be as good as its
word； lay down comforted on the soft grass and slept soundly till
next morning。 The day passed slowly； and with the evening came
the little mouse and said； 'Now there is not a single stalk of
corn left in any field； they are all collected in one big heap on
the hill out there。'
Then Ferko went joyfully to the King and told him that all he
demanded had been done。 And the whole Court went out to see the
wonder； and were no less astonished than they had been the first
time。 For in a heap higher than the King's palace lay all the
grain of the country； and not a single stalk of corn had been
left behind in any of the fields。 And how had all this been
done？ The little mouse had summoned every other mouse in the
land to its help； and together they had collected all the grain
in the kingdom。
The King could not hide his amazement； but at the same time his
wrath increased； and he was more ready than ever to believe the
two brothers； who kept on repeating that Ferko was nothing more
nor less than a wicked magician。 Only the beautiful Princess
rejoiced over Ferko's success； and looked on him with friendly
glances； which the youth returned。
The more the cruel King gazed on the wonder before him； the more
angry he became； for he could not； in the face of his promise；
put the stranger to death。 He turned once more to the two
brothers and said； 'His diabolical magic has helped him again；
but now what third task shall we set him to do？ No matter how
impossible it is； he must do it or die。'
The eldest answered quickly； 'Let him drive all the wolves of the
kingdom on to this hill before to…morrow night。 If he does this
he may go free； if not he shall be hung as you have said。'
At these words the Princess burst into tears； and when the King
saw this he ordered her to be shut up in a high tower and
carefully guarded till the dangerous magician should either have
left the kingdom or been hung on the nearest tree。
Ferko wandered out into the fields again； and sat down on the
stump of a tree wondering what he should do next。 Suddenly a big
wolf ran up to him； and standing still said； 'I'm very glad to
see you again； my kind benefactor。 What are you thinking about
all alone by yourself？ If I can help you in any way only say the
word； for I would like to give you a proof of my gratitude。'
Ferko at once recognised the wolf whose broken leg he had healed；
and told him what he had to do the following day if he wished to
escape with his life。 'But how in the world；' he added； 'am I to
collect all the wolves of the kingdom on to that hill over
there？'
'If that's all you want done；' answered the wolf； 'you needn't
worry yourself。 I'll undertake the task； and you'll hear from me
again before sunset to…morrow。 Keep your spirits up。' And with
these words he trotted quickly away。
Then the youth rejoiced greatly； for now he felt that his life
was safe； but he grew very sad when he thought of the beautiful
Princess； and that he would never see her again if he left the
country。 He lay down once more on the grass and soon fell fast
asleep。
All the next day he spent wandering about the fields； and toward
evening the wolf came running to him in a great hurry and said；
'I have collected together all the wolves in the kingdom； and
they are waiting for you in the wood。 Go quickly to the King；
and tell him to go to the hill that he may see the wonder you
have done with his own eyes。 Then return at once to me and get
on my back； and I will help you to drive all the wolves
together。'
Then Ferko went straight to the palace and told the King that he
was ready t