Oldal 26 [26]
6 GRIMM’S FAIRY TALES.
they took counsel together how they might rid themselves of
him and of his companions at the same time.
‘““T have a plan,” said the king; “do not fear but that we
shall be quit of them for ever.” ‘Then he went out to the men
and bade them to feast and be merry and eat and drink; and
he led them into a room, which had a floor of iron, and the doors
were iron, the windows had iron frames and bolts; in the room
was a table set out with costly food.
‘Now, go in there and make yourselves comfortable,” said
the king.
And when they had gone in, he had the door locked and
bolted. ‘Then he called the cook, and told him to make a
big fire underneath the room, so that the iron floor of it should
be red hot. And the cook did so, and the six men began to
feel the room growing very warm, by reason, as they thought
at first, of the good dinner; but as the heat grew greater and
greater, and they found the doors and windows fastened, they
began to think it was an evil plan of the king’s to suffocate them.
‘‘ He shall not succeed, however,” said the man with the
little hat; "I will bring on a frost that shall make the fire feel
ashamed of itself, and creep out of the way.”
So he set his hat straight on his head, and immediately
there came such a frost that all the heat passed away and the
food froze in the dishes. After an hour or two had passed,
and the king thought they must have all perished in the heat,
he caused the door to be opened, and went himself to see how
they fared. And when the door flew back, there they were all
six quite safe and sound, and they said they were quite ready
to come out, so that they might warm themselves, for the great
cold of that room had caused the food to freeze in the dishes.
Full of wrath, the king went to the cook and scolded him, and
asked why he had not done as he was ordered.
“Tt is hot enough there: you may see for yourself sf
answered the cook. And the king looked and saw an immense
fire burning underneath the room of iron, and he began to
think that the six men were not to be got rid of in that way.
And he thought of a new plan by which it might be managed,
so he sent for the leader and said to him,
“Tf you will give up your right to my daughter, and take
gold instead, you may have as much as you like.”