When the hunter came to the Wild Forest he found two men quarreling with each other.
He came near them in the hope that they would tell him what the quarrel was and he could settle their dispute.
Both the men turn to the hunter eagerly. “Our father just died and he has left us only two things. One of them is this cap. It is an invisibility cap and if you wear it no one can see you. The other is the shoes which can carry you through the air as swiftly as possible, to wherever you want to go.” The elder of the man angrily came forward. “Being the elder, I want to choose first. Whereas my younger brother says that being the younger he says that he has the right to the shoes. Can you settle this dispute?”
The hunter was quiet for a few seconds. “I have a suggestion for the two of you. Do you see the tree there?” The hunter pointed toward a tree on the other side.
Both the men nodded.
“If both of you race the tree and come back to me the first one shall get whatever he wishes.”
Both the men eagerly agreed to this.
They took the shoes and the cap and gave it to the hunter.
The hunter took both the things and waited for the race to start.
When the men had started running the hunter immediately put on the shoes of swiftness and the invisibility cap on his head. He wished that he was in the land East of the sun and West of the moon.
After that the hunter flew in the skies. He flew past seven Bends, seven Glens and seven mountain moors and he found himself at the crystal mountain at last.
Then he took off his invisibility cap and the shoe of swiftness.
He went to the king who had seven daughters who were dressed in swan feathers who could fly wherever they wished.
The hunter bowed to the king. “I have come to seek my wife.”
The king frowned. “Who is your wife?”
“Your youngest daughter.” The hunter replied. After that the hunter told the king how he had won her.
The king nodded. “These are my seven daughters. If you can tell them apart and know which is your wife you can take her. It is only then that I will believe that you are married to my youngest daughter.”
The hunter studied the seven women who were all exactly alike. “I will take them by their hand. It is only then that I will know who my wife is.”
The hunter said so because he remembered that his wife had sewn little dresses of her children and the forefinger of her right hand had the marks of a needle.
As soon as he touched the youngest woman he knew that this was his wife.
The king then gave them many gifts and sent them away from Crystal Mountain.
They reached home and they lived happily ever after.
Adapted from European folk tales
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