A king had a beautiful garden with a golden apple tree. These golden apples were counted every day. Once they began to ripen, one golden apple went missing every night. The king became very angry and ordered the gardener to keep watch all night. The gardener's eldest son set watch, but before midnight, he fell asleep, and in the morning another apple was missing. Then the second son tried, but he too fell asleep, and another apple was gone. Then the third son offered to try, but the gardener refused. At last, he consented, and the young man kept watch under the tree. At midnight, he saw a golden bird snapping at an apple. He jumped up and shot an arrow at it. The bird escaped but dropped a golden tail feather. The golden feather was brought to the king. All of his council agreed it was worth more than all the kingdom's wealth, but the king said, "One feather is not enough. I must have the whole bird." Then the eldest son set out, thinking he would find the golden bird easily. When he had gone just a little way, he came to a wood where he saw a fox. He started to shoot at it. Then the fox said, "Do not shoot me, for I will give you good counsel. I know you want to find the golden bird. You will reach a village with two inns. One is very pleasant and beautiful, but do not go there. Stay in the other, though it may appear very poor and mean." But the son thought, "What can a fox know?" So he shot at the fox. He missed, and it ran into the wood. Then he continued and came to a village with two inns. In one, people were singing, dancing, and feasting, but the other looked dirty and poor. "I should be very silly," said he, "if I went to that shabby house." So he went into the smart house, ate, drank, and forgot about the bird. Time passed, and the eldest son did not return, and no tidings were heard of him. The second son set out, and the same thing happened to him. He met the fox, who gave him the same advice. When he came to the two inns, his eldest brother called him to join the merr