Years and years ago there lived in a certain village a poor herdsman. He had a wife and a son. He trained his son from his earliest years to follow in his steps, so at an age when most boys are still at home, the lad would manage the flocks in the fields by himself while his father went home to weave baskets. The little herdsman drove his sheep up and down many a hill and valley, whistling merrily as he went, and now and then blowing a tune on his horn to pass away the time. At noonday he would rest a while and refresh himself with a draught from a clear spring he knew of. By the side of it he would sometimes lie down when he was tired.
One day, when he lay sleeping by the spring, he had a dream. He thought he had travelled a long way and then heard and saw a troop of soldiers with glittering arms, all of them encircled him, dancing. In his dream he then sat down on a throne. Beside it was another throne for a beautiful lady - his queen.
Just then the little herdsman woke up. Jumping up he exclaimed, "I am king of Spain!" Wondering over the dream, he drove his herds home and told it to his parents, who were sitting at the door. When he finished telling them, he said, "If I should dream the same dream two times more, I have to travel and see if I become the king of Spain."
His father said. "Nobody will make you king, you may rely on that!"
But his mother, chuckling to herself, clapped her hands together and repeated many times, "King of Spain! King of Spain!"
The next day the herdboy lay down to sleep again under the same tree by the spring, and had the same dream. When he woke up he was eager to set out at once on his journey to Spain. But he went home and told his parents that he had had the same dream, winding up by saying, "Well, if I have the same dream a third time, I shall set out at once, come what may!"
The third time he lay down as before and went to sleep and the same dream scenes appeared to him. "I am king of Spain!" he cried in his sleep, and then he woke up of the sounds he made. He gathered up his pipe and his horn and hat at once, gathered his sheep and drove them all home. As he went along people began to scold him for bringing back his sheep so long before the fit time; but he was so excited that he turned a deaf ear to them, and what his parents said to divert him from going to Spain.
Hastily he went into their house and tied his best clothes in a bundle and slung it over his back on the end of a stick. Away he marched, minding very little of all around him.
As soon as he was clear of the village he ran on, as if expecting to reach Spain before the close of the day. When night fell on he was in a huge forest. There was not a house to be seen, so he thought of climbing a tree and sleep on its branches. But he had scarcely decided on which tree to climb when the noise of a troop of soldiers coming past that tree made him pause. He joined them and marched on with them, thinking he could sleep in their company. And so it happened.
In a short time they came to a house in the middle of the thick wood. The soldiers knocked at the door and were at once let in. The herdboy slipped in along with them. Through another door they came into a large, very dimly lighted apartment. On the floor of it were laid several bundles of straw, mattresses and blankets, all prepared for the soldiers. The little herdboy crept under a bundle of straw that lay close against the door. Thus hidden he listened to all that passed. He soon heard enough to know that the supposed soldiers were a band of robbers, and their captain was master of the house they were in. This captain, as soon as his followers had settled down, took a seat somewhat raised and apart from the others and said in a deep bass voice, "My brave comrades, give me some news of your day's work; tell where you have been and what plunder you have gained."
A tall man with a coal-black beard was the first to answer: "Captain," said he, "Today I robbed a nobleman of a pair of leather breeches. They have two pockets, and handfuls of ducats fall out of these pockets as often us they are shaken."
"That sounds to be much worth," answered the captain.
Then another of the band rose and said: "Today I stole a general's cocked hat. When the hat is pressed on its wearer's head, it fires guns from each of its three corners!"
"We will see about that that one day," said the captain.
Then a third robber got up and said: "I robbed a knight of a sword that will summon a regiment of soldiers when its point is put in the ground!"
"I like that," said the captain, approvingly.
A fourth robber now spoke: "I drew off the boots of a sleeping traveller. The boots can carry the one who has them on, about seven miles at a stride."
"I will reward it all," said the captain. "Hang your plunder on the wall, each of you. Then eat and drink as much as you will."
With these words he left the apartment, and the robbers began to drink and party till long after midnight. One by one they dropped off to sleep. When at last all was still and quiet, the herdboy crept from his hiding-place and put on the leather breeches, placed the hat on his head, fastened the sword in its hilt around his waist, and drew on the boots. Then he stepped out at the door and at once the miracle-boots brought him to the walls of a city that was actually Madrid, the capital of Spain.
The first person he met he asked where was the best hotel, answered insultingly, "What can you want there? Do not come where only the rich eat and drink!"
However, when he got a piece of gold, he led the herdboy to the best hotel. There, the herdboy asked the host, "What is the news just now?"
The landlord answered, "We are surrounded by enemies, so the times are very bad. The king is just preparing an army of twenty thousand men. Perhaps you think of joining the army?"
"Certainly," said the herdboy.
As soon then as the landlord had retired, the herdboy drew off his leather breeches and shook out a small heap of money for himself. Then he bought a good suit and armour and walked out for an audience with the king. When he came to the palace he was ushered into a fine waiting-room, and while he waited there among others, a lovely young lady passed through the room. It was the king's daughter.
Soon he was shown in to the king and he said what he wished, "I have come to offer you my services. My army shall put to flight your enemies, and do other things that you command too. The reward for me will be to get your daughter as my wife. Will you agree to this?"
The king was taken quite aback by this talk, but he said, "I agree. If you come back here as a victor, you may get my daughter in marriage and succeed me as king in time too."
The herdboy now marched off to where the other army was. A little distance away from the soldier camp he thrust his sword many times into the earth. With each thrust appeared a thousand well-armed, grim soldiers. He now mounted on a horse and challenged the enemy to battle, shooting left and right and forward through his three-cornered hat. The enemy were thoroughly beaten and driven out of Spain, and had to yield up a large part of their land.
Then the herdboy returned to Spain. When he came back, the king kept his word and gave him his daughter in marriage, and made him his successor to the throne.
The wedding was glorious, and not long afterwards the old king made him the new king. But the new king of Spain did not forget his old parents. One day as he sat on his throne with his wife by his side he said to her, "Dearest, my parents are still alive, but very poor. My father is only a herdsman and was one too, until I dreamt three times on three days that I should be king of Spain. And now I am. But I would also take care of my poor parents. If you agree I will go and bring them here."
The queen readily agreed, and the king soon reached the village where he once lived, for he wore such wonderful boots. On his way he handed over to the rightful owners the wonderful things he had taken from the robbers. The one who owned the boots also got a dukedom in return.
Then, accompanied by his parents, the king of Spain returned back to Madrid and his loving wife.
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