“Indeed Hans was from his nature not interested in gaining the rule of the czar; first of all he wanted to find out on which courses life was really moving.
So he cast down his eyes and was quiet.

“The kind father felt the thoughts of his youngest son and began to speak again. He explained to his sons that they did not have to worry about the mill; only one of them could marry the daughter of the czar anyway and become czar, and it would be a great honour for his house if one of his family would become the ruler over such a great empire. Besides - as for the mill - each of them could learn everything from him like he had learned his trade from his father; and therefore with regard to the mill he saw no problems. They should all three seek their fortune, and then one would see.

“They could take this task as an adventurous holiday; it would give them a chance to get out of the routine of their work and their thoughts.

“In the meantime he would take care of the mill himself, as he had done before. Yet he acknowledged the considerations of his sons, and appreciated their sense of responsibility for the ancient tradition of the family.

“But still they should get used to the thought of going some unusual way here and there - this had always happened in their family.
They could seek their fortune one by one; and if one of them realized that he had no success, he could return and send out the next one.

“The miller asked his wife to pack up enough bread for the eldest to reach the court of the czar so that he had not to carry too heavy a load on his way, and also to give him enough water on the way.
The eldest was happy with it and set out immediately.

“As he had gone for quite a while, the milleris son met an old man who came limping along on the woodland path.
The man appeared like a beggar, and walking along so laboriously he used a crooked and knotty stick as if to make his progress even more difficult.

“As if he had all the time in the world, the old man stopped at the side to give way to Henry who was briskly walking along.

“When Henry arrived at him and greeted him, and the old man replied his greeting, Henry wanted to pass by but the beggar asked him for some bread.

“Henry knew that he had just enough on him as needed for the way to the court of the czar. But since he had let down his important responsibility at the mill he did not want to risk not to arrive at the goal; in that case heid better stayed at home in the first place.

“And who knows how much longer it would take him to get the ship. Again he saw big difficulties coming up. It was certainly not easy to find such an efficient ship-wright.