one. And nobody knows where he comes fae.”
“Ach well,” he said, “I’m no worried. It’ll no bother me. I’m no interested in these kinds of things.”
“No, you wouldna be interested!” his brothers said to him. “You’d rather lie in the fire among the coals like Cinderella. But we’re going tomorrow again. Everybody can try. Somebody’s got to get an apple!”
Away his two brothers go the next day again. Land back at the front of the king’s palace again. And the same thing starts. Everybody tries. Nah! Not a hope. If there were horses the first day there are twice as many the second day. Knights in armour, riders of all description, old men, young men, boys with horses trying their best. No use. But they look! Coming in the distance, just as the other riders are finishing. Here it comes again! A white horse this time, a silver suit of armour. The sun is shining on it and a great big white feather on the top of his helmet. He’s coming! Right to the glass hill – half roads up, he stops. The princess is so excited she throws a golden apple and he catches it. He turns his horse, right down the hill and away again. The king’s up!
He’s shouting, “Get that man! Bring that man back. Catch him!”
And they sent about a dozen soldiers after him. But the soldiers’ horses couldn’t catch him. He disappeared in the forest. He was gone! So they carried on till evening till it was finished. And the two brothers came trudging home again wearied and fed up. Jack by this time was back home, had changed back into his rags and was lying back beside the fire after getting his tea from his mother. Brothers came in. They were mystified. They didn’t know what to say.
They said, “Brother, you should hae been there. You should hae been there today! Another knight came. If the first knight had a horse, this one had a better ane. A silver stallion about sixteen hands, high as you could get! And a silver suit of armour. Solid silver. It was dazzling everybody that was there. But he rode half-roads up the hill and now he’s away! And he got a golden apple. Now there’s only one apple left. The king’s going raving mad and so is his daughter. Well, tomorrow’s the last day. We’re gaun back tomorrow again. We have to; we must go back. But, if there were horses there the first day, there were twice as many the day. Jack, you missed yersel!”
Jack said, “Missed myself; what have I missed myself for? I’m no wanting to see folk climbing glass hills with horses! I would rather lie here at the fire. I’m no interested in these kinds of things.”
Anyway, he had his supper, went to bed and so did the brothers. But when he got them to bed he went away back to the forest. Polished up his golden armour, fed his horses, came back home, went to his bed.
Next morning away they go again to the carnival, the two brothers with their horses. The same thing happens again. Everybody’s trying, trying all day. Up a wee bit, sliding back, trying a wee bit, sliding down. Horses, men, knights, boys, everybody trying to get up the glass hill. Nah. It’s a waste of time. But just as it’s finishing, as the evening is coming in, they look in the distance. They see it coming! This brown horse. If the first two horses were bonnie and the armour was bonnie, this one is bonnier still: pure beaten solid gold! Just shining in the sun. And it comes right to the glass hill. It goes right up to the top and stops right beside the princess’s chair! And this knight jumps off the horse, bends down, kisses the princess, catches the other apple, jumps on the horse. Down the hill and off! Disappears in the distance. The folk’s going mad! People are shouting!
The king said, “Catch that man! Bring that man back here. I want to find out who he is!” Nobody could find out who he was. He’s gone.
So anyway, home Jack comes. Into the forest, ties up his horse, puts on his rags. Back he goes, lies down at the fire. The two brothers
“Ach well,” he said, “I’m no worried. It’ll no bother me. I’m no interested in these kinds of things.”
“No, you wouldna be interested!” his brothers said to him. “You’d rather lie in the fire among the coals like Cinderella. But we’re going tomorrow again. Everybody can try. Somebody’s got to get an apple!”
Away his two brothers go the next day again. Land back at the front of the king’s palace again. And the same thing starts. Everybody tries. Nah! Not a hope. If there were horses the first day there are twice as many the second day. Knights in armour, riders of all description, old men, young men, boys with horses trying their best. No use. But they look! Coming in the distance, just as the other riders are finishing. Here it comes again! A white horse this time, a silver suit of armour. The sun is shining on it and a great big white feather on the top of his helmet. He’s coming! Right to the glass hill – half roads up, he stops. The princess is so excited she throws a golden apple and he catches it. He turns his horse, right down the hill and away again. The king’s up!
He’s shouting, “Get that man! Bring that man back. Catch him!”
And they sent about a dozen soldiers after him. But the soldiers’ horses couldn’t catch him. He disappeared in the forest. He was gone! So they carried on till evening till it was finished. And the two brothers came trudging home again wearied and fed up. Jack by this time was back home, had changed back into his rags and was lying back beside the fire after getting his tea from his mother. Brothers came in. They were mystified. They didn’t know what to say.
They said, “Brother, you should hae been there. You should hae been there today! Another knight came. If the first knight had a horse, this one had a better ane. A silver stallion about sixteen hands, high as you could get! And a silver suit of armour. Solid silver. It was dazzling everybody that was there. But he rode half-roads up the hill and now he’s away! And he got a golden apple. Now there’s only one apple left. The king’s going raving mad and so is his daughter. Well, tomorrow’s the last day. We’re gaun back tomorrow again. We have to; we must go back. But, if there were horses there the first day, there were twice as many the day. Jack, you missed yersel!”
Jack said, “Missed myself; what have I missed myself for? I’m no wanting to see folk climbing glass hills with horses! I would rather lie here at the fire. I’m no interested in these kinds of things.”
Anyway, he had his supper, went to bed and so did the brothers. But when he got them to bed he went away back to the forest. Polished up his golden armour, fed his horses, came back home, went to his bed.
Next morning away they go again to the carnival, the two brothers with their horses. The same thing happens again. Everybody’s trying, trying all day. Up a wee bit, sliding back, trying a wee bit, sliding down. Horses, men, knights, boys, everybody trying to get up the glass hill. Nah. It’s a waste of time. But just as it’s finishing, as the evening is coming in, they look in the distance. They see it coming! This brown horse. If the first two horses were bonnie and the armour was bonnie, this one is bonnier still: pure beaten solid gold! Just shining in the sun. And it comes right to the glass hill. It goes right up to the top and stops right beside the princess’s chair! And this knight jumps off the horse, bends down, kisses the princess, catches the other apple, jumps on the horse. Down the hill and off! Disappears in the distance. The folk’s going mad! People are shouting!
The king said, “Catch that man! Bring that man back here. I want to find out who he is!” Nobody could find out who he was. He’s gone.
So anyway, home Jack comes. Into the forest, ties up his horse, puts on his rags. Back he goes, lies down at the fire. The two brothers
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