The Story of the Three Goblins

In Short

This concise children’s adventure tells the tale of Red-Cap, Blue-Cap, and Yellow-Cap, three goblin brothers sent into the Big World by their royal father to retrieve a stolen family heirloom. Along their path, they outwit a greedy giant, receive guidance from friendly wild creatures, slay a flame-breathing dragon, and free a captive fairy kingdom. Its enduring charm rests on its swift, unfussy storytelling, gentle humor, and timeless folklore motifs of brotherhood, small heroes overcoming giant obstacles, and courage rewarded.

The Story

Deep inside a mountain, three goblin brothers—Red-Cap, Blue-Cap, and Yellow-Cap—live under the rule of their father, King Old Black-Cap. They long to explore the Big World outside, a place they only know through the stories told by their regular guest, Rowley the green frog. When their father decides they are old enough, he reveals their mission: they must journey into the wider world to recover a magic Red Feather stolen by fairies long ago, which rightfully belongs to the mountain king. Whoever retrieves it will inherit the crown.

The brothers set off through a rabbit hole and immediately encounter low-stakes mishaps, beginning when Red-Cap gets trapped inside a rolling white object that deposits him in a river. Rescued by a helpful water-rat, the brothers reunite and find a hidden clue inside a bird's nest. The golden letter directs them to shed a serpent's blood inside a distant fairy cave.

As they travel onward, they stumble upon Tom Tiddler's Ground, a domain covered in gold and silver. Enticed by the treasure, they trespass and begin filling their pockets, only to be seized by the giant Tom Tiddler himself. Taken to his kitchen, they learn they are destined to be fried on toast for breakfast. Taking advantage of an unlocked pantry window, they slip out, scale down the thick ivy, and escape into the forest while hauling a sack full of stolen gold, which they bury for their return trip.

A friendly rabbit carries them across the dark forest to the seashore, instructing them to summon the Great Fish. The fish directs them to a white boat hidden among rocks, which sails them across the ocean to a enchanted island. Armed with a boat-hook and a bag of magical red dust provided by the rabbit, the brothers brave the island's dark cave. They blind and slay a roaring, fire-breathing dragon at the entrance, then hunt down a elusive yellow serpent in the cavern shadows.

After a fierce struggle, they kill the serpent, which miraculously transforms into the glowing Red Feather. A fairy princess appears, explaining that Tom Tiddler had cursed her kingdom, forcing them to hide the feather and transform it into a serpent to await brave rescuers. Grateful for her freedom, she enchants the feather so that whoever holds it may grant any wish. Returning home on a cart pulled by a blue bird named Pukeko, the goblins use the feather's magic to turn the pursuing giant into a crawling snail. Back at the mountain, Old Black-Cap happily crowns all three sons to rule the kingdom together.

How It Unfolds

The quest begins The goblin brothers leave their mountain home through a rabbit hole after their father tasks them with finding the stolen Red Feather. Red-Cap rolls into a river inside a strange white object but is rescued by a friendly water-rat, who directs them to a hidden clue.

The giant's pantry Yellow-Cap finds a letter in a bird's nest instructing them to seek a fairy cave and slay a serpent. On their way through a dark forest, they wander onto Tom Tiddler's Ground to gather gold, only to be captured by the giant and slated to become his breakfast.

Sailing to the island Escaping through an unlocked window with a sack of treasure, the goblins are carried to the coast by a helpful rabbit. After summoning the Great Fish, they board a magical white boat that carries them across the sea to an island.

Defeating the monsters On the island, the brothers use magical red dust to blind and slay a fire-breathing dragon guarding a dark cave. Inside, they track down a yellow serpent, which turns into the Red Feather upon its death, releasing a fairy princess from Tom Tiddler's curse.

Victory and celebration The princess endows the feather with wish-granting power, allowing the goblins to transform the chasing giant into a harmless snail. Returning to the mountain with their treasure, they are crowned joint kings by their father and host a celebration feast with their animal friends.

The People

• Red-Cap, Blue-Cap, and Yellow-Cap: The three little goblin brothers who venture into the unfamiliar Big World. They want to fulfill their father's request and prove their bravery. Despite facing tumbling mishaps, giant panters, and roaring monsters, they rely on teamwork and mutual support, ultimately earning the right to rule the mountain together.
• Old Black-Cap: The King of the Mountain and father to the three goblins. He wants his sons to grow brave enough to retrieve his lost royal heirloom, promising the crown to whoever succeeds. He shows deep affection for his boys and happily steps down to let them share the throne.
• Tom Tiddler: A tall, wicked giant wizard who guards a field of gold and silver. He wants to capture trespassers and eat them for breakfast, having previously cast a spell on the fairy kingdom. His cruelty leads to his ultimate defeat when he is permanently turned into a harmless snail.
• The Fairy Princess: The ruler of the fairy island who was cursed by Tom Tiddler to wander in bird form. She wants her realm restored and her people freed, rewarding the goblins' bravery by enchanting the recovered Red Feather.

In Its Own Voice

"Wife," said he, "put these goblins in the pantry, and we will have them fried on toast for breakfast."

The giant Tom Tiddler brings the captured brothers home to his kitchen, setting up their perilous escape from his pantry.

"You who seek the Feather Red / First the Serpent's blood must shed; / In the cave where fairies dwell / The Feather lies, so search it well."

The magical riddle found hidden beneath a bird's nest directs the brothers toward their ultimate destination.

"My dear sons," said he, taking them in his arms, "the kingdom is yours. Rule it well together, as together you have found the Feather."

Old Black-Cap embraces his sons upon their safe return, choosing to crown all three rather than pick a single victor.

What It's Really About

Beneath its swift narrative pace, the story explores the power of cooperative effort over individual rivalry. Though Old Black-Cap initially sets up a competition—promising the throne to whichever single son finds the feather—the brothers choose to work as a unified team at every turn. They share their pockets of gold, help one another out of tight spaces, and face monsters side by side.

The tale also touches on themes of hospitality and mutual aid. The goblins succeed not just through their own courage, but through the continuous aid of helpful creatures—the water-rat, rabbit, Great Fish, and Pukeko—whom they treat with gratitude and invite to their final feast.

Why Read It Today

This short story offers a delightful slice of early twentieth-century children's fantasy, ideal for young readers or parents seeking a classic read-aloud bedtime story. It moves along briskly without dwelling on lingering descriptions, maintaining an energetic narrative momentum from the opening rabbit hole to the final mushroom feast.

The tone is gently reassuring: despite the presence of dragons, serpents, and child-eating giants, the peril is handled with a light touch, ensuring young audiences feel thrilled rather than frightened. Readers who enjoy classic nursery lore—such as the traditional game of "Tom Tiddler's Ground"—will appreciate how the text weaves familiar folklore tropes into an accessible quest narrative.

Modern readers might notice the abrupt, highly episodic transitions, as the goblins move swiftly from one animal helper to the next without much internal reflection. However, this straightforward structure is precisely what gives the story its charming, fairytale clarity. It remains a sweet, uncomplicated celebration of bravery, brotherhood, and kindness rewarded.