Nowitsohappenedthatinalittlecorneroftheking’sdominions，besidethesea，therelivedapoorfisher，whohadthreesons，andtheirnameswerePeter，Paul，andJesper。PeterandPaulweregrownmen，whileJesperwasjustcomingtomanhood。
Thetwoelderbrothersweremuchbiggerandstrongerthantheyoungest，butJesperwasfarthecleverestofthethree，thoughneitherPeternorPaulwouldadmitthis。Itwasafact，however，asweshallseeinthecourseofourstory。
Onedaythefishermanwentoutfishing，andamonghiscatchforthedayhebroughthomethreedozenoysters。Whenthesewereopened，everyshellwasfoundtocontainalargeandbeautifulpearl。Hereuponthethreebrothers，atoneandthesamemoment，fellupontheideaofofferingthemselvesassuitorsfortheprincess。Aftersomediscussion，itwasagreedthatthepearlsshouldbedividedbylot，andthateachshouldhavehischanceintheorderofhisage:ofcourse，iftheoldestwassuccessfultheothertwowouldbesavedthetroubleoftrying。
NextmorningPeterputhispearlsinalittlebasket，andsetofffortheking’spalace。HehadnotgonefaronhiswaywhenhecameupontheKingoftheAntsandtheKingoftheBeetles，who，withtheirarmiesbehindthem，werefacingeachotherandpreparingforbattle。
’Comeandhelpme，’saidtheKingoftheAnts;’thebeetlesaretoobigforus。Imayhelpyousomedayinreturn。’