Once on a time there was a man, and he had a wife. They had a son and a
daughter who were twins, and these were so alike that no one could tell
one from the other except by their clothing. The boy they called Peik.
He was of little use while his father and mother lived, for he cared to
do naught else than to befool folk, and he was so full of tricks and
pranks that no one was left in peace. When the parents died, matters
grew still worse and worse. He would not turn his hand to anything. All
he would do was to squander what they left behind them.

His sister toiled and moiled all she could, but it helped little; so at
last she told him how silly it was to do naught for the house.

"What shall we have to live on when you have wasted everything?"
she said.

"Oh, I'll go out and befool somebody," said Peik.

"Yes, Peik, I'll be bound you'll do that soon enough," said the sister.

"Well, I'll try," said Peik.

At last they had indeed nothing more. There was an end of everything;
and Peik started off, and walked and walked till he came to the King's
palace.

Now, I must tell you, this King and his queen and eldest daughter were
little better than trolls,--mean and hateful and very foolish,--so there
was no love lost between them and the people.

When Peik came to the King's palace, there stood the King in the porch,