"I've been thinking to ask your leave to set out and find my brothers."

"Nay, nay!" said his father, "that would be of no use, for you are not
clever enough. Better stay and dig in the ashes all your life."

But Boots had set his heart upon it. Go he would; and he begged and
pleaded so long that the King was forced to let him go. He gave Boots an
old broken-down nag; but Boots did not care a pin for that, he sprang up
on his sorry old steed.

"Farewell, Father," he said, "I'll come back, never fear, and likely
enough I shall bring my six brothers back with me," and with that he
rode off.

When he had ridden a while he came to a raven, which lay in the road and
flapped its wings, and was not able to get out of the way, it was so
starved.

"Oh, dear friend," said the raven, "give me a little food, and I'll help
you again at your utmost need."

"I haven't much food," said the Prince, "and I don't see how you'll ever
be able to help me; but still I can spare you a little. I see you need
it."

So he gave the raven some of the food he had brought with him.

Now, when he had gone a little farther, he came to a brook, and in the
brook lay a great salmon which had got upon a dry place and dashed