Grimm's Household Tales

A soldier who is afraid of nothing troubles himself about nothing. One of this kind had received his discharge, and because he had learned no trade and could earn nothing, he traveled about and begged kind people for alms. He had an old waterproof coat on his back and a pair of riding boots of buffalo leather that were still left to him. One day he was walking, he did not know where, straight out into the open country, and finally he came to a forest. He did not know where he was, but he saw, sitting on the trunk of a tree that had been cut down, a man who was well dressed and wore a green hunting coat. The soldier shook hands with him, sat down on the grass beside him, and stretched out his legs. “I see you have good boots on, which are well polished,” he said to the huntsman, “but if you had to travel about as I do, they would not last long. Look at mine; they are of buffalo leather and have been worn for a long time, but in them I can go through thick and thin.” After a while the soldier got up and said, “I cannot stay any longer; hunger drives me onward. But, Brother Bright-boots, where does this road lead?” “I don’t know that myself,” answered the huntsman. “I have lost my way in the forest.” “Then you are in the same plight as I,” said the soldier. “Birds of a feather flock together; let us stay together and look for our way.” The huntsman smiled a little, and they walked on farther and farther until night fell. “We are not getting out of the forest,” said the soldier, “but there in the distance I see a light shining, which will help us find something to eat.” They found a stone house and knocked at the door, and an old woman opened it. “We are looking for quarters for the night,” said the soldier, “and some lining for our stomachs, because mine is as empty as an old knapsack.” “You cannot stay here,” answered the old woman. “This is a robbers’ house, and you would do wisely to get away before they come home, or you will be lost.” “It won’t be as bad as that,” answered the soldier. “I have not had a mouthful for two days, and whether I am murdered here or die of hunger in the forest is all the same to me. I will go in.” The huntsman would not follow, but the soldier pulled him in with him by the sleeve. “Come, my dear brother, we will not come to an end as quickly as that!” The old woman took pity on them and said, “Creep in here behind the stove, and if they leave anything, I will give it to you on the sly when they are asleep.” They were scarcely in the corner when twelve robbers came bursting in, sat down at the table that was already laid, and vehemently demanded some food. The old woman brought in some great dishes of roast meat, and the robbers enjoyed it thoroughly. When the smell of the food rose to the soldier’s nostrils, he said to the huntsman, “I cannot hold out any longer. I will sit down at the table and eat with them.” “You will bring us to destruction,” said the huntsman, and he held him back by the arm. But the soldier began to cough loudly. When the robbers heard that, they threw down their knives and forks, leaped up, and discovered the two who were behind the stove. “Aha, gentlemen, are you in the corner?” they cried. “What are you doing here? Have you been sent as spies? Wait a while, and you will learn how to fly on a dry bough.” “But do be civil,” said the soldier. “I am hungry. Give me something to eat, and then you can do what you like with me.” The robbers were astonished, and the captain said, “I see that you have no fear. Well, you shall have some food, but after that you must die.” “We will see,” said the soldier, and he sat down at the table and began to cut away valiantly at the roast meat. “Brother Bright-boots, come and eat,” he cried to the huntsman. “You must be as hungry as I am, and you cannot have better roast meat at home.” But the huntsman would not eat. The robbers looked at the soldier in astonishment and said, “The rascal stands on no ceremony.” After a while he said, “I have had enough food. Now get me something good to drink.” The captain was in the mood to humor him in this, too, and called to the old woman, “Bring a bottle out of the cellar, and make sure it is of the best.” The soldier pulled the cork out with a loud noise, and then he went with the bottle to the huntsman and said, “Pay attention, brother, and you will see something that will surprise you; I am now going to drink to the health of the whole clan.” Then he brandished the bottle over the heads of the robbers and cried, “Long life to you all, but with your mouths open and your right hands lifted up,” and then he took a hearty drink. Scarcely had the words been said when they all sat motionless as if made of stone, with their mouths open and their right hands stretched up in the air. The huntsman said to the soldier, “I see that you are acquainted with tricks of another kind, but now come; let us go home.” “Oho, my dear brother, but that would be marching away far too soon. We have conquered the enemy and must first take the booty. Those men there are stuck fast in their seats and are opening their mouths in astonishment, but they will not be allowed to move until I permit them. Come, eat and drink.” The old woman had to bring another bottle of the best wine, and the soldier would not stir until he had eaten enough to last for three days. At last, when day came, he said, “Now it is time to strike our tents, and so that our march may be a short one, the old woman will show us the nearest way to the town.” When they had arrived there, he went to his old comrades and said, “Out in the forest I have found a nest full of criminals who deserve the gallows. Come with me, and we will take it.” The soldier led them and said to the huntsman, “You must go back with me to see how they shake when we seize them by the feet.” He placed the men around the robbers, and then he took the bottle, drank a mouthful, brandished it above them, and cried, “Live again!” Instantly they all regained the power of movement, but they were thrown down and bound hand and foot with cords. Then the soldier ordered them to be thrown into a cart as if they were so many sacks and said, “Now drive them straight to prison.” The huntsman, however, took one of the men aside and gave him another order as well. “Brother Bright-boots,” said the soldier, “we have safely routed the enemy and have been well fed. Now we will walk quietly behind them as if we were stragglers!” When they approached the town, the soldier saw a crowd of people pouring through the town gate, raising loud cries of joy and waving green boughs in the air. Then he saw that the entire bodyguard was coming up. “What can this mean?” he said to the huntsman. “Do you not know,” he replied, “that the King has been absent from his kingdom for a long time, and that today he is returning and everyone is going to meet him?” “But where is the King?” said the soldier. “I do not see him.” “Here he is,” answered the huntsman. “I am the King, and I have announced my arrival.” Then he opened his hunting coat, and his royal garments were visible. The soldier was alarmed, fell on his knees, and begged him to forgive him for having, in his ignorance, treated him as an equal and called him by such a name. But the King shook hands with him and said, “You are a brave soldier and have saved my life. You will never again be in want; I will take care of you. And if you ever would like to eat a piece of roast meat as good as that in the robbers’ house, come to the royal kitchen. But if you would like to drink a toast, you must first ask my permission.”