` Now we must go back to the upper world , ' said Bensurdatu , and led her to the bottom of the river . The other princesses were waiting there , and he tied the rope round the eldest , and rung his bell . And the generals above heard , and drew her gently up . They then unfastened the cord and threw it back into the river , and in a few moments the second princess stood beside her sister . So now there were left only Bensurdatu and the youngest princess . ` Dear Bensurdatu , ' said she , ` do me a kindness , and let them draw you up before me . I dread the treachery of the generals . ' ` No , no , ' replied Bensurdatu , ' I certainly will not leave you down here . There is nothing to fear from my comrades . ' ` If it is your wish I will go up then ; but first I swear that if you do not follow to marry me , I shall stay single for the rest of my life . ' Then he bound the rope round her , and the generals drew her up . But instead of lowering the rope again into the river , envy at the courage and success of Bensurdatu so filled the hearts of the two generals , that they turned away and left him to perish . And , more than that , they threatened the princesses , and forced them to promise to tell their parents that it was the two generals who had set them free . ` And if they should ask you about Bensurdatu , you must say you have never seen him , ' they added ; and the princesses , fearing for their lives , promised everything , and they rode back to court together . The king and queen were beside themselves with joy when they saw their dear children once more . But when the generals had told their story , and the dangers they had run , the king declared that they had gained their reward , and that the two eldest princesses should become their wives . And now we must see what poor Bensurdatu was doing . He waited patiently a long , long time , but when the rope never came back he knew he had been wrong , and that his comrades had betrayed him . ` Ah , now I shall never reach the world again , ' murmured he ; but being a brave man , and knowing that moaning his fate would profit him nothing , he rose and began to search through the three halls , where , perhaps , he might find something to help him . In the last one stood a dish , covered with food , which reminded him that he was hungry , and he sat down and ate and drank .
Months passed away , when , one morning , as he was walking through the XXXXX , he noticed a purse hanging on the wall , which had never been there before .
envy halls king life man moments reward rope story wish