The Prince was delighted , for a dog that can be shut up in an acorn must be very small indeed . He wanted to take it out and look at it , but the White Cat said it would be better not to open the acorn till he was before the King , in case the tiny dog should be cold on the journey . He thanked her a thousand times , and said good-by quite sadly when the time came for him to set out . `` The days have passed so quickly with you , '' he said , `` I only wish I could take you with me now . '' But the White Cat shook her head and sighed deeply in answer . After all the Prince was the first to arrive at the castle where he had agreed to meet his brothers , but they came soon after , and stared in amazement when they saw the wooden horse in the courtyard jumping like a hunter . The Prince met them joyfully , and they began to tell him all their adventures ; but he managed to hide from them what he had been doing , and even led them to think that a turnspit dog which he had with him was the one he was bringing for the King . Fond as they all were of one another , the two eldest could not help being glad to think that their dogs certainly had a better chance . The next morning they started in the same chariot . The elder brothers carried in baskets two such tiny , fragile dogs that they hardly dared to touch them . As for the turnspit , he ran after the chariot , and got so covered with mud that one could hardly see what he was like at all . When they reached the palace everyone crowded round to welcome them as they went into the King 's great hall ; and when the two brothers presented their little dogs nobody could decide which was the prettier . They were already arranging between themselves to share the kingdom equally , when the youngest stepped forward , drawing from his pocket the acorn the White Cat had given him . He opened it quickly , and there upon a white cushion they saw a dog so small that it could easily have been put through a ring . The Prince laid it upon the ground , and it got up at once and began to dance . The King did not know what to say , for it was impossible that anything could be prettier than this little creature . Nevertheless , as he was in no hurry to part with his crown , he told his sons that , as they had been so successful the first time , he would ask them to go once again , and seek by land and sea for a piece of muslin so fine that it could be drawn through the eye of a needle . The brothers were not very willing to set out again , but the two eldest consented because it gave them another chance , and they started as before . The youngest again mounted the wooden horse , and rode back at full speed to his beloved White Cat . Every door of the castle stood wide open , and every window and turret was illuminated , so it looked more wonderful than before .
The hands hastened to meet him , and led the wooden XXXXX off to the stable , while he hurried in to find the White Cat .
anything case cushion eldest ground horse morning mud speed turret