Theboysgrewfast。Ineverydaytheygrewayear’sgrowth，andineverynightanotheryear’sgrowth，butatdawn，whenthestarswerefading，theygrewthreeyears’growthinthetwinklingofaneye。Andtheygrewinotherthingsbesidesheight，too。Thriceinage，andthriceinwisdom，andthriceinknowledge。Andwhenthreedaysandthreenightshadpassedtheyweretwelveyearsinage，twenty—fourinstrength，andthirty—sixinwisdom。
’Nowtakeustoourfather，’saidthey。Sothefishermangavethemeachalambskincapwhichhalfcoveredtheirfaces，andcompletelyhidtheirgoldenhairandthestarsontheirforeheads，andledthemtothecourt。
Bythetimetheyarrivedthereitwasmidday，andthefishermanandhischargeswentuptoanofficialwhowasstandingabout。
’Wewishtospeakwiththeemperor，’saidoneoftheboys。
’Youmustwaituntilhehasfinishedhisdinner，’repliedtheporter。