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diff --git a/3282-h/3282-h.htm b/3282-h/3282-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..5439d61 --- /dev/null +++ b/3282-h/3282-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,13497 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" +"http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=utf-8" /> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> +<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Brown Fairy Book, by Various</title> + +<style type="text/css" xml:space="preserve"> + +body { margin-left: 20%; + margin-right: 20%; + text-align: justify; } + +h1, h2, h3, h4, h5 {text-align: center; font-style: normal; font-weight: +normal; line-height: 1.5; margin-top: .5em; margin-bottom: .5em;} + +h1 {font-size: 300%; + margin-top: 0.6em; + margin-bottom: 0.6em; + letter-spacing: 0.12em; + word-spacing: 0.2em; + text-indent: 0em;} +h2 {font-size: 150%; margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 1em;} +h3 {font-size: 130%; margin-top: 1em;} +h4 {font-size: 120%;} +h5 {font-size: 110%;} + +.no-break {page-break-before: avoid;} /* for epubs */ + +div.chapter {page-break-before: always; margin-top: 4em;} + +hr {width: 80%; margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 2em;} + +p {text-indent: 1em; + margin-top: 0.25em; + margin-bottom: 0.25em; } + +p.center {text-align: center; + text-indent: 0em; + margin-top: 1em; + margin-bottom: 1em; } + +p.footnote {font-size: 90%; + text-indent: 0%; + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + margin-top: 1em; + margin-bottom: 1em; } + +sup { vertical-align: top; font-size: 0.6em; } + +a:link {color:blue; text-decoration:none} +a:visited {color:blue; text-decoration:none} +a:hover {color:red} + +</style> +</head> +<body> + +<div style='text-align:center; font-size:1.2em; font-weight:bold'>The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Brown Fairy Book</div> +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and +most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions +whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms +of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online +at <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. If you +are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the +country where you are located before using this eBook. +</div> +<div style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Title: The Brown Fairy Book</div> +<div style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Author: Various</div> +<div style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Editor: Andrew Lang</div> +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Release Date: March 12, 2001 [eBook #3282]<br /> +[Most recently updated: March 14, 2023]</div> +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Language: English</div> +<div style='display:block; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Produced by: J.C. Byers, L.M. Shaffer and David Widger</div> +<div style='margin-top:2em; margin-bottom:4em'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BROWN FAIRY BOOK ***</div> + +<h1>THE BROWN FAIRY BOOK</h1> + +<h2 class="no-break">Edited by Andrew Lang</h2> + +<hr /> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<p class="center"> +Dedicated<br/> +to<br/> +Diana Scott Lang +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap00"></a> +Preface</h2> + +<p> +The stories in this Fairy Book come from all quarters of the world. For +example, the adventures of “Ball-Carrier and the Bad One” are told by Red +Indian grandmothers to Red Indian children who never go to school, nor see pen +and ink. “The Bunyip” is known to even more uneducated little ones, running +about with no clothes at all in the bush, in Australia. You may see photographs +of these merry little black fellows before their troubles begin, in “Northern +Races of Central Australia,” by Messrs. Spencer and Gillen. They have no +lessons except in tracking and catching birds, beasts, fishes, lizards, and +snakes, all of which they eat. But when they grow up to be big boys and girls, +they are cruelly cut about with stone knives and frightened with sham bogies +all for their good their parents say and I think they would rather go to +school, if they had their choice, and take their chance of being birched and +bullied. However, many boys might think it better fun to begin to learn hunting +as soon as they can walk. Other stories, like “The Sacred Milk of Koumongoé,” +come from the Kaffirs in Africa, whose dear papas are not so poor as those in +Australia, but have plenty of cattle and milk, and good mealies to eat, and +live in houses like very big bee-hives, and wear clothes of a sort, though not +very like our own. “Pivi and Kabo” is a tale from the brown people in the +island of New Caledonia, where a boy is never allowed to speak to or even look +at his own sisters; nobody knows why, so curious are the manners of this remote +island. The story shows the advantages of good manners and pleasant behaviour; +and the natives do not now cook and eat each other, but live on fish, +vegetables, pork, and chickens, and dwell in houses. “What the Rose did to the +Cypress,” is a story from Persia, where the people, of course, are civilised, +and much like those of whom you read in “The Arabian Nights.” Then there are +tales like “The Fox and the Lapp” from the very north of Europe, where it is +dark for half the year and day-light for the other half. The Lapps are a people +not fond of soap and water, and very much given to art magic. Then there are +tales from India, told to Major Campbell, who wrote them out, by Hindoos; these +stories are “Wali Dâd the Simple-hearted,” and “The King who would be Stronger +than Fate,” but was not so clever as his daughter. From Brazil, in South +America, comes “The Tortoise and the Mischievous Monkey,” with the adventures +of other animals. Other tales are told in various parts of Europe, and in many +languages; but all people, black, white, brown, red, and yellow, are like each +other when they tell stories; for these are meant for children, who like the +same sort of thing, whether they go to school and wear clothes, or, on the +other hand, wear skins of beasts, or even nothing at all, and live on grubs and +lizards and hawks and crows and serpents, like the little Australian blacks. +</p> + +<p> +The tale of “What the Rose did to the Cypress,” is translated out of a Persian +manuscript by Mrs. Beveridge. “Pivi and Kabo” is translated by the Editor from +a French version; “Asmund and Signy” by Miss Blackley; the Indian stories by +Major Campbell, and all the rest are told by Mrs. Lang, who does not give them +exactly as they are told by all sorts of outlandish natives, but makes them up +in the hope white people will like them, skipping the pieces which they will +not like. That is how this Fairy Book was made up for your entertainment. +</p> + +<hr /> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> + +<table summary="" style=""> +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap00">Preface</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap01">What the Rose did to the Cypress</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2H_FOOT">Footnotes</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap02">Ball-carrier and the Bad One</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap03">How Ball-carrier Finished His Task</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap04">The Bunyip</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap05">Father Grumbler</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap06">The Story of the Yara</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap07">The Cunning Hare</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap08">The Turtle and His Bride</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap09">How Geirald The Coward Was Punished</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap10">Hábogi</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap11">How the Little Brother Set Free His Big Brothers</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap12">The Sacred Milk of Koumongoé</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap13">The Wicked Wolverine</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap14">The Husband of the Rat’s Daughter</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap15">The Mermaid and the Boy</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap16">Pivi and Kabo</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap17">The Elf Maiden</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap18">How Some Wild Animals Became Tame Ones</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap19">Fortune and the Wood-Cutter</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap20">The Enchanted Head</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap21">The Sister of the Sun</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap22">The Prince and the Three Fates</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap23">The Fox and the Lapp</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap24">Kisa the Cat</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap25">The Lion and the Cat</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap26">Which was the Foolishest?</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap27">Asmund and Signy</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap28">Rübezahl</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap29">Story Of The King Who Would Be Stronger Than Fate</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap30">Story of Wali Dâd the Simple-Hearted</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap31">Tale of a Tortoise and of a Mischievous Monkey</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap32">The Knights of the Fish</a></td> +</tr> + +</table> + +<hr /> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2>The Brown Fairy Book</h2> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap01"></a> +What the Rose did to the Cypress<a href="#linknote-1" +name="linknoteref-1"><sup>[1]</sup></a></h2> + +<p> +Once upon a time a great king of the East, named Saman-lalposh,<a +href="#linknote-2" name="linknoteref-2"><sup>[2]</sup></a> had three brave +and clever sons—Tahmasp, Qamas, and Almas-ruh-baksh.<a href="#linknote-3" +name="linknoteref-3"><sup>[3]</sup></a> One day, when the king was sitting in +his hall of audience, his eldest son, Prince Tahmasp, came before him, and +after greeting his father with due respect, said: “O my royal father! I am +tired of the town; if you will give me leave, I will take my servants to-morrow +and will go into the country and hunt on the hill-skirts; and when I have taken +some game I will come back, at evening-prayer time.” His father consented, and +sent with him some of his own trusted servants, and also hawks, and falcons, +hunting dogs, cheetahs and leopards. +</p> + +<p> +At the place where the prince intended to hunt he saw a most beautiful deer. He +ordered that it should not be killed, but trapped or captured with a noose. The +deer looked about for a place where he might escape from the ring of the +beaters, and spied one unwatched close to the prince himself. It bounded high +and leaped right over his head, got out of the ring, and tore like the eastern +wind into the waste. The prince put spurs to his horse and pursued it; and was +soon lost to the sight of his followers. Until the world-lighting sun stood +above his head in the zenith he did not take his eyes off the deer; suddenly it +disappeared behind some rising ground, and with all his search he could not +find any further trace of it. He was now drenched in sweat, and he breathed +with pain; and his horse’s tongue hung from its mouth with thirst. He +dismounted and toiled on, with bridle on arm, praying and casting himself on +the mercy of heaven. Then his horse fell and surrendered its life to God. On +and on he went across the sandy waste, weeping and with burning breast, till at +length a hill rose into sight. He mustered his strength and climbed to the top, +and there he found a giant tree whose foot kept firm the wrinkled earth, and +whose crest touched the very heaven. Its branches had put forth a glory of +leaves, and there were grass and a spring underneath it, and flowers of many +colours. +</p> + +<p> +Gladdened by this sight, he dragged himself to the water’s edge, drank his +fill, and returned thanks for his deliverance from thirst. +</p> + +<p> +He looked about him and, to his amazement, saw close by a royal seat. While he +was pondering what could have brought this into the merciless desert, a man +drew near who was dressed like a faqir, and had bare head and feet, but walked +with the free carriage of a person of rank. His face was kind, and wise and +thoughtful, and he came on and spoke to the prince. +</p> + +<p> +“O good youth! how did you come here? Who are you? Where do you come from?” +</p> + +<p> +The prince told everything just as it had happened to him, and then +respectfully added: “I have made known my own circumstances to you, and now I +venture to beg you to tell me your own. Who are you? How did you come to make +your dwelling in this wilderness?” +</p> + +<p> +To this the faqir replied: “O youth! it would be best for you to have nothing +to do with me and to know nothing of my fortunes, for my story is fit neither +for telling nor for hearing.” The prince, however, pleaded so hard to be told, +that at last there was nothing to be done but to let him hear. +</p> + +<p> +“Learn and know, O young man! that I am King Janangir<a href="#linknote-4" +name="linknoteref-4" ><sup>[4]</sup></a> of Babylon, and that once I had army +and servants, family and treasure; untold wealth and belongings. The Most High +God gave me seven sons who grew up well versed in all princely arts. My eldest +son heard from travellers that in Turkistan, on the Chinese frontier, there is +a king named Quimus, the son of Timus, and that he has an only child, a +daughter named Mihr-afruz,<a href="#linknote-5" +name="linknoteref-5"><sup>[5]</sup></a> who, under all the azure heaven, is +unrivalled for beauty. Princes come from all quarters to ask her hand, and on +one and all she imposes a condition. She says to them: ‘I know a riddle; and I +will marry anyone who answers it, and will bestow on him all my possessions. +But if a suitor cannot answer my question I cut off his head and hang it on the +battlements of the citadel.’ The riddle she asks is, ‘What did the rose do to +the cypress?’ +</p> + +<p> +“Now, when my son heard this tale, he fell in love with that unseen girl, and +he came to me lamenting and bewailing himself. Nothing that I could say had the +slightest effect on him. I said: ‘Oh my son! if there must be fruit of this +fancy of yours, I will lead forth a great army against King Quimus. If he will +give you his daughter freely, well and good; and if not, I will ravage his +kingdom and bring her away by force.’ This plan did not please him; he said: +‘It is not right to lay a kingdom waste and to destroy a palace so that I may +attain my desire. I will go alone; I will answer the riddle, and win her in +this way.’ At last, out of pity for him, I let him go. He reached the city of +King Quimus. He was asked the riddle and could not give the true answer; and +his head was cut off and hung upon the battlements. Then I mourned him in black +raiment for forty days. +</p> + +<p> +After this another and another of my sons were seized by the same desire, and +in the end all my seven sons went, and all were killed. In grief for their +death I have abandoned my throne, and I abide here in this desert, withholding +my hand from all State business and wearing myself away in sorrow.” +</p> + +<p> +Prince Tahmasp listened to this tale, and then the arrow of love for that +unseen girl struck his heart also. Just at this moment of his ill-fate his +people came up, and gathered round him like moths round a light. They brought +him a horse, fleet as the breeze of the dawn; he set his willing foot in the +stirrup of safety and rode off. As the days went by the thorn of love rankled +in his heart, and he became the very example of lovers, and grew faint and +feeble. At last his confidants searched his heart and lifted the veil from the +face of his love, and then set the matter before his father, King +Saman-lal-posh. “Your son, Prince Tahmasp, loves distractedly the Princess +Mihr-afruz, daughter of King Quimus, son of Timus.” Then they told the king all +about her and her doings. A mist of sadness clouded the king’s mind, and he +said to his son: “If this thing is so, I will in the first place send a courier +with friendly letters to King Quimus, and will ask the hand of his daughter for +you. I will send an abundance of gifts, and a string of camels laden with +flashing stones and rubies of Badakhsham In this way I will bring her and her +suite, and I will give her to you to be your solace. But if King Quimus is +unwilling to give her to you, I will pour a whirlwind of soldiers upon him, and +I will bring to you, in this way, that most consequential of girls.” But the +prince said that this plan would not be right, and that he would go himself, +and would answer the riddle. Then the king’s wise men said: “This is a very +weighty matter; it would be best to allow the prince to set out accompanied by +some persons in whom you have confidence. Maybe he will repent and come back.” +So King Saman ordered all preparations for the journey to be made, and then +Prince Tahmasp took his leave and set out, accompanied by some of the +courtiers, and taking with him a string of two-humped and raven-eyed camels +laden with jewels, and gold, and costly stuffs. +</p> + +<p> +By stage after stage, and after many days’ journeying, he arrived at the city +of King Quimus. What did he see? A towering citadel whose foot kept firm the +wrinkled earth, and whose battlements touched the blue heaven. He saw hanging +from its battlements many heads, but it had not the least effect upon him that +these were heads of men of rank; he listened to no advice about laying aside +his fancy, but rode up to the gate and on into the heart of the city. The place +was so splendid that the eyes of the ages have never seen its like, and there, +in an open square, he found a tent of crimson satin set up, and beneath it two +jewelled drums with jewelled sticks. These drums were put there so that the +suitors of the princess might announce their arrival by beating on them, after +which some one would come and take them to the king’s presence. The sight of +the drums stirred the fire of Prince Tahmasp’s love. He dismounted, and moved +towards them; but his companions hurried after and begged him first to let them +go and announce him to the king, and said that then, when they had put their +possessions in a place of security, they would enter into the all important +matter of the princess. The prince, however, replied that he was there for one +thing only; that his first duty was to beat the drums and announce himself as a +suitor, when he would be taken, as such, to the king, who would then give him +proper lodgment. So he struck upon the drums, and at once summoned an officer +who took him to King Quimus. +</p> + +<p> +When the king saw how very young the prince looked, and that he was still +drinking of the fountain of wonder, he said: “O youth! leave aside this fancy +which my daughter has conceived in the pride of her beauty. No one can answer +er her riddle, and she has done to death many men who had had no pleasure in +life nor tasted its charms. God forbid that your spring also should be ravaged +by the autumn winds of martyrdom.” All his urgency, however, had no effect in +making the prince withdraw. At length it was settled between them that three +days should be given to pleasant hospitality and that then should follow what +had to be said and done. Then the prince went to his own quarters and was +treated as became his station. +</p> + +<p> +King Quimus now sent for his daughter and for her mother, Gulrukh,<a +href="#linknote-6" name="linknoteref-6"><sup>[6]</sup></a> and talked to +them. He said to Mibrafruz: “Listen to me, you cruel flirt! Why do you persist +in this folly? Now there has come to ask your hand a prince of the east, so +handsome that the very sun grows modest before the splendour of his face; he is +rich, and he has brought gold and jewels, all for you, if you will marry him. A +better husband you will not find.” +</p> + +<p> +But all the arguments of father and mother were wasted, for her only answer +was: “O my father! I have sworn to myself that I will not marry, even if a +thousand years go by, unless someone answers my riddle, and that I will give +myself to that man only who does answer it.” +</p> + +<p> +The three days passed; then the riddle was asked: “What did the rose do to the +cypress?” The prince had an eloquent tongue, which could split a hair, and +without hesitation he replied to her with a verse: “Only the Omnipotent has +knowledge of secrets; if any man says, ‘I know’ do not believe him.” +</p> + +<p> +Then a servant fetched in the polluted, blue-eyed headsman, who asked: “Whose +sun of life has come near its setting?” took the prince by the arm, placed him +upon the cloth of execution, and then, all merciless and stony hearted, cut his +head from his body and hung it on the battlements. +</p> + +<p> +The news of the death of Prince Tahmasp plunged his father into despair and +stupefaction. He mourned for him in black raiment for forty days; and then, a +few days later, his second son, Prince Qamas, extracted from him leave to go +too; and he, also, was put to death. One son only now remained, the brave, +eloquent, happy-natured Prince Almas-ruh-bakhsh. One day, when his father sat +brooding over his lost children, Almas came before him and said: “O father +mine! the daughter of King Quimus has done my two brothers to death; I wish to +avenge them upon her.” These words brought his father to tears. “O light of +your father!” he cried, “I have no one left but you, and now you ask me to let +you go to your death.” +</p> + +<p> +“Dear father!” pleaded the prince, “until I have lowered the pride of that +beauty, and have set her here before you, I cannot settle down or indeed sit +down off my feet.” +</p> + +<p> +In the end he, too, got leave to go; but he went a without a following and +alone. Like his brothers, he made the long journey to the city of Quimus the +son of Timus; like them he saw the citadel, but he saw there the heads of +Tahmasp and Qamas. He went about in the city, saw the tent and the drums, and +then went out again to a village not far off. Here he found out a very old man +who had a wife 120 years old, or rather more. Their lives were coming to their +end, but they had never beheld face of child of their own. They were glad when +the prince came to their house, and they dealt with him as with a son. He put +all his belongings into their charge, and fastened his horse in their +out-house. Then he asked them not to speak of him to anyone, and to keep his +affairs secret. He exchanged his royal dress for another, and next morning, +just as the sun looked forth from its eastern oratory, he went again into the +city. He turned over in his mind without ceasing how he was to find out the +meaning of the riddle, and to give them a right answer, and who could help him, +and how to avenge his brothers. He wandered about the city, but heard nothing +of service, for there was no one in all that land who understood the riddle of +Princess Mihr-afruz. +</p> + +<p> +One day he thought he would go to her own palace and see if he could learn +anything there, so he went out to her garden-house. It was a very splendid +place, with a wonderful gateway, and walls like Alexander’s ramparts. Many +gate-keepers were on guard, and there was no chance of passing them. His heart +was full of bitterness, but he said to himself: “All will be well! it is here I +shall get what I want.” He went round outside the garden wall hoping to find a +gap, and he made supplication in the Court of Supplications and prayed, “O +Holder of the hand of the helpless! show me my way.” +</p> + +<p> +While he prayed he bethought himself that he could get into the garden with a +stream of inflowing water. He looked carefully round, fearing to be seen, +stripped, slid into the stream and was carried within the great walls. There he +hid himself till his loin cloth was dry. The garden was a very Eden, with +running water amongst its lawns, with flowers and the lament of doves and the +jug-jug of nightingales. It was a place to steal the senses from the brain, and +he wandered about and saw the house, but there seemed to be no one there. In +the forecourt was a royal seat of polished jasper, and in the middle of the +platform was a basin of purest water that flashed like a mirror. He pleased +himself with these sights for a while, and then went back to the garden and hid +himself from the gardeners and passed the night. Next morning he put on the +appearance of a madman and wandered about till he came to a lawn where several +pert-faced girls were amusing themselves. On a throne, jewelled and overspread +with silken stuffs, sat a girl the splendour of whose beauty lighted up the +place, and whose ambergris and attar perfumed the whole air. “That must be +Mihrafruz,” he thought, “she is indeed lovely.” Just then one of the attendants +came to the water’s edge to fill a cup, and though the prince was in hiding, +his face was reflected in the water. When she saw this image she was +frightened, and let her cup fall into the stream, and thought, “Is it an angel, +or a peri, or a man?” Fear and trembling took hold of her, and she screamed as +women scream. Then some of the other girls came and took her to the princess +who asked: “What is the matter, pretty one?” +</p> + +<p> +“O princess! I went for water, and I saw an image, and I was afraid.” So +another girl went to the water and saw the same thing, and came back with the +same story. The princess wished to see for herself; she rose and paced to the +spot with the march of a prancing peacock. When she saw the image she said to +her nurse: “Find out who is reflected in the water, and where he lives.” Her +words reached the prince’s ear, he lifted up his head; she saw him and beheld +beauty such as she had never seen before. She lost a hundred hearts to him, and +signed to her nurse to bring him to her presence. The prince let himself be +persuaded to go with the nurse, but when the princess questioned him as to who +he was and how he had got into her garden, he behaved like a man out of his +mind—sometimes smiling, sometimes crying, and saying: “I am hungry,” Or words +misplaced and random, civil mixed with the rude. +</p> + +<p> +“What a pity!” said the princess, “he is mad!” As she liked him she said: “He +is my madman; let no one hurt him.” She took him to her house and told him not +to go away, for that she would provide for all his wants. The prince thought, +“It would be excellent if here, in her very house, I could get the answer to +her riddle; but I must be silent, on pain of death.” +</p> + +<p> +Now in the princess’s household there was a girl called Dil-aram<a +href="#linknote-7" name="linknoteref-7"><sup>[7]</sup></a>; she it was who +had first seen the image of the prince. She came to love him very much, and she +spent day and night thinking how she could make her affection known to him. One +day she escaped from the princess’s notice and went to the prince, and laid her +head on his feet and said: “Heaven has bestowed on you beauty and charm. Tell +me your secret; who are you, and how did you come here? I love you very much, +and if you would like to leave this place I will go with you. I have wealth +equal to the treasure of the miserly Qarun.” But the prince only made answer +like a man distraught, and told her nothing. He said to himself, “God forbid +that the veil should be taken in vain from my secret; that would indeed +disgrace me.” So, with streaming eyes and burning breast, Dil-aram arose and +went to her house and lamented and fretted. +</p> + +<p> +Now whenever the princess commanded the prince’s attendance, Dil-aram, of all +the girls, paid him attention and waited on him best. The princess noticed +this, and said: “O Dil-aram! you must take my madman into your charge and give +him whatever he wants.” This was the very thing Dilaram had prayed for. A +little later she took the prince into a private place and she made him take an +oath of secrecy, and she herself took one and swore, “By Heaven! I will not +tell your secret. Tell me all about yourself so that I may help you to get what +you want.” The prince now recognised in her words the perfume of true love, and +he made compact with her. “O lovely girl! I want to know what the rose did to +the cypress. Your mistress cuts off men’s heads because of this riddle; what is +at the bottom of it, and why does she do it?” Then Dil-aram answered: “If you +will promise to marry me and to keep me always amongst those you favour, I will +tell you all I know, and I will keep watch about the riddle.” +</p> + +<p> +“O lovely girl,” rejoined he, “if I accomplish my purpose, so that I need no +longer strive for it, I will keep my compact with you. When I have this woman +in my power and have avenged my brothers, I will make you my solace.” +</p> + +<p> +“O wealth of my life and source of my joy!” responded Dil-aram, “I do not know +what the rose did to the cypress; but so much I know that the person who told +Mihr-afruz about it is a negro whom she hides under her throne. He fled here +from Waq of the Caucasus—it is there you must make inquiry; there is no other +way of getting at the truth.“On hearing these words, the prince said to his +heart, “O my heart! your task will yet wear away much of your life.” +</p> + +<p> +He fell into long and far thought, and Dil-aram looked at him and said: “O my +life and my soul! do not be sad. If you would like this woman killed, I will +put poison into her cup so that she will never lift her head from her drugged +sleep again.” +</p> + +<p> +“O Dil-aram! such a vengeance is not manly. I shall not rest till I have gone +to Waq of the Caucasus and have cleared up the matter.” Then they repeated the +agreement about their marriage, and bade one another goodbye. +</p> + +<p> +The prince now went back to the village, and told the old man that he was +setting out on a long journey, and begged him not to be anxious, and to keep +safe the goods which had been entrusted to him. +</p> + +<p> +The prince had not the least knowledge of the way to Waq of the Caucasus, and +was cast down by the sense of his helplessness. He was walking along by his +horse’s side when there appeared before him an old man of serene countenance, +dressed in green and carrying a staff, who resembled Khizr.<a +href="#linknote-8" name="linknoteref-8"><sup>[8]</sup></a> The prince thanked +heaven, laid the hands of reverence on his breast and salaamed. The old man +returned the greeting graciously, and asked: “How fare you? Whither are you +bound? You look like a traveller.” +</p> + +<p> +“O revered saint! I am in this difficulty: I do not know the way to Waq of the +Caucasus.” The old man of good counsel looked at the young prince and said: +“Turn back from this dangerous undertaking. Do not go; choose some other task! +If you had a hundred lives you would not bring one out safe from this journey.” +But his words had no effect on the prince’s resolve. “What object have you,” +the old man asked, “in thus consuming your life?” +</p> + +<p> +“I have an important piece of business to do, and only this journey makes it +possible. I must go; I pray you, ill God’s name, tell me the way.” +</p> + +<p> +When the saint saw that the prince was not to be moved, he said: “Learn and +know, O youth! that Waq of Qaf is in the Caucasus and is a dependency of it. In +it there are jins, demons, and peris. You must go on along this road till it +forks into three; take neither the right hand nor the left, but the middle +path. Follow this for a day and a night. Then you will come to a column on +which is a marble slab inscribed with Cufic characters. Do what is written +there; beware of disobedience.” Then he gave his good wishes for the journey +and his blessing, and the prince kissed his feet, said good-bye, and, with +thanks to the Causer of Causes, took the road. +</p> + +<p> +After a day and a night he saw the column rise in silent beauty to the heavens. +Everything was as the wise old man had said it would be, and the prince, who +was skilled in all tongues, read the following Cufic inscription: “O +travellers! be it known to you that this column has been set up with its tablet +to give true directions about these roads. If a man would pass his life in ease +and pleasantness, let him take the right-hand path. If he take the left, he +will have some trouble, but he will reach his goal without much delay. Woe to +him who chooses the middle path! if he had a thousand lives he would not save +one; it is very hazardous; it leads to the Caucasus, and is an endless road. +Beware of it!” +</p> + +<p> +The prince read and bared his head and lifted his hands in supplication to Him +who has no needs, and prayed, “O Friend of the traveller! I, Thy servant, come +to Thee for succour. My purpose lies in the land of Qaf and my road is full of +peril. Lead me by it.” Then he took a handful of earth and cast it on his +collar, and said: “O earth! be thou my grave; and O vest! tee thou my +winding-sheet!” Then he took the middle road and went along it, day after day, +with many a silent prayer, till he saw trees rise from the weary waste of sand. +They grew in a garden, and he went up to the gate and found it a slab of +beautifully worked marble, and that near it there lay sleeping, with his head +on a stone, a negro whose face was so black that it made darkness round him. +His upper lip, arched like an eyebrow, curved upwards to his nostrils and his +lower hung down like a camel’s. Four millstones formed his shield, and on a +box-tree close by hung his giant sword. His loin-cloth was fashioned of twelve +skins of beasts, and was bound round his waist by a chain of which each link +was as big as an elephant’s thigh. +</p> + +<p> +The prince approached and tied up his horse near the negro’s head. Then he let +fall the Bismillah from his lips, entered the garden and walked through it till +he came to the private part, delighting in the great trees, the lovely verdure, +and the flowery borders. In the inner garden there were very many deer. These +signed to him with eye and foot to go back, for that this was enchanted ground; +but he did not understand them, and thought their pretty gestures were a +welcome. After a while he reached a palace which had a porch more splendid than +Caesar’s, and was built of gold and silver bricks. In its midst was a high +seat, overlaid with fine carpets, and into it opened eight doors, each having +opposite to it a marble basin. +</p> + +<p> +Banishing care, Prince Almas walked on through the garden, when suddenly a +window opened and a girl, who was lovely enough to make the moon writhe with +jealousy, put out her head. She lost her heart to the good looks of the prince, +and sent her nurse to fetch him so that she might learn where he came from and +how he had got into her private garden where even lions and wolves did not +venture. The nurse went, and was struck with amazement at the sun-like radiance +of his face; she salaamed and said: “O youth! welcome! the lady of the garden +calls you; come!” He went with her and into a palace which was like a house in +Paradise, and saw seated on the royal carpets of the throne a girl whose +brilliance shamed the shining sun. He salaamed; she rose, took him by the hand +and placed him near her. “O young man! who are you? Where do you come from? How +did you get into this garden?” He told her his story from beginning to end, and +Lady Latifa<a href="#linknote-9" name="linknoteref-9"><sup>[9]</sup></a> +replied: “This is folly! It will make you a vagabond of the earth, and lead you +to destruction. Come, cease such talk! No one can go to the Caucasus. Stay with +me and be thankful, for here is a throne which you can share with me, and in my +society you can enjoy my wealth. I will do whatever you wish; I will bring here +King Qulmus and his daughter, and you can deal with them as you will.” +</p> + +<p> +“O Lady Latifa,” he said, “I have made a compact with heaven not to sit down +off my feet till I have been to Waq of Qaf and have cleared up this matter, and +have taken Mihrafruz from her father, as brave men take, and have put her in +prison. When I have done all this I will come back to you in state and with a +great following, and I will marry you according to the law.” Lady Latifa argued +and urged her wishes, but in vain; the prince was not to be moved. Then she +called to the cupbearers for new wine, for she thought that when his head was +hot with it he might consent to stay. The pure, clear wine was brought; she +filled a cup and gave to him. He said: “O most enchanting sweetheart! it is the +rule for the host to drink first and then the guest.” So to make him lose his +head, she drained the cup; then filled it again and gave him. He drank it off, +and she took a lute from one of the singers and played upon it with skill which +witched away the sense of all who heard. But it was all in vain; three days +passed in such festivities, and on the fourth the prince said: “O joy of my +eyes! I beg now that you will bid me farewell, for my way is long and the fire +of your love darts flame into the harvest of my heart. By heaven’s grace I may +accomplish my purpose, and, if so, I will come back to you.” +</p> + +<p> +Now she saw that she could not in any way change his resolve, she told her +nurse to bring a certain casket which contained, she said, something +exhilarating which would help the prince on his journey. The box was brought, +and she divided off a portion of what was within and gave it to the prince to +eat. Then, and while he was all unaware, she put forth her hand to a stick +fashioned like a snake; she said some words over it and struck him so sharply +on the shoulder that he cried out; then he made a pirouette and found that he +was a deer. +</p> + +<p> +When he knew what had been done to him he thought, “All the threads of +affliction are gathered together; I have lost my last chance!” He tried to +escape, but the magician sent for her goldsmith, who, coming, overlaid the +deer-horns with gold and jewels. The kerchief which that day she had had in her +hand was then tied round its neck, and this freed it from her attentions. +</p> + +<p> +The prince-deer now bounded into the garden and at once sought some way of +escape. It found none, and it joined the other deer, which soon made it their +leader. Now, although the prince had been transformed into the form of a deer, +he kept his man’s heart and mind. He said to himself, “Thank heaven that the +Lady Latifa has changed me into this shape, for at least deer are beautiful.” +He remained for some time living as a deer amongst the rest, but at length +resolved that an end to such a life must be put ill some way. He looked again +for some place by which he could get out of the magic garden. Following round +the wall he reached a lower part; he remembered the Divine Names and flung +himself over, saying, “Whatever happens is by the will of God.” When he looked +about he found that he was in the very same place he had jumped from; there was +the palace, there the garden and the deer! Eight times he leaped over the wall +and eight times found himself where he had started from; but after the ninth +leap there was a change, there was a palace and there was a garden, but the +deer were gone. +</p> + +<p> +Presently a girl of such moon-like beauty opened a window that the prince lost +to her a hundred hearts. She was delighted with the beautiful deer, and cried +to her nurse: “Catch it! if you will I will give you this necklace, every pearl +of which is worth a kingdom.” The nurse coveted the pearls, but as she was +three hundred years old she did not know how she could catch a deer. However, +she went down into the garden and held out some grass, but when she went near +the creature ran away. The girl watched with great excitement from the palace +window, and called: “O nurse, if you don’t catch it, I will kill you!” “I am +killing myself,” shouted back the old woman. The girl saw that nurse tottering +along and went down to help, marching with the gait of a prancing peacock. When +she saw the gilded horns and the kerchief she said: “It must be accustomed to +the hand, and be some royal pet!” The prince had it in mind that this might be +another magician who could give him some other shape, but still it seemed best +to allow himself to be caught. So he played about the girl and let her catch +him by the neck. A leash was brought, fruits were given, and it was caressed +with delight. It was taken to the palace and tied at the foot of the Lady +Jamila’s raised seat, but she ordered a longer cord to be brought so that it +might be able to jump up beside her. +</p> + +<p> +When the nurse went to fix the cord she saw tears falling from its eyes, and +that it was dejected and sorrowful “O Lady Jamila! this is a wonderful deer, it +is crying; I never saw a deer cry before.” Jamila darted down like a flash of +lightning, and saw that it was so. It rubbed its head on her feet and then +shook it so sadly that the girl cried for sympathy. She patted it and said: +“Why are you sad, my heart? Why do you cry, my soul? Is it because I have +caught you? I love you better than my own life.” But, spite of her comforting, +it cried the more. Then Jamila said: “Unless I am mistaken, this is the work of +my wicked sister Latifa, who by magic art turns servants of God into beasts of +the field.” At these words the deer uttered sounds, and laid its head on her +feet. Then Jamila was sure it was a man, and said: “Be comforted, I will +restore you to your own shape.” She bathed herself and ordered the deer to be +bathed, put on clean raiment, called for a box which stood in an alcove, opened +it and gave a portion of what was in it to the deer to eat. Then she slipped +her hand under her carpet and produced a stick to which she said something. She +struck the deer hard, it pirouetted and became Prince Almas. +</p> + +<p> +The broidered kerchief and the jewels lay upon the ground. The prince +prostrated himself in thanks to heaven and Jamila, and said: “O delicious +person! O Chinese Venus! how shall I excuse myself for giving you so much +trouble? With what words can I thank you?” Then she called for a clothes-wallet +and chose out a royal dress of honour. Her attendants dressed him in it, and +brought him again before the tender-hearted lady. She turned to him a hundred +hearts, took his hand and seated him beside her, and said: “O youth! tell me +truly who you are and where you come from, and how you fell into the power of +my sister.” +</p> + +<p> +Even when he was a deer the prince had much admired Jamila now he thought her a +thousand times more lovely than before. He judged that in truth alone was +safety, and so told her his whole story. Then she asked: “O Prince +Almas-ruh-bakhsh, do you still wish so much to make this journey to Waq of Qaf? +What hope is there in it? The road is dangerous even near here, and this is not +yet the borderland of the Caucasus. Come, give it up! It is a great risk, and +to go is not wise. It would be a pity for a man like you to fall into the hands +of jins and demons. Stay with me, and I will do whatever you wish.” +</p> + +<p> +“O most delicious person!” he answered, “you are very generous, and the choice +of my life lies in truth in your hands; but I beg one favour of you. If you +love me, so do I too love you. If you really love me, do not forbid me to make +this journey, but help me as far as you can. Then it may be that I shall +succeed, and if I return with my purpose fulfilled I will marry you according +to the law, and take you to my own country, and we will spend the rest of our +lives together in pleasure and good companionship. Help me, if you can, and +give me your counsel.” +</p> + +<p> +“O very stuff of my life,” replied Jamila “I will give you things that are not +in kings’ treasuries, and which will be of the greatest use to you. First, +there are the bow and arrows of his Reverence the Prophet Salih. Secondly, +there is the Scorpion of Solomon (on whom be peace), which is a sword such as +no king has; steel and stone are one to it; if you bring it down on a rock it +will not be injured, and it will cleave whatever you strike. Thirdly, there is +the dagger which the sage Timus himself made; this is most useful, and the man +who wears it would not bend under seven camels’ loads. What you have to do +first is to get to the home of the Simurgh,<a href="#linknote-10" +name="linknoteref-10"><sup>[10]</sup></a> and to make friends with him. If he +favours you, he will take you to Waq of Qaf; if not, you will never get there, +for seven seas are on the way, and they are such seas that if all the kings of +the earth, and all their wazirs, and all their wise men considered for a +thousand years, they would not be able to cross them.” +</p> + +<p> +“O most delicious person! where is the Simurgh’s home? How shall I get there?” +</p> + +<p> +“O new fruit of life! you must just do what I tell you, and you must use your +eyes and your brains, for if you don’t you will find yourself at the place of +the negroes, who are a bloodthirsty set; and God forbid they should lay hands +on your precious person.” +</p> + +<p> +Then she took the bow and quiver of arrows, the sword, and the dagger out of a +box, and the prince let fall a Bismillah, and girt them all on. Then Jamila of +the houri-face, produced two saddle-bags of ruby-red silk, one filled with +roasted fowl and little cakes, and the other with stones of price. Next she +gave him a horse as swift as the breeze of the morning, and she said: “Accept +all these things from me; ride till you come to a rising ground, at no great +distance from here, where there is a spring. It is called the Place of Gifts, +and you must stay there one night. There you will see many wild beasts—lions, +tigers, leopards, apes, and so on. Before you get there you must capture some +game. On the long road beyond there dwells a lion-king, alla if other beasts +did not fear him they would ravage the whole country and let no one pass. The +lion is a red transgressor, so when he comes rise and do him reverence; take a +cloth and rub the dust and earth from his face, then set the game you have +taken before him, well cleansed, and lay the hands of respect on your breast. +When he wishes to eat, take your knife and cut pieces of the meat and set them +before him with a bow. In this way you will enfold that lion-king in perfect +friendship, and he will be most useful to you, and you will be safe from +molestation by the negroes. When you go on from the Place of Gifts, be sure you +do not take the right-hand road; take the left, for the other leads by the +negro castle, which is known as the Place of Clashing Swords, and where there +are forty negro captains each over three thousand or four thousand more. Their +chief is Taramtaq.<a href="#linknote-11" +name="linknoteref-11"><sup>[11]</sup></a> Further on than this is the home of +the Simurgh.” +</p> + +<p> +Having stored these things in the prince’s memory, she said: “You will see +everything happen just as I have said.” Then she escorted him a little way; +they parted, and she went home to mourn his absence. +</p> + +<p> +Prince Almas, relying on the Causer of Causes, rode on to the Place of Gifts +and dismounted at the platform. Everything happened just as Jamila had +foretold; when one or two watches of the night had passed, he saw that the open +ground around him was full of such stately and splendid animals as he had never +seen before. By-and-by, they made way for a wonderfully big lion, which was +eighty yards from nose to tail-tip, and was a magnificent creature. The prince +advanced and saluted it; it proudly drooped its head and forelocks and paced to +the platform. Seventy or eighty others were with it, and now encircled it at a +little distance. It laid its right paw over its left, and the prince took the +kerchief Jamila had given him for the purpose, and rubbed the dust and earth +from its face; then brought forward the game he had prepared, and crossing his +hands respectfully on his breast stood waiting before it. When it wished for +food he cut off pieces of the meat and put them in its mouth. The serving lions +also came near and the prince would have stayed his hand, but the king-lion +signed to him to feed them too. This he did, laying the meat on the platform. +Then the king-lion beckoned the prince to come near and said: “Sleep at ease; +my guards will watch.”. So, surrounded by the lion-guard, he slept till dawn, +when the king lion said good-bye, and gave him a few of his own hairs and said: +“When you are in any difficulty, burn one of these and I will be there.” Then +it went off into the jungle. +</p> + +<p> +Prince Almas immediately started; he rode till he came to the parting of the +ways. He remembered quite well that the right-hand way was short and dangerous, +but he bethought himself too that whatever was written on his forehead would +happen, and took the forbidden road. By-and-by he saw a castle, and knew from +what Jamila had told him that it was the Place of Clashing Swords. He would +have liked to go back by the way ho had come, but courage forbade, and he said, +“What has been preordained from eternity will happen to me,” and went on +towards the castle. He was thinking of tying his horse to a tree which grew +near the gate when a negro came out and spied him. “Ha!” said the wretch to +himself, “this is good; Taram-taq has not eaten man-meat for a long time, and +is craving for some. I will take this creature to him.” He took hold of the +prince’s reins, and said: “Dismount, man-child! Come to my master. He has +wanted to eat man-meat this long time back.” “What nonsense are you saying?” +said the prince, and other such words. When the negro understood that he was +being abused, he cried: “Come along! I will put you into such a state that the +birds of the air will weep for you.” Then the prince drew the Scorpion of +Solomon and struck him—struck him on the leathern belt and shore him through so +that the sword came out on the other side. He stood upright for a little while, +muttered some words, put out his hand to seize the prince, then fell in two and +surrendered his life. +</p> + +<p> +There was water close at hand, and the prince made his ablution, and then said: +“O my heart! a wonderful task lies upon you.” A second negro came out of the +fort, and seeing what had been done, went back and told his chief. Others +wished to be doubled, and went out, and of every one the Scorpion of Solomon +made two. Then Taram-taq sent for a giant negro named Chil-maq, who in the day +of battle was worth three hundred, and said to him: “I shall thank you to fetch +me that man.” +</p> + +<p> +Chil-maq went out, tall as a tower, and bearing a shield of eight millstones, +and as he walked he shouted: “Ho! blunder-head! by what right do you come to +our country and kill our people? Come! make two of me.” As the prince was +despicable in his eyes, he tossed aside his club and rushed to grip him with +his hands. He caught him by the collar, tucked him under his arm and set off +with him to Taram-taq. But the prince drew the dagger of Timus and thrust it +upwards through the giant’s armpit, for its full length. This made Chil-maq +drop him and try to pick up his club; but when he stooped the mighty sword +shore him through at the waist. +</p> + +<p> +When news of his champion’s death reached Taram-taq he put himself at the head +of an army of his negroes and led them forth. Many fell before the magic sword, +and the prince laboured on in spite of weakness and fatigue till he was almost +worn out. In a moment of respite from attack he struck his fire-steel and +burned a hair of the king-lion; and he had just succeeded in this when the +negroes charged again and all but took him prisoner. Suddenly from behind the +distant veil of the desert appeared an army of lions led by their king. “What +brings these scourges of heaven here?” cried the negroes. They came roaring up, +and put fresh life into the prince. He fought on, and when he struck on a belt +the wearer fell in two, and when on a head he cleft to the waist. Then the ten +thousand mighty lions joined the fray and tore in pieces man and horse. +</p> + +<p> +Taram-taq was left alone; he would have retired into his fort, but the prince +shouted: “Whither away, accursed one? Are you fleeing before me?” At these +defiant words the chief shouted back, “Welcome, man! Come here and I will +soften you to wax beneath my club.” Then he hurled his club at the prince’s +head, but it fell harmless because the prince had quickly spurred his horse +forward. The chief, believing he had hit him, was looking down for him, when +all at once he came up behind and cleft him to the waist and sent him straight +to hell. +</p> + +<p> +The king-lion greatly praised the dashing courage of Prince Almas. They went +together into the Castle of Clashing Swords and found it adorned and fitted in +princely fashion. In it was a daughter of Taram taq, still a child She sent a +message to Prince Almas saying, “O king of the world! choose this slave to be +your handmaid. Keep her with you; where you go, there she will go!” He sent for +her and she kissed his feet and received the Mussulman faith at his hands. He +told her he was going a long journey on important business, and that when he +came back he would take her and her possessions to his own country, but that +for the present she must stay in the castle. Then he made over the fort and all +that was in it to the care of the lion, saying: “Guard them, brother! let no +one lay a hand on them.” He said goodbye, chose a fresh horse from the chief’s +stable and once again took the road. +</p> + +<p> +After travelling many stages and for many days, he reached a plain of +marvellous beauty and refreshment. It was carpeted with flowers—roses, tulips, +and clover; it had lovely lawns, and amongst them running water. This choicest +place of earth filled him with wonder. There was a tree such as he had never +seen before; its branches were alike, but it bore flowers and fruit of a +thousand kinds. Near it a reservoir had been fashioned of four sorts of +stone—touchstone, pure stone, marble, and loadstone. In and out of it flowed +water like attar. The prince felt sure this must be the place of the Simurgh.” +he dismounted, turned his horse loose to graze, ate some of the food Jamila had +given him, drank of the stream and lay down to sleep. +</p> + +<p> +He was still dozing when he was aroused by the neighing and pawing of his +horse. When he could see clearly he made out a mountain-like dragon whose heavy +breast crushed the stones beneath it into putty. He remembered the Thousand +Names of God and took the bow of Salih from its case and three arrows from +their quiver. He bound the dagger of Timus firmly to his waist and hung the +scorpion of Solomon round his neck. Then he set an arrow on the string and +released it with such force that it went in at the monster’s eye right up to +the notch. The dragon writhed on itself, and belched forth an evil vapour, and +beat the ground with its head till the earth quaked. Then the prince took a +second arrow and shot into its throat. It drew in its breath and would have +sucked the prince into its maw, but when he was within striking distance he +drew his sword and, having committed himself to God, struck a mighty blow which +cut the creature’s neck down to the gullet. The foul vapour of the beast and +horror at its strangeness now overcame the prince, and he fainted. When he came +to himself he found that he was drenched in the gore of the dead monster. He +rose and thanked God for his deliverance. +</p> + +<p> +The nest of the Simurgh was in the wonderful tree above him, and in it were +young birds; the parents were away searching for food. They always told the +children, before they left them, not to put their heads out of the nest; but, +to-day, at the noise of the fight below, they looked down and so saw the whole +affair. By the time the dragon had been killed they were very hungry and set up +a clamour for food. The prince therefore cut up the dragon and fed them with +it, bit by bit, till they had eaten the whole. He then washed himself and lay +down to rest, and he was still asleep when the Simurgh came home. As a rule, +the young birds raised a clamour of welcome when their parents came near, but +on this day they were so full of dragon-meat that they had no choice, they had +to go to sleep. +</p> + +<p> +As they flew nearer, the old birds saw the prince lying under the tree and no +sign of life in the nest. They thought that the misfortune which for so many +earlier years had befallen them had again happened and that their nestlings had +disappeared. They had never been able to find out the murderer, and now +suspected the prince. “He has eaten our children and sleeps after it; he must +die,” said the father-bird, and flew back to the hills and clawed up a huge +stone which he meant to let fall on the prince’s head. But his mate said, “Let +us look into the nest first for to kill an innocent person would condemn us at +the Day of Resurrection.” They flew nearer, and presently the young birds woke +and cried, “Mother, what have you brought for us?” and they told the whole +story of the fight, and of how they were alive only by the favour of the young +man under the tree, and of his cutting up the dragon and of their eating it. +The mother-bird then remarked, “Truly, father! you were about to do a strange +thing, and a terrible sin has been averted from you.” Then the Simurgh flew off +to a distance with the great stone and dropped it. It sank down to the very +middle of the earth. +</p> + +<p> +Coming back, the Simurgh saw that a little sunshine fell upon the prince +through the leaves, and it spread its wings and shaded him till he woke. When +he got up he salaamed to it, who returned his greeting with joy and gratitude, +and caressed him and said: “O youth, tell me true! who are you, and where are +you going? And how did you cross that pitiless desert where never yet foot of +man had trod?” The prince told his story from beginning to end, and finished by +saying: “Now it is my heart’s wish that you should help me to get to Waq of the +Caucasus. Perhaps, by your favour, I shall accomplish my task and avenge my +brothers.” In reply the Simurgh.” first blessed the deliverer of his children, +and then went on: “What you have done no child of man has ever done before; you +assuredly have a claim on all my help, for every year up till now that dragon +has come here and has destroyed my nestlings, and I have never been able to +find who was the murderer and to avenge myself. By God’s grace you have removed +my children’s powerful foe. I regard you as a child of my own. Stay with me; I +will give you everything you desire, and I will establish a city here for you, +and will furnish it with every requisite; I will give you the land of the +Caucasus, and will make its princes subject to you. Give up the journey to Waq, +it is full of risk, and the jins there will certainly kill you.” But nothing +could move the prince, and seeing this the bird went on: “Well, so be it! When +you wish to set forth you must go into the plain and take seven head of deer, +and must make water-tight bags of their hides and keep their flesh in seven +portions. Seven seas lie on our way—I will carry you over them; but if I have +not food and drink we shall fall into the sea and be drowned. When I ask for it +you must put food and water into my mouth. So we shall make the journey +safely.” +</p> + +<p> +The prince did all as he was told, then they took flight; they crossed the +seven seas, and at each one the prince fed the Simurgh When they alighted on +the shore of the last sea, it said: “O my son! there lies your road; follow it +to the city. Take thee three feathers of mine, and, if you are in a difficulty, +burn one and I will be with you in the twinkling of an eye.” +</p> + +<p> +The prince walked on in solitude till he reached the city. He went in and +wandered about through all quarters, and through bazaars and lanes and squares, +in the least knowing from whom he could ask information about the riddle of +Mihr-afruz. He spent seven days thinking it over in silence. From the first day +of his coming he had made friends with a young cloth-merchant, and a great +liking had sprung up between them. One day he said abruptly to his companion: +“O dear friend! I wish you would tell me what the rose did to the cypress, and +what the sense of the riddle is.” The merchant started, and exclaimed: “If +there were not brotherly affection between us, I would cut off your head for +asking me this!” “If you meant to kill me,” retorted the prince, “you would +still have first to tell me what I want to know.” When the merchant saw that +the prince was in deadly earnest, he said: “If you wish to hear the truth of +the matter you must wait upon our king. There is no other way; no one else will +tell you. I have a well-wisher at the Court, named Farrukh-fal,<a +href="#linknote-12" name="linknoteref-12"><sup>[12]</sup></a> and will +introduce you to him.” “That would be excellent,” cried the prince. A meeting +was arranged between Farrukhfal and Almas, and then the amir took him to the +king’s presence and introduced him as a stranger and traveller who had come +from afar to sit in the shadow of King Sinaubar. +</p> + +<p> +Now the Simurgh had given the prince a diamond weighing thirty misqals, and he +ordered this to the king, who at once recognised its value, and asked where it +had been obtained. “I, your slave, once had riches and state and power; there +are many such stones in my country. On my way here I was plundered at the +Castle of Clashing Swords, and I saved this one thing only, hidden in my +bathing-cloth.” In return for the diamond, King Sinaubar showered gifts of much +greater value, for he remembered that it was the last possession of the prince. +He showed the utmost kindness and hospitality, and gave his wazir orders to +instal the prince in the royal guest-house. He took much pleasure in his +visitor’s society; they were together every day and spent the time most +pleasantly. Several times the king said: “Ask me for something, that I may give +it you.“One day he so pressed to know what would pleasure the prince, that the +latter said: “I have only one wish, and that I will name to you in private.” +The king at once commanded every one to withdraw, and then Prince Almas said: +“The desire of my life is to know what the rose did to the cypress, and what +meaning there is in the words.” The king was astounded. “In God’s name! if +anyone else had said that to me I should have cut off his head instantly.” The +prince heard this in silence, and presently so beguiled the king with pleasant +talk that to kill him was impossible. +</p> + +<p> +Time flew by, the king again and again begged the prince to ask some gift of +him, and always received this same reply: “I wish for your Majesty’s welfare, +what more can I desire?” One night there was a banquet, and cupbearers carried +round gold and silver cups of sparkling wine, and singers with sweetest voices +contended for the prize. The prince drank from the king’s own cup, and when his +head was hot with wine he took a lute from one of the musicians and placed +himself on the carpet border and sang and sang till he witched away the sense +of all who listened. Applause and compliments rang from every side. The king +filled his cup and called the prince and gave it him and said: “Name your wish! +it is yours.” The prince drained off the wine and answered: “O king of the +world! learn and know that I have only one aim in life, and this is to know +what the rose did to the cypress.” +</p> + +<p> +“Never yet,” replied the king, “has any man come out from that question alive. +If this is your only wish, so be it; I will tell you. But I will do this on one +condition only, namely, that when you have heard you will submit yourself to +death.” To this the prince agreed, and said: “I set my foot firmly on this +compact.” +</p> + +<p> +The king then gave an order to an attendant; a costly carpet overlaid with +European velvet was placed near him, and a dog was led in by a golden and +jewelled chain and set upon the splendid stuffs. A band of fair girls came in +and stood round it in waiting. +</p> + +<p> +Then, with ill words, twelve negroes dragged in a lovely woman, fettered on +hands and feet and meanly dressed, and they set her down on the bare floor. She +was extraordinarily beautiful, and shamed the glorious sun. The king ordered a +hundred stripes to be laid on her tender body; she sighed a long sigh. Food was +called for and table-cloths were spread. Delicate meats were set before the +dog, and water given it in a royal cup of Chinese crystal. When it had eaten +its fill, its leavings were placed before the lovely woman and she was made to +eat of them. She wept and her tears were pearls; she smiled and her lips shed +roses. Pearls and flowers were gathered up and taken to the treasury. +</p> + +<p> +“Now,” said the king, “you have seen these things and your purpose is +fulfilled.” “Truly,” said the prince, “I have seen things which I have not +understood; what do they mean, and what is the story of them? Tell me and kill +me.” +</p> + +<p> +Then said the king: “The woman you see there in chains is my wife; she is +called Gul, the Rose, and I am Sinaubar, the Cypress. One day I was hunting and +became very thirsty. After great search I discovered a well in a place so +secret that neither bird nor beast nor man could find it without labour. I was +alone, I took my turban for a rope and my cap for a bucket. There was a good +deal of water, but when I let down my rope, something caught it, and I could +not in any way draw it back. I shouted down into the well: ‘O! servant of God! +whoever you are, why do you deal unfairly with me? I am dying of thirst, let +go! in God’s name.’ A cry came up in answer, ‘O servant of God! we have been in +the well a long time; in God’s name get us out!’ After trying a thousand +schemes, I drew up two blind women. They said they were peris, and that their +king had blinded them in his anger and had left them in the well alone. +</p> + +<p> +“‘Now,’ they said, ‘if you will get us the cure for our blindness we will +devote ourselves to your service, and will do whatever you wish.’ +</p> + +<p> +“‘What is the cure for your blindness?’ +</p> + +<p> +“‘Not far from this place,’ they said, ‘a cow comes up from the great sea to +graze; a little of her dung would cure us. We should be eternally your debtors. +Do not let the cow see you, or she will assuredly kill you.’ +</p> + +<p> +“With renewed strength and spirit I went to the shore. There I watched the cow +come up from the sea, graze, and go back. Then I came out of my hiding, took a +little of her dung and conveyed it to the peris. They rubbed it on their eyes, +and by the Divine might saw again. +</p> + +<p> +“They thanked heaven and me, and then considered what they could do to show +their gratitude to me. ‘Our peri-king,’ they said, ‘has a daughter whom he +keeps under his own eye and thinks the most lovely girl on earth. In good +sooth, she has not her equal! Now we will get you into her house and you must +win her heart, and if she has an inclination for another, you must drive it out +and win her for yourself. Her mother loves her so dearly that she has no ease +but in her presence, and she will give her to no one in marriage. Teach her to +love you so that she cannot exist without you. But if the matter becomes known +to her mother she will have you burned in the fire. Then you must beg, as a +last favour, that your body may be anointed with oil so that you may burn the +more quickly and be spared torture. If the peri-king allows this favour, we two +will manage to be your anointers, and we will put an oil on you such that if +you were a thousand years in the fire not a trace of burning would remain.’ +</p> + +<p> +“In the end the two peris took me to the girl’s house. I saw her sleeping +daintily. She was most lovely, and I was so amazed at the perfection of her +beauty that I stood with senses lost, and did not know if she were real or a +dream. When at last I saw that she was a real girl, I returned thanks that I, +the runner, had come to my goal, and that I, the seeker, had found my treasure. +</p> + +<p> +“When the peri opened her eyes she asked in affright: ‘Who are you? Have you +come to steal? How did you get here? Be quick! save yourself from this +whirlpool of destruction, for the demons and peris. who guard me will wake and +seize you.’ +</p> + +<p> +“But love’s arrow had struck me deep, and the girl, too, looked kindly on me. I +could not go away. For some months I remained hidden in her house. “We did not +dare to let her mother know of our love. Sometimes the girl was very sad and +fearful lest her mother should come to know. One day her father said to her: +‘Sweetheart, for some time I have noticed that your beauty is not what it was. +How is this? Has sickness touched you? Tell me that I may seek a cure.’ Alas! +there was now no way of concealing the mingled delight and anguish of our love; +from secret it became known. I was put in prison and the world grew dark to my +rose, bereft of her lover. +</p> + +<p> +“The peri-king ordered me to be burnt, and said: ‘Why have you, a man, done +this perfidious thing in my house?’ His demons and peris. collected amber-wood +and made a pile, and would have set me on it, when I remembered the word of +life which the two peris. I had rescued had breathed into my ear, and I asked +that my body might be rubbed with oil to release me the sooner from torture. +This was allowed, and those two contrived to be the anointers. I was put into +the fire and it was kept up for seven days and nights. By the will of the Great +King it left no trace upon me. At the end of a week the pert-king ordered the +ashes to be cast upon the dust-heap, and I was found alive and unharmed. +</p> + +<p> +“Peris who had seen Gul consumed by her love for me now interceded with the +king, and said: ‘It is clear that your daughter’s fortunes are bound up with +his, for the fire has not hurt him. It is best to give him the girl, for they +love one another. He is King of Waq of Qaf, and you will find none better.’ +</p> + +<p> +“To this the king agreed, and made formal marriage between Gul and me. You now +know the price I paid for this faithless creature. O prince! remember our +compact.” +</p> + +<p> +“I remember,” said the prince; “but tell me what brought Queen Gul to her +present pass?” +</p> + +<p> +“One night,” continued King Sinaubar, “I was aroused by feeling Gul’s hands and +feet, deadly cold, against my body. I asked her where she had been to get so +cold, and she said she had had to go out. Next morning, when I went to my +stable I saw that two of my horses, Windfoot and Tiger, were thin and worn out. +I reprimanded the groom and beat him. He asked where his fault lay, and said +that every night my wife took one or other of these horses and rode away, and +came back only just before dawn. A flame kindled in my heart, and I asked +myself where she could go and what she could do. I told the groom to be silent, +and when next Gul took a horse from the stable to saddle another quickly and +bring it to me. That day I did not hunt, but stayed at home to follow the +matter up. I lay down as usual at night and pretended to fall asleep. When I +seemed safely off Gul got up and went to the stable as her custom was. That +night it was Tiger’s turn. She rode off on him, and I took Windfoot and +followed. With me went that dog you see, a faithful friend who never left me. +</p> + +<p> +“When I came to the foot of those hills which lie outside the city I saw Gul +dismount and go towards a house which some negroes have built there. Over +against the door was a high seat, and on it lay a giant negro, before whom she +salaamed. He got up and beat her till she was marked with weals, but she +uttered no complaint. I was dumfounded, for once when I had struck her with a +rose stalk she had complained and fretted for three days! Then the negro said +to her: ‘How now, ugly one and shaven head! Why are you so late, and why are +you not wearing wedding garments?’ She answered him: ‘That person did not go to +sleep quickly, and he stayed at home all day, so that I was not able to adorn +myself. I came as soon as I could.’ In a little while he called her to sit +beside him; but this was more than I could bear. I lost control of myself and +rushed upon him. He clutched my collar and we grappled in a death struggle. +Suddenly she came behind me, caught my feet and threw me. While he held me on +the ground, she drew out my own knife and gave it to him. I should have been +killed but for that faithful dog which seized his throat and pulled him down +and pinned him to the ground. Then I got up and despatched the wretch. There +were four other negroes at the place; three I killed and the fourth got away, +and has taken refuge beneath the throne of Mihr-afruz, daughter of King Quimus. +I took Gul back to my palace, and from that time till now I have treated her as +a dog is treated, and I have cared for my dog as though it were my wife. Now +you know what the rose did to the cypress; and now you must keep compact with +me.” +</p> + +<p> +“I shall keep my word,” said the prince; “but may a little water be taken to +the roof so that I may make my last ablution?” +</p> + +<p> +To this request the king consented. The prince mounted to the roof, and, +getting into a corner, struck his fire-steel and burned one of the Sirurgh’s +feathers in the flame. Straightway it appeared, and by the majesty of its +presence made the city quake. It took the prince on its back and soared away to +the zenith. +</p> + +<p> +After a time King Sinaubar said: “That young man is a long time on the roof; go +and bring him here.” But there was no sign of the prince upon the roof; only, +far away in the sky, the Simurgh was seen carrying him off. When the king heard +of his escape he thanked heaven that his hands were clean of this blood. +</p> + +<p> +Up and up flew the Simurgh, till earth looked like an egg resting on an ocean. +At length it dropped straight down to its own place, where the kind prince was +welcomed by the young birds and most hospitably entertained. He told the whole +story of the rose and the cypress, and then, laden with gifts which the Simurgh +had gathered from cities far and near, he set his face for the Castle of +Clashing Swords. The king-lion came out to meet him; he took the negro chief’s +daughter—-whose name was also Gul—in lawful marriage, and then marched with her +and her possessions and her attendants to the Place of Gifts. Here they halted +for a night, and at dawn said good-bye to the king-lion and set out for +Jamila’s country. +</p> + +<p> +When the Lady Jamila heard that Prince Almas was near, she went out, with many +a fair handmaid, to give him loving reception. Their meeting was joyful, and +they went together to the garden-palace. Jamila summoned all her notables, and +in their presence her marriage with the prince was solemnised. A few days later +she entrusted her affairs to her wazir, and made preparation to go with the +prince to his own country. Before she started she restored all the men whom her +sister, Latifa, had bewitched, to their own forms, and received their +blessings, and set them forward to their homes. The wicked Latifa herself she +left quite alone in her garden-house. When all was ready they set out with all +her servants and slaves, all her treasure and goods, and journeyed at ease to +the city of King Quimus. +</p> + +<p> +When King Quimus heard of the approach of such a great company, he sent out his +wazir to give the prince honourable meeting, and to ask what had procured him +the favour of the visit. The prince sent back word that he had no thought of +war, but he wrote: “Learn and know, King Quimus, that I am here to end the +crimes of your insolent daughter who has tyrannously done to death many kings +and kings sons, and has hung their heads on your citadel. I am here to give her +the answer to her riddle.” Later on he entered the city, beat boldly on the +drums, and was conducted to the presence. +</p> + +<p> +The king entreated him to have nothing to do with the riddle, for that no man +had come out of it alive. “O king!” replied the prince, “it is to answer it +that I am here; I will not withdraw.” +</p> + +<p> +Mihr-afruz was told that one man more had staked his head on her question, and +that this was one who said he knew the answer. At the request of the prince, +all the officers and notables of the land were summoned to hear his reply to +the princess. All assembled, and the king and his queen Gul-rakh, and the girl +and the prince were there. +</p> + +<p> +The prince addressed Mihr-afruz: “What is the question you ask?” +</p> + +<p> +“What did the rose do to the cypress?” she rejoined. +</p> + +<p> +The prince smiled, and turned and addressed the assembly. +</p> + +<p> +“You who are experienced men and versed in affairs, did you ever know or hear +and see anything of this matter?” +</p> + +<p> +“No!” they answered, “no one has ever known or heard or seen aught about it; it +is an empty fancy.” +</p> + +<p> +“From whom, then, did the princess hear of it? This empty fancy it is that has +done many a servant of God to death!” +</p> + +<p> +All saw the good sense of his words and showed their approval. Then he turned +to the princess: “Tell us the truth, princess; who told you of this thing? I +know it hair by hair, and in and out; but if I tell you what I know, who is +there that can say I speak the truth? You must produce the person who can +confirm my words.” +</p> + +<p> +Her heart sank, for she feared that her long-kept secret was now to be noised +abroad. But she said merely: “Explain yourself.” +</p> + +<p> +“I shall explain myself fully when you bring here the negro whom you hide +beneath your throne.” +</p> + +<p> +Here the king shouted in wonderment: “Explain yourself, young man! What negro +does my daughter hide beneath her throne?” +</p> + +<p> +“That,” said the prince, “you will see if you order to be brought here the +negro who will be found beneath the throne of the princess.” +</p> + +<p> +Messengers were forthwith despatched to the garden house, and after awhile they +returned bringing a negro whom they had discovered in a secret chamber +underneath the throne of Mihr-afruz, dressed in a dress of honour, and +surrounded with luxury. The king was overwhelmed with astonishment, but the +girl had taken heart again. She had had time to think that perhaps the prince +had heard of the presence of the negro, and knew no more. So she said +haughtily: “Prince! you have not answered my riddle.” +</p> + +<p> +“O most amazingly impudent person,” cried he, “do you not yet repent?” +</p> + +<p> +Then he turned to the people, and told them the whole story of the rose and the +cypress, of King Sinaubar and Queen Gul. When he came to the killing of the +negroes, he said to the one who stood before them: “You, too, were present.” +</p> + +<p> +“That is so; all happened as you have told it!” +</p> + +<p> +There was great rejoicing in the court and all through the country over the +solving of the riddle, and because now no more kings and princes would be +killed. King Quimus made over his daughter to Prince Almas, but the latter +refused to marry her, and took her as his captive. He then asked that the heads +should be removed from the battlements and given decent burial. This was done. +He received from the king everything that belonged to Mihr-afruz; her treasure +of gold and silver; her costly stuffs and carpets; her household plenishing; +her horses and camels; her servants and slaves. +</p> + +<p> +Then he returned to his camp and sent for Dil-aram, who came bringing her goods +and chattels, her gold and her jewels. When all was ready, Prince Almas set out +for home, taking with him Jamila, and Dil-aram and Gul, daughter of Taram-taq, +and the wicked Mihr-afruz, and all the belongings of the four, packed on horses +and camels, and in carts without number. +</p> + +<p> +As he approached the borders of his father’s country word of his coming went +before him, and all the city came forth to give him welcome. King +Saman-lal-posh—Jessamine, wearer of rubies—had so bewept the loss of his sons +that he was now blind. When the prince had kissed his feet and received his +blessing, he took from a casket a little collyrium of Solomon, which the +Simurgh had given him, and which reveals the hidden things of earth, and rubbed +it on his father’s eyes. Light came, and the king saw his son. +</p> + +<p> +Mihr-afruz was brought before the king, and the prince said: “This is the +murderer of your sons; do with her as you will.” The king fancied that the +prince might care for the girl’s beauty, and replied: “You have humbled her; do +with her as you will.” +</p> + +<p> +Upon this the prince sent for four swift and strong horses, and had the negro +bound to each one of them; then each was driven to one of the four quarters, +and he tore in pieces like muslin. +</p> + +<p> +This frightened Mihr-afruz horribly, for she thought the same thing might be +done to herself. She cried out to the prince: “O Prince Almas! what is hardest +to get is most valued. Up till now I have been subject to no man, and no man +had had my love. The many kings and kings sons who have died at my hands have +died because it was their fate to die like this. In this matter I have not +sinned. That was their fate from eternity; and from the beginning it was +predestined that my fate should be bound up with yours.” +</p> + +<p> +The prince gave ear to the argument from pre-ordainment, and as she was a very +lovely maiden he took her too in lawful marriage. She and Jamila, set up house +together, and Dil-aram and Gul set up theirs; and the prince passed the rest of +his life with the four in perfect happiness, and in pleasant and sociable +entertainment. +</p> + +<p> +Now has been told what the rose did to the cypress. +</p> + +<p> +Finished, finished, finished! +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_FOOT"></a> +Footnotes:</h2> + +<p> +<a name="linknote-1"></a> +</p> + +<p class="footnote"> +1 (<a href="#linknoteref-1">return</a>)<br/> +[Translated from two Persian MSS. in the possession of the British Museum and +the India Office, and adapted, with some reservations, by Annette S. +Beveridge.] +</p> + +<p> +<a name="linknote-2"></a> +</p> + +<p class="footnote"> +2 (<a href="#linknoteref-2">return</a>)<br/> +[Jessamine, ruby-decked.] +</p> + +<p> +<a name="linknote-3"></a> +</p> + +<p class="footnote"> +3 (<a href="#linknoteref-3">return</a>)<br/> +[Life-giving diamond.] +</p> + +<p> +<a name="linknote-4"></a> +</p> + +<p class="footnote"> +4 (<a href="#linknoteref-4">return</a>)<br/> +[World-gripper.] +</p> + +<p> +<a name="linknote-5"></a> +</p> + +<p class="footnote"> +5 (<a href="#linknoteref-5">return</a>)<br/> +[Love-enkindler.] +</p> + +<p> +<a name="linknote-6"></a> +</p> + +<p class="footnote"> +6 (<a href="#linknoteref-6">return</a>)<br/> +[Rose-cheek.] +</p> + +<p> +<a name="linknote-7"></a> +</p> + +<p class="footnote"> +7 (<a href="#linknoteref-7">return</a>)<br/> +[Heartsease.] +</p> + +<p> +<a name="linknote-8"></a> +</p> + +<p class="footnote"> +8 (<a href="#linknoteref-8">return</a>)<br/> +[Elias.] +</p> + +<p> +<a name="linknote-9"></a> +</p> + +<p class="footnote"> +9 (<a href="#linknoteref-9">return</a>)<br/> +[Pleasure.] +</p> + +<p> +<a name="linknote-10"></a> +</p> + +<p class="footnote"> +10 (<a href="#linknoteref-10">return</a>)<br/> +[Thirty-birds.] +</p> + +<p> +<a name="linknote-11"></a> +</p> + +<p class="footnote"> +11 (<a href="#linknoteref-11">return</a>)<br/> +[Pomp and Pride.] +</p> + +<p> +<a name="linknote-12"></a> +</p> + +<p class="footnote"> +12 (<a href="#linknoteref-12">return</a>)<br/> +[Of happy omen.] +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap02"></a> +Ball-carrier and the Bad One</h2> + +<p> +Far, far in the forest there were two little huts, and in each of them lived a +man who was a famous hunter, his wife, and three or four children. Now the +children were forbidden to play more than a short distance from the door, as it +was known that, away on the other side of the wood near the great river, there +dwelt a witch who had a magic ball that she used as a means of stealing +children. +</p> + +<p> +Her plan was a very simple one, and had never yet failed. When she wanted a +child she just flung her ball in the direction of the child’s home, and however +far off it might be, the ball was sure to reach it. Then, as soon as the child +saw it, the ball would begin rolling slowly back to the witch, just keeping a +little ahead of the child, so that he always thought that he could catch it the +next minute. But he never did, and, what was more, his parents never saw him +again. +</p> + +<p> +Of course you must not suppose that all the fathers and mothers who had lost +children made no attempts to find them, but the forest was so large, and the +witch was so cunning in knowing exactly where they were going to search, that +it was very easy for her to keep out of the way. Besides, there was always the +chance that the children might have been eaten by wolves, of which large herds +roamed about in winter. +</p> + +<p> +One day the old witch happened to want a little boy, so she threw her ball in +the direction of the hunters’ huts. A child was standing outside, shooting at a +mark with his bow and arrows, but the moment he saw the ball, which was made of +glass whose blues and greens and whites, all frosted over, kept changing one +into the other, he flung down his bow, and stooped to pick the ball up. But as +he did so it began to roll very gently downhill. The boy could not let it roll +away, when it was so close to him, so he gave chase. The ball seemed always +within his grasp, yet he could never catch it; it went quicker and quicker, and +the boy grew more and more excited. That time he almost touched it—no, he +missed it by a hair’s breadth! Now, surely, if he gave a spring he could get in +front of it! He sprang forward, tripped and fell, and found himself in the +witch’s house! +</p> + +<p> +“Welcome! welcome! grandson!” said she; “get up and rest yourself, for you have +had a long walk, and I am sure you must be tired!” So the boy sat down, and ate +some food which she gave him in a bowl. It was quite different from anything he +had tasted before, and he thought it was delicious. When he had eaten up every +bit, the witch asked him if he had ever fasted. +</p> + +<p> +“No,” replied the boy, “at least I have been obliged to sometimes, but never if +there was any food to be had.” +</p> + +<p> +“You will have to fast if you want the spirits to make you strong and wise, and +the sooner you begin the better.” +</p> + +<p> +“Very well,” said the boy, “what do I do first?” +</p> + +<p> +“Lie down on those buffalo skins by the door of the hut,” answered she; and the +boy lay down, and the squirrels and little bears and the birds came and talked +to him. +</p> + +<p> +At the end of ten days the old woman came to him with a bowl of the same food +that he had eaten before. +</p> + +<p> +“Get up, my grandson, you have fasted long enough. Have the good spirits +visited you, and granted you the strength and wisdom that you desire?” +</p> + +<p> +“Some of them have come, and have given me a portion of both,” answered the +boy, “but many have stayed away from me.” +</p> + +<p> +“Then,” said she, “you must fast ten days more.” +</p> + +<p> +So the boy lay down again on the buffalo skins, and fasted for ten days, and at +the end of that time he turned his face to the wall, and fasted for twenty days +longer. At length the witch called to him, and said: +</p> + +<p> +“Come and eat something, my grandson.” At the sound of her voice the boy got up +and ate the food she gave him. When he had finished every scrap she spoke as +before: “Tell me, my grandson, have not the good spirits visited you all these +many days that you have fasted?” +</p> + +<p> +“Not all, grandmother,” answered he; “there are still some who keep away from +me and say that I have not fasted long enough.” +</p> + +<p> +“Then you must fast again,” replied the old woman, “and go on fasting till you +receive the gifts of all the good spirits. Not one must be missing.” +</p> + +<p> +The boy said nothing, but lay down for the third time on the buffalo skins, and +fasted for twenty days more. And at the end of that time the witch thought he +was dead, his face was so white and his body so still. But when she had fed him +out of the bowl he grew stronger, and soon was able to sit up. +</p> + +<p> +“You have fasted a long time,” said she, “longer than anyone ever fasted +before. Surely the good spirits must be satisfied now?” +</p> + +<p> +“Yes, grandmother,” answered the boy, “they have all come, and have given me +their gifts.” +</p> + +<p> +This pleased the old woman so much that she brought him another basin of food, +and while he was eating it she talked to him, and this is what she said: “Far +away, on the other side of the great river, is the home of the Bad One. In his +house is much gold, and what is more precious even than the gold, a little +bridge, which lengthens out when the Bad One waves his hand, so that there is +no river or sea that he cannot cross. Now I want that bridge and some of the +gold for myself, and that is the reason that I have stolen so many boys by +means of my ball. I have tried to teach them how to gain the gifts of the good +spirits, but none of them would fast long enough, and at last I had to send +them away to perform simple, easy little tasks. But you have been strong and +faithful, and you can do this thing if you listen to what I tell you! When you +reach the river tie this ball to your foot, and it will take you across—you +cannot manage it in any other way. But do not be afraid; trust to the ball, and +you will be quite safe!” +</p> + +<p> +The boy took the ball and put it in a bag. Then he made himself a club and a +bow, and some arrows which would fly further than anyone else’s arrows, because +of the strength the good spirits had given him. They had also bestowed on him +the power of changing his shape, and had increased the quickness of his eyes +and ears so that nothing escaped him. And in some way or other they made him +understand that if he needed more help they would give it to him. +</p> + +<p> +When all these things were ready the boy bade farewell to the witch and set +out. He walked through the forest for several days without seeing anyone but +his friends the squirrels and the bears and the birds, but though he stopped +and spoke to them all, he was careful not to let them know where he was going. +</p> + +<p> +At last, after many days, he came to the river, and beyond it he noticed a +small hut standing on a hill which he guessed to be the home of the Bad One. +But the stream flowed so quickly that he could not see how he was ever to cross +it, and in order to test how swift the current really was, he broke a branch +from a tree and threw it in. It seemed hardly to touch the water before it was +carried away, and even his magic sight could not follow it. He could not help +feeling frightened, but he hated giving up anything that he had once +undertaken, and, fastening the ball on his right foot, he ventured on the +river. To his surprise he was able to stand up; then a panic seized him, and he +scrambled up the bank again. In a minute or two he plucked up courage to go a +little further into the river, but again its width frightened him, and a second +time he turned back. However, he felt rather ashamed of his cowardice, as it +was quite clear that his ball could support him, and on his third trial he got +safely to the other side. +</p> + +<p> +Once there he replaced the ball in the bag, and looked carefully round him. The +door of the Bad One’s hut was open, and he saw that the ceiling was supported +by great wooden beams, from which hung the bags of gold and the little bridge. +He saw, too, the Bad One sitting in the midst of his treasures eating his +dinner, and drinking something out of a horn. It was plain to the boy that he +must invent some plan of getting the Bad One out of the way, or else he would +never be able to steal the gold or the bridge. +</p> + +<p> +What should he do? Give horrible shrieks as if he were in pain? But the Bad One +would not care whether he were murdered or not! Call him by his name? But the +Bad One was very cunning, and would suspect some trick. He must try something +better than that! Then suddenly an idea came to him, and he gave a little jump +of joy. “Oh, how stupid of me not to think of that before!” said he, and he +wished with all his might that the Bad One should become very hungry—so hungry +that he could not wait a moment for fresh food to be brought to him. And sure +enough at that instant the Bad One called out to his servant, “You did not +bring food that would satisfy a sparrow Fetch some more at once, for I am +perfectly starving.” Then, without giving the woman time to go to the larder, +he got up from his chair, and rolled, staggering from hunger, towards the +kitchen. +</p> + +<p> +Directly the door had closed on the Bad One the boy ran in, pulled down a bag +of gold from the beam, and tucked it under his left arm. Next he unhooked the +little bridge and put it under his right. He did not try to escape, as most +boys of his age would have done, for the wisdom put into his mind by the good +spirits taught him that before he could reach the river and make use of the +bridge the Bad One would have tracked him by his footsteps and been upon him. +So, making himself very small and thin, he hid himself behind a pile of buffalo +skins in the corner, first tearing a slit through one of them, so that he could +see what was going on. +</p> + +<p> +He had hardly settled himself when the servant entered the room, and, as she +did so, the last bag of gold on the beam fell to the ground—for they had begun +to fall directly the boy had taken the first one. She cried to her master that +someone had stolen both the bag and the bridge, and the Bad One rushed in, mad +with anger, and bade her go and seek for footsteps outside, that they might +find out where the thief had gone. In a few minutes she returned, saying that +he must be in the house, as she could not see any footsteps leading to the +river, and began to move all the furniture in the room, without discovering +Ball Carrier. +</p> + +<p> +“But he must be here somewhere,” she said to herself, examining for the second +time the pile of buffalo skins; and Ball-Carrier, knowing that he could not +possibly escape now, hastily wished that the Bad One should be unable to eat +any more food at present. +</p> + +<p> +“Ah, there is a slit in this one,” cried the servant, shaking the skin; “and +here he is.” And she pulled out Ball-Carrier, looking so lean and small that he +would hardly have made a mouthful for a sparrow. +</p> + +<p> +“Was it you who took my gold and bridge?” asked the Bad One. +</p> + +<p> +“Yes,” answered Ball-Carrier, “it was I who took them.” +</p> + +<p> +The Bad One made a sign to the woman, who inquired where he had hidden them. He +lifted his left arm where the gold was, and she picked up a knife and scraped +his skin so that no gold should be left sticking to it. +</p> + +<p> +“What have you done with the bridge?” said she. And he lifted his right arm, +from which she took the bridge, while the Bad One looked on, well pleased. “Be +sure that he does not run away,” chuckled he. “Boil some water, and get him +ready for cooking, while I go and invite my friends the water-demons to the +feast.” +</p> + +<p> +The woman seized Ball-Carrier between her finger and thumb, and was going to +carry him to the kitchen, when the boy spoke: +</p> + +<p> +“I am very lean and small now,” he said, “hardly worth the trouble of cooking; +but if you were to keep me two days, and gave me plenty of food, I should get +big and fat. As it is, your friends the water-demons would think you meant to +laugh at them, when they found that I was the feast.” +</p> + +<p> +“Well, perhaps you are right,” answered the Bad One; “I will keep you for two +days.” And he went out to visit the water-demons. +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile the servant, whose name was Lung Woman, led him into a little shed, +and chained him up to a ring in the wall. But food was given him every hour, +and at the end of two days he was as fat and big as a Christmas turkey, and +could hardly move his head from one side to the other. +</p> + +<p> +“He will do now,” said the Bad One, who came constantly to see how he was +getting on. “I shall go and tell the water-demons that we expect them to dinner +to-night. Put the kettle on the fire, but be sure on no account to taste the +broth.” +</p> + +<p> +Lung-Woman lost no time in obeying her orders. She built up the fire, which had +got very low, filled the kettle with water, and passing a rope which hung from +the ceiling through the handle, swung it over the flames. Then she brought in +Ball-Carrier, who, seeing all these preparations, wished that as long as he was +in the kettle the water might not really boil, though it would hiss and bubble, +and also, that the spirits would turn the water into fat. +</p> + +<p> +The kettle soon began to sing and bubble, and Ball Carrier was lifted in. Very +soon the fat which was to make the sauce rose to the surface, and Ball-Carrier, +who was bobbing about from one side to the other, called out that Lung-Woman +had better taste the broth, as he though that some salt should be added to it. +The servant knew quite well that her master had forbidden her to do any thing +of the kind, but when once the idea was put into her head, she found the smell +from the kettle so delicious that she unhooked a long ladle from the wall and +plunged it into the kettle. +</p> + +<p> +“You will spill it all, if you stand so far off,” said the boy; “why don’t you +come a little nearer?” And as she did so he cried to the spirits to give him +back his usual size and strength and to make the water scalding hot Then he +gave the kettle a kick, which upset all the boiling water upon her, and jumping +over her body he seized once more the gold and the bridge, picked up his club +and bow and arrows, and after setting fire to the Bad One’s hut, ran down to +the river, which he crossed safely by the help of the bridge. +</p> + +<p> +The hut, which was made of wood, was burned to the ground before the Bad One +came back with a large crowd of water-demons. There was not a sign of anyone or +anything, so he started for the river, where he saw Ball Carrier sitting +quietly on the other side. Then the Bad One knew what had happened, and after +telling the water demons that there would be no feast after all, he called to +Ball-Carrier, who was eating an apple. +</p> + +<p> +“I know your name now,” he said, “and as you have ruined me, and I am not rich +any more, will you take me as your servant?” +</p> + +<p> +“Yes, I will, though you have tried to kill me,” answered Ball-Carrier, +throwing the bridge across the water as he spoke. But when the Bad One was in +the midst of the stream, the boy wished it to become small; and the Bad One +fell into the water and was drowned, and the world was rid of him. +</p> + +<p> +[U.S.. Bureau of Ethnology.] +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap03"></a> +How Ball-carrier Finished His Task</h2> + +<p> +After Ball-Carrier had managed to drown the Bad One so that he could not do any +more mischief, he forgot the way to his grandmother’s house, and could not find +it again, though he searched everywhere. During this time he wandered into many +strange places, and had many adventures; and one day he came to a hut where a +young girl lived. He was tired and hungry and begged her to let him in and +rest, and he stayed a long while, and the girl became his wife. One morning he +saw two children playing in front of the hut, and went out to speak to them. +But as soon as they saw him they set up cries of horror and ran away. “They are +the children of my sister who has been on a long journey,” replied his wife, +“and now that she knows you are my husband she wants to kill you.” +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, well, let her try,” replied Ball-Carrier. “It is not the first time people +have wished to do that. And here I am still, you see!” +</p> + +<p> +“Be careful,” said the wife, “she is very cunning.” But at this moment the +sister-in-law came up. +</p> + +<p> +“How do you do, brother-in-law? I have heard of you so often that I am very +glad to meet you. I am told that you are more powerful than any man on earth, +and as I am powerful too, let us try which is the strongest.” +</p> + +<p> +“That will be delightful,” answered he. “Suppose we begin with a short race, +and then we will go on to other things.” +</p> + +<p> +“That will suit me very well,” replied the woman, who was a witch. “And let us +agree that the one who wins shall have the right to kill the other.” +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, certainly,” said Ball-Carrier; and I don’t think we shall find a flatter +course than the prairie itself—no one knows how many miles it stretches. We +will run to the end and back again.” +</p> + +<p> +This being settled they both made ready for the race, and Ball-Carrier silently +begged the good spirits to help him, and not to let him fall into the hands of +this wicked witch. +</p> + +<p> +“When the sun touches the trunk of that tree we will start,” said she, as they +both stood side by side. But with the first step Ball-Carrier changed himself +into a wolf and for a long way kept ahead. Then gradually he heard her creeping +up behind him, and soon she was in front. So Ball-Carrier took the shape of a +pigeon and flew rapidly past her, but in a little while she was in front again +and the end of the prairie was in sight. “A crow can fly faster than a pigeon,” +thought he, and as a crow he managed to pass her and held his ground so long +that he fancied she was quite beaten. The witch began to be afraid of it too, +and putting out all her strength slipped past him. Next he put on the shape of +a hawk, and in this form he reached the bounds of the prairie, he and the witch +turning homewards at the moment. +</p> + +<p> +Bird after bird he tried, but every time the witch gained on him and took the +lead. At length the goal was in sight, and Ball-Carrier knew that unless he +could get ahead now he would be killed before his own door, under the eyes of +his wife. His eyes had grown dim from fatigue, his wings flapped wearily and +hardly bore him along, while the witch seemed as fresh as ever. What bird was +there whose flight was swifter than his? Would not the good spirits tell him? +Ah, of course he knew; why had he not thought of it at first and spared himself +all that fatigue? And the next instant a humming bird, dressed in green and +blue, flashed past the woman and entered the house. The witch came panting up, +furious at having lost the race which she felt certain of winning; and +Ball-Carrier, who had by this time changed back into his own shape, struck her +on the head and killed her. +</p> + +<p> +For a long while Ball-Carrier was content to stay quietly at home with his wife +and children, for he was tired of adventures, and only did enough hunting to +supply the house with food. But one day he happened to eat some poisonous +berries that he had found in the forest, and grew so ill that he felt he was +going to die. +</p> + +<p> +“When I am dead do not bury me in the earth,” he said, “but put me over there, +among that clump of trees.” So his wife and her three children watched by him +as long as he was alive, and after he was dead they took him up and laid the +body on a platform of stakes which they had prepared in the grove. And as they +returned weeping to the hut they caught a glimpse of the ball rolling away down +the path back to the old grandmother. One of the sons sprang forward to stop +it, for Ball-Carrier had often told them the tale of how it had helped him to +cross the river, but it was too quick for him, and they had to content +themselves with the war club and bow and arrows, which were put carefully away. +</p> + +<p> +By-and-by some travellers came past, and the chief among them asked leave to +marry Ball-Carrier’s daughter. The mother said she must have a little time to +think over it, as her daughter was still very young; so it was settled that the +man should go away for a month with his friends, and then come back to see if +the girl was willing. +</p> + +<p> +Now ever since Ball-Carrier’s death the family had been very poor, and often +could not get enough to eat. One morning the girl, who had had no supper and no +breakfast, wandered off to look for cranberries, and though she was quite near +home was astonished at noticing a large hut, which certainly had not been there +when last she had come that way. No one was about, so she ventured to peep in, +and her surprise was increased at seeing, heaped up in one corner, a quantity +of food of all sorts, while a little robin redbreast stood perched on a beam +looking down upon her. +</p> + +<p> +“It is my father, I am sure,” she cried; and the bird piped in answer. +</p> + +<p> +From that day, whenever they wanted food they went to the hut, and though the +robin could not speak, he would hop on their shoulders and let them feed him +with the food they knew he liked best. +</p> + +<p> +When the man came back he found the girl looking so much prettier and fatter +than when he had left her, that he insisted that they should be married on the +spot. And the mother, who did not know how to get rid of him, gave in. +</p> + +<p> +The husband spent all his time in hunting, and the family had never had so much +meat before; but the man, who had seen for himself how poor they were, noticed +with amazement that they did not seem to care about it, or to be hungry. “They +must get food from somewhere,” he thought, and one morning, when he pretended +to be going out to hunt, he hid in a thicket to watch. Very soon they all left +the house together, and walked to the other hut, which the girl’s husband saw +for the first time, as it was hid in a hollow. He followed, and noticed that +each one went up to the redbreast, and shook him by the claw; and he then +entered boldly and shook the bird’s claw too. The whole party afterwards sat +down to dinner, after which they all returned to their own hut. +</p> + +<p> +The next day the husband declared that he was very ill, and could not eat +anything; but this was only a presence so that he might get what he wanted. The +family were all much distressed, and begged him to tell them what food he +fancied. +</p> + +<p> +“Oh! I could not eat any food,” he answered every time, and at each answer his +voice grew fainter and fainter, till they thought he would die from weakness +before their eyes. +</p> + +<p> +“There must be some thing you could take, if you would only say what it is,” +implored his wife. +</p> + +<p> +“No, nothing, nothing; except, perhaps—but of course that is impossible!” +</p> + +<p> +“No, I am sure it is not,” replied she; “you shall have it, I promise—only tell +me what it is.” +</p> + +<p> +“I think—but I could not ask you to do such a thing. Leave me alone, and let me +die quietly.” +</p> + +<p> +“You shall not die,” cried the girl, who was very fond of her husband, for he +did not beat her as most girls’ husbands did. “Whatever it is, I will manage to +get it for you.” +</p> + +<p> +“Well, then, I think, if I had that—redbreast, nicely roasted, I could eat a +little bit of his wing!” +</p> + +<p> +The wife started back in horror at such a request; but the man turned his face +to the wall, and took no notice, as he thought it was better to leave her to +herself for a little. +</p> + +<p> +Weeping and wringing her hands, the girl went down to her mother. The brothers +were very angry when they heard the story, and declared that, if any one were +to die, it certainly should not be the robin. But all that night the man seemed +getting weaker and weaker, and at last, quite early, the wife crept out, and +stealing to the hut, killed the bird, and brought him home to her husband. +</p> + +<p> +Just as she was going to cook it her two brothers came in. They cried out in +horror at the sight, and, rushing out of the hut, declared they would never see +her any more. And the poor girl, with a heavy heart, took the body of the +redbreast up to her husband. +</p> + +<p> +But directly she entered the room the man told her that he felt a great deal +better, and that he would rather have a piece of bear’s flesh, well boiled, +than any bird, however tender. His wife felt very miserable to think that their +beloved redbreast had been sacrificed for nothing, and begged him to try a +little bit. +</p> + +<p> +“You felt so sure that it would do you good before,” said she, “that I can’t +help thinking it would quite cure you now.” But the man only flew into a rage, +and flung the bird out of the window. Then he got up and went out. +</p> + +<p> +Now all this while the ball had been rolling, rolling, rolling to the old +grandmother’s hut on the other side of the world, and directly it rolled into +her hut she knew that her grandson must be dead. Without wasting any time she +took a fox skin and tied it round her forehead, and fastened another round her +waist, as witches always do when they leave their own homes. When she was ready +she said to the ball: “Go back the way you came, and lead me to my grandson.” +And the ball started with the old woman following. +</p> + +<p> +It was a long journey, even for a witch, but, like other things, it ended at +last; and the old woman stood before the platform of stakes, where the body of +Ball-Carrier lay. +</p> + +<p> +“Wake up, my grandson, it is time to go home,” the witch said. And Ball-Carrier +stepped down oft the platform, and brought his club and bow and arrows out of +the hut, and set out, for the other side of the world, behind the old woman. +</p> + +<p> +When they reached the hut where Ball-Carrier had fasted so many years ago, the +old woman spoke for the first time since they had started on their way. +</p> + +<p> +“My grandson, did you ever manage to get that gold from the Bad One?” +</p> + +<p> +“Yes, grandmother, I got it.” +</p> + +<p> +“Where is it?” she asked. +</p> + +<p> +“Here, in my left arm-pit,” answered he. +</p> + +<p> +So she picked up a knife and scraped away all the gold which had stuck to his +skin, and which had been sticking there ever since he first stole it. After she +had finished she asked again: +</p> + +<p> +“My grandson, did you manage to get that bridge from the Bad One?” +</p> + +<p> +“Yes, grandmother, I got that too,” answered he. +</p> + +<p> +“Where is it?” she asked, and Ball-Carrier lifted his right arm, and pointed to +his arm-pit. +</p> + +<p> +“Here is the bridge, grandmother,” said he. +</p> + +<p> +Then the witch did something that nobody in the world could have guessed that +she would do. First, she took the gold and said to Ball-carrier: +</p> + +<p> +“My grandson, this gold must be hidden in the earth, for if people think they +can get it when they choose, they will become lazy and stupid. But if we take +it and bury it in different parts of the world they will have to work for it if +they want it, and then will only find a little at a time.” And as she spoke, +she pulled up one of the poles of the hut, and Ball-Carrier saw that underneath +was a deep, deep hole, which seemed to have no bottom. Down this hole she +poured all the gold, and when it was out of sight it ran about all over the +world, where people that dig hard sometimes find it. And after that was done +she put the pole back again. +</p> + +<p> +Next she lifted down a spade from a high shelf, where it had grown quite rusty, +and dug a very small hole on the opposite side of the hut—very small, but very +deep. +</p> + +<p> +“Give me the bridge,” said she, “for I am going to bury it here. If anyone was +to get hold of it, and find that they could cross rivers and seas without any +trouble, they would never discover how to cross them for themselves. I am a +witch, and if I had chosen I could easily have cast my spells over the Bad One, +and have made him deliver them to you the first day you came into my hut. But +then you would never have fasted, and never have planned how to get what you +wanted, and never have known the good spirits, and would have been fat and idle +to the end of your days. And now go; in that hut, which you can just see far +away, live your father and mother, who are old people now, and need a son to +hunt for them. You have done what you were set to do, and I need you no more.” +</p> + +<p> +Then Ball-Carrier remembered his parents and went back to them. +</p> + +<p> +[From Bureau of Ethnology. “Indian Folklore.“] +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap04"></a> +The Bunyip</h2> + +<p> +Long, long ago, far, far away on the other side of the world, some young men +left the camp where they lived to get some food for their wives and children. +The sun was hot, but they liked heat, and as they went they ran races and tried +who could hurl his spear the farthest, or was cleverest in throwing a strange +weapon called a boomerang, which always returns to the thrower. They did not +get on very fast at this rate, but presently they reached a flat place that in +time of flood was full of water, but was now, in the height of summer, only a +set of pools, each surrounded with a fringe of plants, with bulrushes standing +in the inside of all. In that country the people are fond of the roots of +bulrushes, which they think as good as onions, and one of the young men said +that they had better collect some of the roots and carry them back to the camp. +It did not take them long to weave the tops of the willows into a basket, and +they were just going to wade into the water and pull up the bulrush roots when +a youth suddenly called out: “After all, why should we waste our time in doing +work that is only fit for women and children? Let them come and get the roots +for themselves; but we will fish for eels and anything else we can get.” +</p> + +<p> +This delighted the rest of the party, and they all began to arrange their +fishing lines, made from the bark of the yellow mimosa, and to search for bait +for their hooks. Most of them used worms, but one, who had put a piece of raw +meat for dinner into his skin wallet, cut off a little bit and baited his line +with it, unseen by his companions. +</p> + +<p> +For a long time they cast patiently, without receiving a single bite; the sun +had grown low in the sky, and it seemed as if they would have to go home +empty-handed, not even with a basket of roots to show; when the youth, who had +baited his hook with raw meat, suddenly saw his line disappear under the water. +Something, a very heavy fish he supposed, was pulling so hard that he could +hardly keep his feet, and for a few minutes it seemed either as if he must let +go or be dragged into the pool. He cried to his friends to help him, and at +last, trembling with fright at what they were going to see, they managed +between them to land on the bank a creature that was neither a calf nor a seal, +but something of both, with a long, broad tail. They looked at each other with +horror, cold shivers running down their spines; for though they had never +beheld it, there was not a man amongst them who did not know what it was—the +cub of the awful Bunyip! +</p> + +<p> +All of a sudden the silence was broken by a low wail, answered by another from +the other side of the pool, as the mother rose up from her den and came towards +them, rage flashing from her horrible yellow eyes. “Let it go! let it go!” +whispered the young men to each other; but the captor declared that he had +caught it, and was going to keep it. “He had promised his sweetheart,” he said, +“that he would bring back enough meat for her father’s house to feast on for +three days, and though they could not eat the little Bunyip, her brothers and +sisters should have it to play with.” So, flinging his spear at the mother to +keep her back, he threw the little Bunyip on to his shoulders, and set out for +the camp, never heeding the poor mother’s cries of distress. +</p> + +<p> +By this time it was getting near sunset, and the plain was in shadow, though +the tops of the mountains were still quite bright. The youths had all ceased to +be afraid, when they were startled by a low rushing sound behind them, and, +looking round, saw that the pool was slowly rising, and the spot where they had +landed the Bunyip was quite covered. “What could it be?” they asked one of +another; “there was not a cloud in the sky, yet the water had risen higher +already than they had ever known it do before.” For an instant they stood +watching as if they were frozen, then they turned and ran with all their might, +the man with the Bunyip running faster than all. When he reached a high peak +over-looking all the plain he stopped to take breath, and turned to see if he +was safe yet. Safe! why only the tops of the trees remained above that sea of +water, and these were fast disappearing. They must run fast indeed if they were +to escape. So on they flew, scarcely feeling the ground as they went, till they +flung themselves on the ground before the holes scooped out of the earth where +they had all been born. The old men were sitting in front, the children were +playing, and the women chattering together, when the little Bunyip fell into +their midst, and there was scarcely a child among them who did not know that +something terrible was upon them. “The water! the water!” gasped one of the +young men; and there it was, slowly but steadily mounting the ridge itself. +Parents and children clung together, as if by that means they could drive back +the advancing flood; and the youth who had caused all this terrible +catastrophe, seized his sweetheart, and cried: “I will climb with you to the +top of that tree, and there no waters can reach us.” But, as he spoke, +something cold touched him, and quickly he glanced down at his feet. Then with +a shudder he saw that they were feet no longer, but bird’s claws. He looked at +the girl he was clasping, and beheld a great black bird standing at his side; +he turned to his friends, but a flock of great awkward flapping creatures stood +in their place He put up his hands to cover his face, but they were no more +hands, only the ends of wings; and when he tried to speak, a noise such as he +had never heard before seemed to come from his throat, which had suddenly +become narrow and slender. Already the water had risen to his waist, and he +found himself sitting easily upon it, while its surface reflected back the +image of a black swan, one of many. +</p> + +<p> +Never again did the swans become men; but they are still different from other +swans, for in the night-time those who listen can hear them talk in a language +that is certainly not swan’s language; and there are even sounds of laughing +and talking, unlike any noise made by the swans whom we know. +</p> + +<p> +The little Bunyip was carried home by its mother, and after that the waters +sank back to their own channels. The side of the pool where she lives is always +shunned by everyone, as nobody knows when she may suddenly put out her head and +draw him into her mighty jaws. But people say that underneath the black waters +of the pool she has a house filled with beautiful things, such as mortals who +dwell on the earth have no idea of. Though how they know I cannot tell you, as +nobody has ever seen it. +</p> + +<p> +[From Journal of Anthropological-Institute.] +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap05"></a> +Father Grumbler</h2> + +<p> +Once upon a time there lived a man who had nearly as many children as there +were sparrows in the garden. He had to work very hard all day to get them +enough to eat, and was often tired and cross, and abused everything and +everybody, so that people called him “Father Grumbler.” +</p> + +<p> +By-and-by he grew weary of always working, and on Sundays he lay a long while +in bed, instead of going to church. Then after a time he found it dull to sit +so many hours by himself, thinking of nothing but how to pay the rent that was +owing, and as the tavern across the road looked bright and cheerful, he walked +in one day and sat down with his friends. “It was just to chase away Care,” he +said; but when he came out, hours and hours after, Care came out with him. +</p> + +<p> +Father Grumbler entered his house feeling more dismal than when he left it, for +he knew that he had wasted both his time and his money. +</p> + +<p> +“I will go and see the Holy Man in the cave near the well,” he said to himself, +“and perhaps he can tell me why all the luck is for other people, and only +misfortunes happen to me.” And he set out at once for the cave. +</p> + +<p> +It was a long way off, and the road led over mountains and through valleys; but +at last he reached the cave where the Holy Man dwelt, and knocked at the door. +</p> + +<p> +“Who is there?” asked a voice from within. +</p> + +<p> +“It is I, Holy Man, Father Grumbler, you know, who has as many children as +sparrows in the garden.” +</p> + +<p> +“Well, and what is it that you want?” +</p> + +<p> +“I want to know why other people have all the luck, and only misfortunes happen +to me!” +</p> + +<p> +The Holy Man did not answer, but went into an inner cave, from which he came +out bearing something in his hand. “Do you see this basket?” said he. “It is a +magical basket, and if you are hungry you have only got to say: ‘Little basket, +little basket, do your duty,’ and you will eat the best dinner you ever had in +your life. But when you have had enough, be sure you don’t forget to cry out: +‘That will do for to-day.’ Oh!—and one thing more—you need not show it to +everybody and declare that I have give it to you. Do you understand?” +</p> + +<p> +Father Grumbler was always accustomed to think of himself as so unlucky that he +did not know whether the Holy Man was not playing a trick upon him; but he took +the basket without being polite enough to say either “Thank you,” or +“Good-morning,” and went away. However, he only waited till he was out of sight +of the cave before he stooped down and whispered: “Little basket, little +basket, do your duty.” +</p> + +<p> +Now the basket had a lid, so that he could not see what was inside, but he +heard quite clearly strange noises, as if a sort of scuffling was going on. +Then the lid burst open, and a quantity of delicious little white rolls came +tumbling out one after the other, followed by a stream of small fishes all +ready cooked. What a quantity there were to be sure! The whole road was covered +with them, and the banks on each side were beginning to disappear. Father +Grumbler felt quite frightened at the torrent, but at last he remembered what +the Holy Man had told him, and cried at the top of his voice: “Enough! enough! +That will do for to-day!” And the lid of the basket closed with a snap. +</p> + +<p> +Father Grumbler sighed with relief and happiness as he looked around him, and +sitting down on a heap of stones, he ate till he could eat no more. Trout, +salmon, turbot, soles, and a hundred other fishes whose names he did not know, +lay boiled, fried, and grilled within reach of his hands. As the Holy Man had +said, he had never eaten such a dinner; still, when he had done, he shook his +head, and grumbled; “Yes, there is plenty to eat, of course, but it only makes +me thirsty, and there is not a drop to drink anywhere.” +</p> + +<p> +Yet, somehow, he could never tell why, he looked up and saw the tavern in front +of him, which he thought was miles, and miles, and miles away. +</p> + +<p> +“Bring the best wine you have got, and two glasses, good mother,” he said as he +entered, “and if you are fond of fish there is enough here to feed the house. +Only there is no need to chatter about it all over the place. You understand? +Eh?” And without waiting for an answer he whispered to the basket: “Little +basket, little basket, do your duty.” The innkeeper and his wife thought that +their customer had gone suddenly mad, and watched him closely, ready to spring +on him if he became violent; but both instinctively jumped backwards, nearly +into the fire, as rolls and fishes of every kind came tumbling out of the +basket, covering the tables and chairs and the floor, and even overflowing into +the street. +</p> + +<p> +“Be quick, be quick, and pick them up,” cried the man. “And if these are not +enough, there are plenty more to be had for the asking.” +</p> + +<p> +The innkeeper and his wife did not need telling twice. Down they went on their +knees and gathered up everything they could lay hands on. But busy though they +seemed, they found time to whisper to each other: +</p> + +<p> +“If we can only get hold of that basket it will make our fortune!” +</p> + +<p> +So they began by inviting Father Grumbler to sit down to the table, and brought +out the best wine in the cellar, hoping it might loosen his tongue. But Father +Grumbler was wiser than they gave him credit for, and though they tried in all +manner of ways to find out who had given him the basket, he put them off, and +kept his secret to himself. Unluckily, though he did not SPEAK, he did drink, +and it was not long before he fell fast asleep. Then the woman fetched from her +kitchen a basket, so like the magic one that no one, without looking very +closely, could tell the difference, and placed it in Father Grumbler’s hand, +while she hid the other carefully away. +</p> + +<p> +It was dinner time when the man awoke, and, jumping up hastily, he set out for +home, where he found all the children gathered round a basin of thin soup, and +pushing their wooden bowls forward, hoping to have the first spoonful. Their +father burst into the midst of them, bearing his basket, and crying: +</p> + +<p> +“Don’t spoil your appetites, children, with that stuff. Do you see this basket? +Well, I have only got to say, ‘Little basket, little basket, do your duty,’ and +you will see what will happen. Now you shall say it instead of me, for a +treat.” +</p> + +<p> +The children, wondering and delighted, repeated the words, but nothing +happened. Again and again they tried, but the basket was only a basket, with a +few scales of fish sticking to the bottom, for the innkeeper’s wife had taken +it to market the day before. +</p> + +<p> +“What is the matter with the thing?” cried the father at last, snatching the +basket from them, and turning it all over, grumbling and swearing while he did +so, under the eyes of his astonished wife and children, who did not know +whether to cry or to laugh. +</p> + +<p> +“It certainly smells of fish,” he said, and then he stopped, for a sudden +thought had come to him. +</p> + +<p> +“Suppose it is not mine at all; supposing—Ah, the scoundrels!” +</p> + +<p> +And without listening to his wife and children, who were frightened at his +strange conduct and begged him to stay at home, he ran across to the tavern and +burst open the door. +</p> + +<p> +“Can I do anything for you, Father Grumbler?” asked the innkeeper’s wife in her +softest voice. +</p> + +<p> +“I have taken the wrong basket—by mistake, of course,” said he. “Here is yours, +will you give me back my own?” +</p> + +<p> +“Why, what are you talking about?” answered she. “You can see for yourself that +there is no basket here.” +</p> + +<p> +And though Father Grumbler DID look, it was quite true that none was to be +seen. +</p> + +<p> +“Come, take a glass to warm you this cold day,” said the woman, who was anxious +to keep him in a good temper, and as this was an invitation Father Grumbler +never refused, he tossed it off and left the house. +</p> + +<p> +He took the road that led to the Holy Man’s cave, and made such haste that it +was not long before he reached it. +</p> + +<p> +“Who is there?” said a voice in answer to his knock. +</p> + +<p> +“It is me, it is me, Holy man. You know quite well. Father Grumbler, who has as +many children as sparrows in the garden.” +</p> + +<p> +“But, my good man, it was only yesterday that I gave you a handsome present.” +</p> + +<p> +“Yes, Holy Man, and here it is. But something has happened, I don’t know what, +and it won’t work any more.” +</p> + +<p> +“Well, put it down. I will go and see if I can find anything for you.” +</p> + +<p> +In a few minutes the Holy Man returned with a cock under his arm. +</p> + +<p> +“Listen to me,” he said, “whenever you want money, you only have to say: ‘Show +me what you can do, cock,’ and you will see some wonderful things. But, +remember, it is not necessary to let all the world into the secret.” +</p> + +<p> +“Oh no, Holy Man, I am not so foolish as that.” +</p> + +<p> +“Nor to tell everybody that I gave it to you,” went on the Holy Man. “I have +not got these treasures by the dozen.” +</p> + +<p> +And without waiting for an answer he shut the door. +</p> + +<p> +As before, the distance seemed to have wonderfully shortened, and in a moment +the tavern rose up in front of Father Grumbler. Without stopping to think, he +went straight in, and found the innkeeper’s wife in the kitchen making a cake. +</p> + +<p> +“Where have you come from, with that fine red cock in your basket,” asked she, +for the bird was so big that the lid would not shut down properly. +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, I come from a place where they don’t keep these things by the dozen,” he +replied, sitting down in front of the table. +</p> + +<p> +The woman said no more, but set before him a bottle of his favourite wine, and +soon he began to wish to display his prize. +</p> + +<p> +“Show me what you can do, cock,” cried he. And the cock stood up and flapped +his wings three times, crowing “coquerico” with a voice like a trumpet, and at +each crow there fell from his beak golden drops, and diamonds as large as peas. +</p> + +<p> +This time Father Grumbler did not invite the innkeeper’s wife to pick up his +treasures, but put his own hat under the cock’s beak, so as to catch everything +he let fall; and he did not see the husband and wife exchanging glances with +each other which said, “That would be a splendid cock to put with our basket.” +</p> + +<p> +“Have another glass of wine?” suggested the innkeeper, when they had finished +admiring the beauty of the cock, for they pretended not to have seen the gold +or the diamonds. And Father Grumbler, nothing loth, drank one glass after +another, till his head fell forward on the table, and once more he was sound +asleep. Then the woman gently coaxed the cock from the basket and carried it +off to her own poultry yard, from which she brought one exactly like it, and +popped it in its place. +</p> + +<p> +Night was falling when the man awoke, and throwing proudly some grains of gold +on the table to pay for the wine he had drunk, he tucked the cock comfortably +into his basket and set out for home. +</p> + +<p> +His wife and all the children were waiting for him at the door, and as soon as +she caught sight of him she broke out: +</p> + +<p> +“You are a nice man to go wasting your time and your money drinking in that +tavern, and leaving us to starve! Aren’t you ashamed of yourself?” +</p> + +<p> +“You don’t know what you are talking of,” he answered. “Money? Why, I have gold +and diamonds now, as much as I want. Do you see that cock? Well, you have only +to say to him, ‘Show me what you can do, cock,’ and something splendid will +happen.” +</p> + +<p> +Neither wife nor children were inclined to put much faith in him after their +last experience; however, they thought it was worth trying, and did as he told +them. The cock flew round the room like a mad thing, and crowed till their +heads nearly split with the noise; but no gold or diamonds dropped on the brick +floor—not the tiniest grain of either. +</p> + +<p> +Father Grumbler stared in silence for an instant, and then he began to swear so +loudly that even his family, accustomed as they were to his language, wondered +at him. +</p> + +<p> +At last he grew a little quieter, but remained as puzzled as ever. +</p> + +<p> +“Can I have forgotten the words? But I KNOW that was what he said! And I saw +the diamonds with my own eyes!” Then suddenly he seized the cock, shut it into +the basket, and rushed out of the house. +</p> + +<p> +His heavy wooden shoes clattered as he ran along the road, and he made such +haste that the stars were only just beginning to come out when he reached the +cave of the Holy Man. +</p> + +<p> +“Who is that knocking?” asked a voice from within. +</p> + +<p> +“It is me! It is me! Holy Man! you know! Father—” +</p> + +<p> +“But, my good fellow, you really should give some one else a chance. This is +the third time you have been—and at such an hour, too!” +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, yes, Holy Man, I know it is very late, but you will forgive me! It is your +cock—there is something the matter. It is like the basket. Look!” +</p> + +<p> +“THAT my cock? THAT my basket? Somebody has played you a trick, my good man!” +</p> + +<p> +“A trick?” repeated Father Grumbler, who began to understand what had happened. +“Then it must have been those two—” +</p> + +<p> +“I warned you not to show them to anybody,” said the Holy Man. “You deserve—but +I will give you one more chance.” And, turning, he unhooked something from the +wall. +</p> + +<p> +“When you wish to dust your own jacket or those of your friends,” he said, “you +have only got to say, ‘Flack, flick, switch, be quick,’ and you will see what +happens. That is all I have to tell you.” And, smiling to himself, the Holy Man +pushed Father Grumbler out of the cave. +</p> + +<p> +“Ah, I understand now,” muttered the good man, as he took the road home; “but I +think I have got you two rascals!” and he hurried on to the tavern with his +basket under his arm, and the cock and the switch both inside. +</p> + +<p> +“Good evening, friends!” he said, as he entered the inn. “I am very hungry, and +should be glad if you would roast this cock for me as soon as possible. THIS +cock and no other—mind what I say,” he went on. “Oh, and another thing! You can +light the fire with this basket. When you have done that I will show you +something I have in my bag,” and, as he spoke, he tried to imitate the smile +that the Holy Man had given HIM. +</p> + +<p> +These directions made the innkeeper’s wife very uneasy. However, she said +nothing, and began to roast the cock, while her husband did his best to make +the man sleepy with wine, but all in vain. +</p> + +<p> +After dinner, which he did not eat without grumbling, for the cock was very +tough, the man struck his hand on the table, and said: “Now listen to me. Go +and fetch my cock and my basket, at once. Do you hear?” +</p> + +<p> +“Your cock, and your basket, Father Grumbler? But you have just—” +</p> + +<p> +“MY cock and MY basket!” interrupted he. “And, if you are too deaf and too +stupid to understand what that means, I have got something which may help to +teach you.” And opening the bag, he cried: “Flack, flick, switch, be quick.” +</p> + +<p> +And flack! flick! like lightening a white switch sprang out of the bag, and +gave such hearty blows to the innkeeper and his wife, and to Father Grumbler +into the bargain, that they all jumped as high as feathers when a mattress is +shaken. +</p> + +<p> +“Stop! stop! make it stop, and you shall have back your cock and basket,” cried +the man and his wife. And Father Grumbler, who had no wish to go on, called out +between his hops: “Stop then, can’t you? That is enough for to-day!” +</p> + +<p> +But the switch paid no attention, and dealt out its blows as before, and MIGHT +have been dealing them to this day, if the Holy Man had not heard their cries +and come to the rescue. “Into the bag, quick!” said he, and the switch obeyed. +</p> + +<p> +“Now go and fetch me the cock and the basket,” and the woman went without a +word, and placed them on the table. +</p> + +<p> +“You have all got what you deserved,” continued the Holy Man, “and I have no +pity for any of you. I shall take my treasures home, and perhaps some day I may +find a man who knows how to make the best of the chances that are given to him. +But that will never be YOU,” he added, turning to Father Grumbler. +</p> + +<p> +[From Contes Populaires.] +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap06"></a> +The Story of the Yara</h2> + +<p> +Down in the south, where the sun shines so hotly that everything and everybody +sleeps all day, and even the great forests seem silent, except early in the +morning and late in the evening—down in this country there once lived a young +man and a maiden. The girl had been born in the town, and had scarcely ever +left it; but the young man was a native of another country, and had only come +to the city near the great river because he could find no work to do where he +was. +</p> + +<p> +A few months after his arrival, when the days were cooler, and the people did +not sleep so much as usual, a great feast was held a little way out of the +town, and to this feast everyone flocked from thirty miles and more. Some +walked and some rode, some came in beautiful golden coaches; but all had on +splendid dresses of red or blue, while wreaths of flowers rested on their hair. +</p> + +<p> +It was the first time that the youth had been present on such an occasion, and +he stood silently aside watching the graceful dances and the pretty games +played by the young people. And as he watched, he noticed one girl, dressed in +white with scarlet pomegranates in her hair, who seemed to him lovelier than +all the rest. +</p> + +<p> +When the feast was over, and the young man returned home, his manner was so +strange that it drew the attention of all his friends. +</p> + +<p> +Through his work next day the youth continued to see the girl’s face, throwing +the ball to her companions, or threading her way between them as she danced. At +night sleep fled from him, and after tossing for hours on his bed, he would get +up and plunge into a deep pool that lay a little way in the forest. +</p> + +<p> +This state of things went on for some weeks, then at last chance favoured him. +One evening, as he was passing near the house where she lived, he saw her +standing with her back to the wall, trying to beat off with her fan the attacks +of a savage dog that was leaping at her throat. Alonzo, for such was his name, +sprang forward, and with one blow of his fist stretched the creature dead upon +the road. He then helped the frightened and half-fainting girl into the large +cool verandah where her parents were sitting, and from that hour he was a +welcome guest in the house, and it was not long before he was the promised +husband of Julia. +</p> + +<p> +Every day, when his work was done, he used to go up to the house, half hidden +among flowering plants and brilliant creepers, where humming-birds darted from +bush to bush, and parrots of all colours, red and green and grey, shrieked in +chorus. There he would find the maiden waiting for him, and they would spend an +hour or two under the stars, which looked so large and bright that you felt as +if you could almost touch them. +</p> + +<p> +“What did you do last night after you went home?” suddenly asked the girl one +evening. +</p> + +<p> +“Just the same as I always do,” answered he. “It was too hot to sleep, so it +was no use going to bed, and I walked straight of to the forest and bathed in +one of those deep dark pools at the edge of the river. I have been there +constantly for several months, but last night a strange thing happened. I was +taking my last plunge, when I heard—sometimes from one side, and sometimes from +another—the sound of a voice singing more sweetly than any nightingale, though +I could not catch any words. I left the pool, and, dressing myself as fast as I +could, I searched every bush and tree round the water, as I fancied that +perhaps it was my friend who was playing a trick on me, but there was not a +creature to be seen; and when I reached home I found my friend fast asleep.” +</p> + +<p> +As Julia listened her face grew deadly white, and her whole body shivered as if +with cold. From her childhood she had heard stories of the terrible beings that +lived in the forests and were hidden under the banks of the rivers, and could +only be kept off by powerful charms. Could the voice which had bewitched Alonzo +have come from one of these? Perhaps, who knows, it might be the voice of the +dreaded Yara herself, who sought young men on the eve of their marriage as her +prey. +</p> + +<p> +For a moment the girl sat choked with fear, as these thoughts rushed through +her; then she said: “Alonzo, will you promise something?” +</p> + +<p> +“What is that?” asked he. +</p> + +<p> +“It is something that has to do with our future happiness.” +</p> + +<p> +“Oh! it is serious, then? Well, of course I promise. Now tell me!” +</p> + +<p> +“I want you to promise,” she answered, lowering her voice to a whisper, “never +to bathe in those pools again.” +</p> + +<p> +“But why not, queen of my soul; have I not gone there always, and nothing has +harmed me, flower of my heart?” +</p> + +<p> +“No; but perhaps something will. If you will not promise I shall go mad with +fright. Promise me.” +</p> + +<p> +“Why, what is the matter? You look so pale! Tell me why you are so frightened?” +</p> + +<p> +“Did you not hear the song?” she asked, trembling. +</p> + +<p> +“Suppose I did, how could that hurt me? It was the loveliest song I ever +heard!” +</p> + +<p> +“Yes, and after the song will come the apparition; and after that— after that—” +</p> + +<p> +“I don’t understand. Well—after that?” +</p> + +<p> +“After that—death.” +</p> + +<p> +Alonzo stared at her. Had she really gone mad? Such talk was very unlike Julia; +but before he could collect his senses the girl spoke again: +</p> + +<p> +“That is the reason why I implore you never to go there again; at any rate till +after we are married.” +</p> + +<p> +“And what difference will our marriage make?” +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, there will be no danger then; you can go to bathe as often as you like!” +</p> + +<p> +“But tell me why you are so afraid?” +</p> + +<p> +“Because the voice you heard—I know you will laugh, but it is quite true—it was +the voice of the Yara.” +</p> + +<p> +At these words Alonzo burst into a shout of laughter; but it sounded so harsh +and loud that Julia shrank away shuddering. It seemed as if he could not stop +himself, and the more he laughed the paler the poor girl became, murmuring to +herself as she watched him: +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, heaven! you have seen her! you have seen her! what shall I do?” +</p> + +<p> +Faint as was her whisper, it reached the ears of Alonzo, who, though he still +could not speak for laughing, shook his head. +</p> + +<p> +“You may not know it, but it is true. Nobody who has not seen the Yara laughs +like that.” And Julia flung herself on the ground weeping bitterly. +</p> + +<p> +At this sight Alonzo became suddenly grave, and kneeling by her side, gently +raised her up. +</p> + +<p> +“Do not cry so, my angel,” he said, “I will promise anything you please. Only +let me see you smile again.” +</p> + +<p> +With a great effort Julia checked her sobs, and rose to her feet. +</p> + +<p> +“Thank you,” she answered. “My heart grows lighter as you say that! I know you +will try to keep your word and to stay away from the forest. But—the power of +the Yara is very strong, and the sound of her voice is apt to make men forget +everything else in the world. Oh, I have seen it, and more than one betrothed +maiden lives alone, broken-hearted. If ever you should return to the pool where +you first heard the voice, promise me that you will at least take this with +you.” And opening a curiously carved box, she took out a sea-shell shot with +many colours, and sang a song softly into it. “The moment you hear the Yara’s +voice,” said she, “put this to your ear, and you will hear my song instead. +Perhaps—I do not know for certain—but perhaps, I may be stronger than the +Yara.” +</p> + +<p> +It was late that night when Alonzo returned home. The moon was shining on the +distant river, which looked cool and inviting, and the trees of the forest +seemed to stretch out their arms and beckon him near. But the young man +steadily turned his face in the other direction, and went home to bed. +</p> + +<p> +The struggle had been hard, but Alonzo had his reward next day in the joy and +relief with which Julia greeted him. He assured her that having overcome the +temptation once the danger was now over; but she, knowing better than he did +the magic of the Yara’s face and voice, did not fail to make him repeat his +promise when he went away. +</p> + +<p> +For three nights Alonzo kept his word, not because he believed in the Yara, for +he thought that the tales about her were all nonsense, but because he could not +bear the tears with which he knew that Julia would greet him, if he confessed +that he had returned to the forest. But, in spite of this, the song rang in his +ears, and daily grew louder. +</p> + +<p> +On the fourth night the attraction of the forest grew so strong that neither +the thought of Julia nor the promises he had made her could hold him back. At +eleven o’clock he plunged into the cool darkness of the trees, and took the +path that led straight to the river. Yet, for the first time, he found that +Julia’s warnings, though he had laughed at her at the moment, had remained in +his memory, and he glanced at the bushes with a certain sense of fear which was +quite new to him. +</p> + +<p> +When he reached the river he paused and looked round for a moment to make sure +that the strange feeling of some one watching him was fancy, and he was really +alone. But the moon shone brightly on every tree, and nothing was to be seen +but his own shadow; nothing was to be heard but the sound of the rippling +stream. +</p> + +<p> +He threw off his clothes, and was just about to dive in headlong, when +something—he did not know what—suddenly caused him to look round. At the same +instant the moon passed from behind a cloud, and its rays fell on a beautiful +golden-haired woman standing half hidden by the ferns. +</p> + +<p> +With one bound he caught up his mantle, and rushed headlong down the path he +had come, fearing at each step to feel a hand laid on his shoulder. It was not +till he had left the last trees behind him, and was standing in the open plain, +that he dared to look round, and then he thought a figure in white was still +standing there waving her arms to and fro. This was enough; he ran along the +road harder than ever, and never paused till he was save in his own room. +</p> + +<p> +With the earliest rays of dawn he went back to the forest to see whether he +could find any traces of the Yara, but though he searched every clump of +bushes, and looked up every tree, everything was empty, and the only voices he +heard were those of parrots, which are so ugly that they only drive people +away. +</p> + +<p> +“I think I must be mad,” he said to himself, “and have dreamt all that folly”; +and going back to the city he began his daily work. But either that was harder +than usual, or he must be ill, for he could not fix his mind upon it, and +everybody he came across during the day inquired if anything had happened to +give him that white, frightened look. +</p> + +<p> +“I must be feverish,” he said to himself; “after all, it is rather dangerous to +take a cold bath when one is feeling so hot.” Yet he knew, while he said it, +that he was counting the hours for night to come, that he might return to the +forest. +</p> + +<p> +In the evening he went as usual to the creeper-covered house. But he had better +have stayed away, as his face was so pale and his manner so strange, that the +poor girl saw that something terrible had occurred. Alonzo, however, refused to +answer any of her questions, and all she could get was a promise to hear +everything the next day. +</p> + +<p> +On pretence of a violent headache, he left Julia much earlier than usual and +hurried quickly home. Taking down a pistol, he loaded it and put it in his +belt, and a little before midnight he stole out on the tips of his toes, so as +to disturb nobody. Once outside he hastened down the road which led to the +forest. +</p> + +<p> +He did not stop till he had reached the river pool, when holding the pistol in +his hand, he looked about him. At every little noise—the falling of a leaf, the +rustle of an animal in the bushes, the cry of a night-bird—he sprang up and +cocked his pistol in the direction of the sound. But though the moon still +shone he saw nothing, and by and by a kind of dreamy state seemed to steal over +him as he leant against a tree. +</p> + +<p> +How long he remained in this condition he could not have told, but suddenly he +awoke with a start, on hearing his name uttered softly. +</p> + +<p> +“Who is that?” he cried, standing upright instantly; but only an echo answered +him. Then his eyes grew fascinated with the dark waters of the pool close to +his feet, and he looked at it as if he could never look away. +</p> + +<p> +He gazed steadily into the depths for some minutes, when he became aware that +down in the darkness was a bright spark, which got rapidly bigger and brighter. +Again that feeling of awful fear took possession of him, and he tried to turn +his eyes from the pool. But it was no use; something stronger than himself +compelled him to keep them there. +</p> + +<p> +At last the waters parted softly, and floating on the surface he saw the +beautiful woman whom he had fled from only a few nights before. He turned to +run, but his feet were glued to the spot. +</p> + +<p> +She smiled at him and held out her arms, but as she did so there came over him +the remembrance of Julia, as he had seen her a few hours earlier, and her +warnings and fears for the very danger in which he now found himself. +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile the figure was always drawing nearer, nearer; but, with a violent +effort, Alonzo shook off his stupor, and taking aim at her shoulder he pulled +the trigger. The report awoke the sleeping echoes, and was repeated all through +the forest, but the figure smiled still, and went on advancing. Again Alonzo +fired, and a second time the bullet whistled through the air, and the figure +advanced nearer. A moment more, and she would be at his side. +</p> + +<p> +Then, his pistol being empty, he grasped the barrel with both hands, and stood +ready to use it as a club should the Yara approach and closer. But now it +seemed her turn to feel afraid, for she paused an instant while he pressed +forward, still holding the pistol above his head, prepared to strike. +</p> + +<p> +In his excitement he had forgotten the river, and it was not till the cold +water touched his feet that he stood still by instinct. The Yara saw that he +was wavering, and suffering herself to sway gently backwards and forwards on +the surface of the river, she began to sing. The song floated through the +trees, now far and now near; no one could tell whence it came, the whole air +seemed full of it. Alonzo felt his senses going and his will failing. His arms +dropped heavily to his side, but in falling struck against the sea shell, +which, as he had promised Julia, he had always carried in his coat. +</p> + +<p> +His dimmed mind was just clear enough to remember what she had said, and with +trembling fingers, that were almost powerless to grasp, he drew it out. As he +did so the song grew sweeter and more tender than before, but he shut his ears +to it and bent his head over the shell. Out of its depths arose the voice of +Julia singing to him as she had sung when she gave him the shell, and though +the notes sounded faint at first, they swelled louder and louder till the mist +which had gathered about him was blown away. +</p> + +<p> +Then he raised his head, feeling that he had been through strange places, where +he could never wander any more; and he held himself erect and strong, and +looked about him. Nothing was to be seen but the shining of the river, and the +dark shadows of the trees; nothing was to be heard but the hum of the insects, +as they darted through the night. +</p> + +<p> +[Adapted from Folklore Bresilien.] +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap07"></a> +The Cunning Hare</h2> + +<p> +In a very cold country, far across the seas, where ice and snow cover the +ground for many months in the year, there lived a little hare, who, as his +father and mother were both dead, was brought up by his grandmother. As he was +too young, and she was too old, to work, they were very poor, and often did not +have enough to eat. +</p> + +<p> +One day, when the little fellow was hungrier than usual, he asked his +grandmother if he might go down to the river and catch a fish for their +breakfast, as the thaw had come and the water was flowing freely again. She +laughed at him for thinking that any fish would let itself be caught by a hare, +especially such a young one; but as she had the rheumatism very badly, and +could get no food herself, she let him go. “If he does not catch a fish he may +find something else,” she said to herself. So she told her grandson where to +look for the net, and how he was to set it across the river; but just as he was +starting, feeling himself quite a man, she called him back. +</p> + +<p> +“After all, I don’t know what is the use of your going, my boy! For even if you +should catch a fish, I have no fire to cook it with.” +</p> + +<p> +“Let me catch my fish, and I will soon make you a fire,” he answered gaily, for +he was young, and knew nothing about the difficulties of fire-making. +</p> + +<p> +It took him some time to haul the net through bushes and over fields, but at +length he reached a pool in the river which he had often heard was swarming +with fish, and here he set the net, as his grandmother had directed him. +</p> + +<p> +He was so excited that he hardly slept all night, and at the very first streak +of dawn he ran as fast as ever he could down to the river. His heart beat as +quickly as if he had had dogs behind him, and he hardly dared to look, lest he +should be disappointed. Would there be even one fish? And at this thought the +pangs of hunger made him feel quite sick with fear. But he need not have been +afraid; in every mesh of the net was a fine fat fish, and of course the net +itself was so heavy that he could only lift one corner. He threw some of the +fish back into the water, and buried some more in a hole under a stone, where +he would be sure to find them. Then he rolled up the net with the rest, put it +on his back and carried it home. The weight of the load caused his back to +ache, and he was thankful to drop it outside their hut, while he rushed in, +full of joy, to tell his grandmother. “Be quick and clean them!” he said, “and +I will go to those people’s tents on the other side of the water.” +</p> + +<p> +The old woman stared at him in horror as she listened to his proposal. Other +people had tried to steal fire before, and few indeed had come back with their +lives; but as, contrary to all her expectations, he had managed to catch such a +number of fish, she thought that perhaps there was some magic about him which +she did not know of, and did not try to hinder him. +</p> + +<p> +When the fish were all taken out, he fetched the net which he had laid out to +dry, folded it up very small, and ran down to the river, hoping that he might +find a place narrow enough for him to jump over; but he soon saw that it was +too wide for even the best jumper in the world. For a few moments he stood +there, wondering what was to be done, then there darted into his head some +words of a spell which he had once heard a wizard use, while drinking from the +river. He repeated them, as well as he could remember, and waited to see what +would happen. In five minutes such a grunting and a puffing was heard, and +columns of water rose into the air, though he could not tell what had made +them. Then round the bend of the stream came fifteen huge whales, which he +ordered to place themselves heads to tails, like stepping stones, so that he +could jump from one to the other till he landed on the opposite shore. Directly +he got there he told the whales that he did not need them any more, and sat +down in the sand to rest. +</p> + +<p> +Unluckily some children who were playing about caught sight of him, and one of +them, stealing softly up behind him, laid tight hold of his ears. The hare, who +had been watching the whales as they sailed down the river, gave a violent +start, and struggled to get away; but the boy held on tight, and ran back home, +as fast as he could go. +</p> + +<p> +“Throw it in the pot,” said the old woman, as soon as he had told his story; +“put it in that basket, and as soon as the water boils in the pot we will hang +it over the fire!” +</p> + +<p> +“Better kill it first,” said the old man; and the hare listened, horribly +frightened, but still looking secretly to see if there was no hole through +which he could escape, if he had a chance of doing so. Yes, there was one, +right in the top of the tent, so, shaking himself, as if with fright, he let +the end of his net unroll itself a little. +</p> + +<p> +“I wish that a spark of fire would fall on my net,” whispered he; and the next +minute a great log fell forward into the midst of the tent, causing every one +to spring backwards. The sparks were scattered in every direction, and one fell +on the net, making a little blaze. In an instant the hare had leaped through +the hole, and was racing towards the river, with men, women, and children after +him. There was no time to call back the whales, so, holding the net tight in +his mouth, he wished himself across the river. Then he jumped high into the +air, and landed safe on the other side, and after turning round to be sure that +there was no chance of anyone pursuing him, trotted happily home to his +grandmother. +</p> + +<p> +“Didn’t I tell you I would bring you fire?” said he, holding up his net, which +was now burning briskly. +</p> + +<p> +“But how did you cross the water?” inquired the old woman. +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, I just jumped!” said he. And his grandmother asked him no more questions, +for she saw that he was wiser than she. +</p> + +<p> +[“Indian Folk Tales.” Bureau of Ethnology.] +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap08"></a> +The Turtle and His Bride</h2> + +<p> +There was once a turtle who lived among a great many people of different kinds, +in a large camp near a big river which was born right up amongst the snows, and +flowed straight away south till it reached a sea where the water was always +hot. +</p> + +<p> +There were many other turtles in the camp, and this turtle was kind and +pleasant to them all, but he did not care for any of them very much, and felt +rather lonely. +</p> + +<p> +At last he built himself a hut, and filled it with skins for seats, and made it +as comfortable as any hut for miles round; and when it was quite finished he +looked about among the young women to see which of them he should ask to be his +wife. +</p> + +<p> +It took him some time to make up his mind, for no turtle likes being hurried, +but at length he found one girl who seemed prettier and more industrious than +the rest, and one day he entered her home, and said: “Will you marry me?” +</p> + +<p> +The young woman was so surprised at this question that she dropped the beaded +slipper she was making, and stared at the turtle. She felt inclined to +laugh—the idea was so absurd; but she was kind-hearted and polite, so she +looked as grave as she could, and answered: +</p> + +<p> +“But how are you going to provide for a family? Why, when the camp moves, you +will not even be able to keep up with the rest!” +</p> + +<p> +“I can keep up with the best of them,” replied the turtle, tossing his head. +But though he was very much offended he did not let the girl see it, and begged +and, prayed her so hard to marry him that, at last, she consented, very +unwillingly. +</p> + +<p> +“You will have to wait till the spring, though,” she said; “I must make a great +many slippers and dresses for myself, as I shall not have much time +afterwards.” +</p> + +<p> +This did not please the turtle; but he knew it was no use talking, so all he +answered was: +</p> + +<p> +“I shall go to war and take some captives, and I shall be away several months. +And when I return I shall expect you to be ready to marry me.” +</p> + +<p> +So he went back to his hut, and at once set about his preparations. The first +thing he did was to call all his relations together, and ask them if they would +come with him and make war on the people of a neighbouring village. The +turtles, who were tired of doing nothing, agreed at once, and next day the +whole tribe left the camp. The girl was standing at the door of her hut as they +passed, and laughed out loud—they moved so slowly. Her lover, who was marching +at the head, grew very angry at this, and cried out: +</p> + +<p> +“In four days from now you will be weeping instead of laughing, because there +will be hundreds of miles between you and me.” +</p> + +<p> +“In four days,” replied the girl—who only promised to marry him in order to get +rid of him—“in four days you will hardly be out of sight.” +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, I did not mean four days, but four YEARS,” answered the turtle, hastily; +“whatever happens I shall be back by then.” +</p> + +<p> +The army marched on, till one day, when they felt as if they must have got half +round the earth, though they were scarcely four miles from the camp, they found +a large tree lying across their path. They looked at it with dismay, and the +oldest among them put their heads together to see what was to be done. +</p> + +<p> +“Can’t we manage to get past by the top?” asked one. +</p> + +<p> +“Why, it would take us YEARS,” exclaimed another. “Just look at all those tall +green branches, spreading in every direction. If once we got entangled in THEM, +we should never get out again!” +</p> + +<p> +“Well then, let us go round by the bottom,” said a third. +</p> + +<p> +“How are we to do that, when the roots have made a deep hole, and above that is +a high bank?” replied a fourth. “No; the only way I can think of, is to burn a +large hole in the trunk.” And this they did, but the trunk was very thick, and +would not burn through. +</p> + +<p> +“It is no use, we must give it up,” they agreed at last. “After all, nobody +need ever know! We have been away such a long while that we might easily have +had all sorts of adventures.” And so the whole company turned homewards again. +</p> + +<p> +They took even longer to go back than they had to come, for they were tired and +footsore with their journey. When they drew near the camp they plucked up their +courage, and began to sing a war-song. At this the villagers came flocking to +see what spoils the turtles had won, but, as they approached, each turtle +seized some one by the wrist, exclaiming: “You are our spoils; you are our +prisoners!” +</p> + +<p> +“Now that I have got you I will keep you,” said the leader, who had happened to +seize his betrothed. +</p> + +<p> +Everybody was naturally very angry at this behaviour, and the girl most of all, +and in her secret heart she determined to have her revenge. But, just at +present, the turtles were too strong, so the prisoners had to put on their +smartest slippers and their brightest clothes, and dance a war dance while the +turtles sang. They danced so long that it seemed as if they would never stop, +till the turtle who was leading the singing suddenly broke into a loud chant: +</p> + +<p> +Whoever comes here, will die, will die! +</p> + +<p> +At this all the dancers grew so frightened that they burst through the ring of +their captors, and ran back to the village, the turtles following—very slowly. +On the way the chief turtle met a man, who said to him: +</p> + +<p> +“That woman who was to have been your wife has married another man!” +</p> + +<p> +“Is that true?” said the turtle. “Then I must see him.” +</p> + +<p> +But as soon as the villager was out of sight the turtle stopped, and taking a +bundle containing fringes and ornaments from his back, he hung them about him, +so that they rattled as he walked. When he was quite close to the hut where the +woman lived, he cried out: +</p> + +<p> +“Here I am to claim the woman who promised to be my wife.” +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, here is the turtle,” whispered the husband hurriedly; “what is to be done +now?” +</p> + +<p> +“Leave that to me; I will manage him,” replied the wife, and at that moment the +turtle came in, and seized her by the wrist. “Come with me,” he said sternly. +</p> + +<p> +“You broke your promise,” answered she. “You said you would be back soon, and +it is more than a year since you went! How was I to know that you were alive?” +</p> + +<p> +At her words the husband took courage, and spoke hastily: +</p> + +<p> +“Yes, you promised you would go to war and bring back some prisoners, and you +have not done it.” +</p> + +<p> +“I DID go, and made many prisoners,” retorted the turtle angrily, drawing out +his knife. “Look here, if she won’t be MY wife, she sha’n’t be YOURS. I will +cut her in two; and you shall have one half, and I the other.” +</p> + +<p> +“But half a woman is no use to me,” answered the man. “If you want her so much +you had better take her.” And the turtle, followed by his relations, carried +her off to his own hut. +</p> + +<p> +Now the woman saw she would gain nothing by being sulky, so she pretended to be +very glad to have got rid of her husband; but all the while she was trying to +invent a plan to deliver herself from the turtle. At length she remembered that +one of her friends had a large iron pot, and when the turtle had gone to his +room to put away his fringes, she ran over to her neighbour’s and brought it +back. Then she filled it with water and hung it over the fire to boil. It was +just beginning to bubble and hiss when the turtle entered. +</p> + +<p> +“What are you doing there?” asked he, for he was always afraid of things that +he did not understand. +</p> + +<p> +“Just warming some water,” she answered. “Do you know how to swim?” +</p> + +<p> +“Yes, of course I do. What a question! But what does it matter to you?” said +the turtle, more suspicious than ever. +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, I only thought that after your long journey you might like to wash. The +roads are so muddy, after the winter’s rains. I could rub your shell for you +till it was bright and shining again. +</p> + +<p> +“Well, I AM rather muddy. If one is fighting, you know, one cannot stop to pick +one’s way. I should certainly be more comfortable if my back was washed.” +</p> + +<p> +The woman did not wait for him to change his mind. She caught him up by his +shell and popped him straight into the pot, where he sank to the bottom, and +died instantly. +</p> + +<p> +The other turtles, who were standing at the door, saw their leader disappear, +and felt it was their duty as soldiers to follow him; and, springing into the +pot, died too. All but one young turtle, who, frightened at not seeing any of +his friends come out again, went as fast as he could to a clump of bushes, and +from there made his way to the river. His only thought was to get away as far +as possible from that dreadful hut; so he let the river carry him where it was +going itself, and at last, one day, he found himself in the warm sea, where, if +he is not dead, you may meet him still. +</p> + +<p> +[Bureau of Ethnology.] +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap09"></a> +How Geirald The Coward Was Punished</h2> + +<p> +Once upon a time there lived a poor knight who had a great many children, and +found it very hard to get enough for them to eat. One day he sent his eldest +son, Rosald, a brave and honest youth, to the neighbouring town to do some +business, and here Rosald met a young man named Geirald, with whom he made +friends. +</p> + +<p> +Now Geirald was the son of a rich man, who was proud of the boy, and had all +his life allowed him to do whatever he fancied, and, luckily for the father, he +was prudent and sensible, and did not waste money, as many other rich young men +might have done. For some time he had set his heart on travelling into foreign +countries, and after he had been talking for a little while to Rosald, he asked +if his new friend would be his companion on his journey. +</p> + +<p> +“There is nothing I should like better,” answered Rosald, shaking his head +sorrowfully; “but my father is very poor, and he could never give me the +money.” +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, if that is your only difficulty, it is all right,” cried Geirald. “My +father has more money than he knows what to do with, and he will give me as +much as I want for both of us; only, there is one thing you must promise me, +Rosald, that, supposing we have any adventures, you will let the honour and +glory of them fall to me.” +</p> + +<p> +“Yes, of course, that is only fair,” answered Rosald, who never cared about +putting himself forward. “But I cannot go without telling my parents. I am sure +they will think me lucky to get such a chance.” +</p> + +<p> +As soon as the business was finished, Rosald hastened home. His parents were +delighted to hear of his good fortune, and his father gave him his own sword, +which was growing rusty for want of use, while his mother saw that his leather +jerkin was in order. +</p> + +<p> +“Be sure you keep the promise you made to Geirald,” said she, as she bade him +good-bye, “and, come what may, see that you never betray him.” +</p> + +<p> +Full of joy Rosald rode off, and the next day he and Geirald started off to +seek adventures. To their disappointment their own land was so well governed +that nothing out of the common was very likely to happen, but directly they +crossed the border into another kingdom all seemed lawlessness and confusion. +</p> + +<p> +They had not gone very far, when, riding across a mountain, they caught a +glimpse of several armed men hiding amongst some trees in their path, and +remembered suddenly some talk they had heard of a band of twelve robbers who +lay in wait for rich travellers. The robbers were more like savage beasts than +men, and lived somewhere at the top of the mountain in caves and holes in the +ground. They were all called “Hankur,” and were distinguished one from another +by the name of a colour—blue, grey, red, and so on, except their chief, who was +known as Hankur the Tall. All this and more rushed into the minds of the two +young men as they saw the flash of their swords in the moonlight. +</p> + +<p> +“It is impossible to fight them—they are twelve to two,” whispered Geirald, +stopping his horse in the path. “We had much better ride back and take the +lower road. It would be stupid to throw away our lives like this.” +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, we can’t turn back,” answered Rosald, “we should be ashamed to look anyone +in the face again! And, besides, it is a grand opportunity to show what we are +made of. Let us tie up our horses here, and climb up the rocks so that we can +roll stones down on them.” +</p> + +<p> +“Well, we might try that, and then we shall always have our horses,” said +Geirald. So they went up the rocks silently and carefully. +</p> + +<p> +The robbers were lying all ready, expecting every moment to see their victims +coming round the corner a few yards away, when a shower of huge stones fell on +their heads, killing half the band. The others sprang up the rock, but as they +reached the top the sword of Rosald swung round, and one man after another +rolled down into the valley. At last the chief managed to spring up, and, +grasping Rosald by the waist, flung away his sword, and the two fought +desperately, their bodies swaying always nearer the edge. It seemed as if +Rosald, being the smaller of the two, MUST fall over, when, with his left hand, +he drew the robber’s sword out of its sheath and plunged it into his heart. +Then he took from the dead man a beautiful ring set with a large stone, and put +it on his own finger. +</p> + +<p> +The fame of this wonderful deed soon spread through the country, and people +would often stop Geirald’s horse, and ask leave to see the robber’s ring, which +was said to have been stolen from the father of the reigning king. And Geirald +showed them the ring with pride, and listened to their words of praise, and no +one would ever have guessed anyone else had destroyed the robbers. +</p> + +<p> +In a few days they left the kingdom and rode on to another, where they thought +they would stop through the remainder of the winter, for Geirald liked to be +comfortable, and did not care about travelling through ice and snow. But the +king would only grant them leave to stop on condition that, before the winter +was ended, they should give him some fresh proof of the courage of which he had +heard so much. Rosald’s heart was glad at the king’s message, and as for +Geirald, he felt that as long as Rosald was there all would go well. So they +both bowed low and replied that it was the king’s place to command and theirs +to obey. +</p> + +<p> +“Well, then,” said his Majesty, “this is what I want you to do: In the +north-east part of my kingdom there dwells a giant, who has an iron staff +twenty yards long, and he is so quick in using it, that even fifty knights have +no chance against him. The bravest and strongest young men of my court have +fallen under the blows of that staff; but, as you overcame the twelve robbers +so easily, I feel that I have reason to hope that you may be able to conquer +the giant. In three days from this you will set out.” +</p> + +<p> +“We will be ready, your Majesty,” answered Rosald; but Geirald remained silent. +</p> + +<p> +“How can we possibly fight against a giant that has killed fifty knights?” +cried Geirald, when they were outside the castle. “The king only wants to get +rid of us! He won’t think about us for the next three days—that is one +comfort—so we shall have plenty of time to cross the borders of the kingdom and +be out of reach.” +</p> + +<p> +“We mayn’t be able to kill the giant, but we certainly can’t run away till we +have tried,” answered Rosald. “Besides, think how glorious it will be if we DO +manage to kill him! I know what sort of weapon I shall use. Come with me now, +and I will see about it.” And, taking his friend by the arm, he led him into a +shop where he bought a huge lump of solid iron, so big that they could hardly +lift it between them. However, they just managed to carry it to a blacksmith’s +where Rosald directed that it should be beaten into a thick club, with a sharp +spike at one end. When this was done to his liking he took it home under his +arm. +</p> + +<p> +Very early on the third morning the two young men started on their journey, and +on the fourth day they reached the giant’s cave before he was out of bed. +Hearing the sound of footsteps, the giant got up and went to the entrance to +see who was coming, and Rosald, expecting something of the sort, struck him +such a blow on the forehead that he fell to the ground. Then, before he could +rise to his feet again, Rosald drew out his sword and cut off his head. +</p> + +<p> +“It was not so difficult after all, you see,” he said, turning to Geirald. And +placing the giant’s head in a leathern wallet which was slung over his back, +they began their journey to the castle. +</p> + +<p> +As they drew near the gates, Rosald took the head from the wallet and handed it +to Geirald, whom he followed into the king’s presence. +</p> + +<p> +“The giant will trouble you no more,” said Geirald, holding out the head. And +the king fell on his neck and kissed him, and cried joyfully that he was the +“bravest knight in all the world, and that a feast should be made for him and +Rosald, and that the great deed should be proclaimed throughout the kingdom.” +And Geirald’s heart swelled with pride, and he almost forgot that it was Rosald +and not he, who had slain the giant. +</p> + +<p> +By-and-by a whisper went round that a beautiful lady who lived in the castle +would be present at the feast, with twenty-four lovely maidens, her attendants. +The lady was the queen of her own country, but as her father and mother had +died when she was a little girl, she had been left in the care of this king who +was her uncle. +</p> + +<p> +She was now old enough to govern her own kingdom, but her subjects did not like +being ruled by a woman, and said that she must find a husband to help her in +managing her affairs. Prince after prince had offered himself, but the young +queen would have nothing to say to any of them, and at last told her ministers +that if she was to have a husband at all she must choose him for herself, as +she would certainly not marry any of those whom they had selected for her. The +ministers replied that in that case she had better manage her kingdom alone, +and the queen, who knew nothing about business, got things into such a +confusion that at last she threw them up altogether, and went off to her uncle. +</p> + +<p> +Now when she heard how the two young men had slain the giant, her heart was +filled with admiration of their courage, and she declared that if a feast was +held she would certainly be present at it. +</p> + +<p> +And so she was; and when the feast was over she asked the king, her guardian, +if he would allow the two heroes who had killed the robbers and slain the giant +to fight a tourney the next day with one of her pages. The king gladly gave his +consent, and ordered the lists to be made ready, never doubting that two great +champions would be eager for such a chance of adding to their fame. Little did +he guess that Geirald had done all he could to persuade Rosald to steal +secretly out of the castle during the night, “for,” said he, “I don’t believe +they are pages at all, but well-proved knights, and how can we, so young and +untried, stand up against them?” +</p> + +<p> +“The honour will be all the higher if we gain the day,” answered Rosald; but +Geirald would listen to nothing, and only declared that he did not care about +honour, and would rather be alive than have every honour in the world heaped +upon him. Go he would, and as Rosald had sworn to give him his company, he must +come with him. +</p> + +<p> +Rosald was much grieved when he heard these words, but he knew that it was +useless attempting to persuade Geirald, and turned his thoughts to forming some +plan to prevent this disgraceful flight. Suddenly his face brightened. “Let us +change clothes,” he said, “and I will do the fighting, while you shall get the +glory. Nobody will ever know.” And to this Geirald readily consented. +</p> + +<p> +Whether Geirald was right or not in thinking that the so-called page was really +a well-proved knight, it is certain that Rosald’s task was a very hard one. +Three times they came together with a crash which made their horses reel; once +Rosald knocked the helmet off his foe, and received in return such a blow that +he staggered in his saddle. Shouts went up from the lookers-on, as first one +and then the other seemed gaining the victory; but at length Rosald planted his +spear in the armour which covered his adversary’s breast and bore him steadily +backward. “Unhorsed! unhorsed!” cried the people; and Rosald then himself +dismounted and helped his adversary to rise. +</p> + +<p> +In the confusion that followed it was easy for Rosald to slip away and return +Geirald his proper clothes. And in these, torn and dusty with the fight, +Geirald answered the king’s summons to come before him. +</p> + +<p> +“You have done what I expected you to do,” said he, “and now, choose your +reward.” +</p> + +<p> +“Grant me, sire, the hand of the queen, your niece,” replied the young man, +bowing low, “and I will defend her kingdom against all her enemies.” +</p> + +<p> +“She could choose no better husband,” said the king, “and if she consents I +do.” And he turned towards the queen, who had not been present during the +fight, but had just slipped into a seat by his right hand. Now the queen’s eyes +were very sharp, and it seemed to her that the man who stood before her, tall +and handsome though he might be, was different in many slight ways, and in one +in particular, from the man who had fought the tourney. How there could be any +trickery she could not understand, and why the real victor should be willing to +give up his prize to another was still stranger; but something in her heart +warned her to be careful. She answered: “You may be satisfied, uncle, but I am +not. One more proof I must have; let the two young men now fight against each +other. The man I marry must be the man who killed the robbers and the giant, +and overcame my page.” Geirald’s face grew pale as he heard these words. He +knew there was no escape from him now, though he did not doubt for one moment +that Rosald would keep his compact loyally to the last. But how would it be +possible that even Rosald should deceive the watchful eyes of the king and his +court, and still more those of the young queen whom he felt uneasily had +suspected him from the first? +</p> + +<p> +The tourney was fought, and in spite of Geirald’s fears Rosald managed to hang +back to make attacks which were never meant to succeed, and to allow strokes +which he could easily have parried to attain their end. At length, after a +great show of resistance, he fell heavily to the ground. And as he fell he knew +that it was not alone the glory that was his rightfully which he gave up, but +the hand of the queen that was more precious still. +</p> + +<p> +But Geirald did not even wait to see if he was wounded; he went straight to the +wall where the royal banner waved and claimed the reward which was now his. +</p> + +<p> +The crowd of watchers turned towards the queen, expecting to see her stoop and +give some token to the victor. Instead, to the surprise of everyone, she merely +smiled gracefully, and said that before she bestowed her hand one more test +must be imposed, but this should be the last. The final tourney should be +fought; Geirald and Rosald should meet singly two knights of the king’s court, +and he who could unhorse his foe should be master of herself and of her +kingdom. The combat was fixed to take place at ten o’clock the following day. +</p> + +<p> +All night long Geirald walked about his room, not daring to face the fight that +lay in front of him, and trying with all his might to discover some means of +escaping it. All night long he moved restlessly from door to window; and when +the trumpets sounded, and the combatants rode into the field, he alone was +missing. The king sent messengers to see what had become of him, and he was +found, trembling with fear, hiding under his bed. After that there was no need +of any further proof. The combat was declared unnecessary, and the queen +pronounced herself quite satisfied, and ready to accept Rosald as her husband. +</p> + +<p> +“You forgot one thing,” she said, when they were alone. “I recognized my +father’s ring which Hankur the Tall had stolen, on the finger of your right +hand, and I knew that it was you and not Geirald who had slain the robber band. +I was the page who fought you, and again I saw the ring on your finger, though +it was absent from his when he stood before me to claim the prize. That was why +I ordered the combat between you, though your faith to your word prevented my +plan being successful, and I had to try another. The man who keeps his promise +at all costs to himself is the man I can trust, both for myself and for my +people.” +</p> + +<p> +So they were married, and returned to their own kingdom, which they ruled well +and happily. And many years after a poor beggar knocked at the palace gates and +asked for money, for the sake of days gone by—and this was Geirald. +</p> + +<p> +[From Neuislandischem Volksmärchen.] +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap10"></a> +Hábogi</h2> + +<p> +Once upon a time there lived two peasants who had three daughters, and, as +generally happens, the youngest was the most beautiful and the best tempered, +and when her sisters wanted to go out she was always ready to stay at home and +do their work. +</p> + +<p> +Years passed quickly with the whole family, and one day the parents suddenly +perceived that all three girls were grown up, and that very soon they would be +thinking of marriage. +</p> + +<p> +“Have you decided what your husband’s name is to be?” said the father, +laughingly, to his eldest daughter, one evening when they were all sitting at +the door of their cottage. “You know that is a very important point!” +</p> + +<p> +“Yes; I will never wed any man who is not called Sigmund,” answered she. +</p> + +<p> +“Well, it is lucky for you that there are a great many Sigmunds in this part of +the world,” replied her father, “so that you can take your choice! And what do +YOU say?” he added, turning to the second. +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, I think that there is no name so beautiful as Sigurd,” cried she. +</p> + +<p> +“Then you won’t be an old maid either,” answered he. “There are seven Sigurds +in the next village alone! And you, Helga?” +</p> + +<p> +Helga, who was still the prettiest of the three, looked up. She also had her +favourite name, but, just as she was going to say it, she seemed to hear a +voice whisper: “Marry no one who is not called Hábogi.” +</p> + +<p> +The girl had never heard of such a name, and did not like it, so she determined +to pay no attention; but as she opened her mouth to tell her father that her +husband must be called Njal, she found herself answering instead: “If I do +marry it will be to no one except Hábogi.” +</p> + +<p> +“Who IS Hábogi?” asked her father and sisters; “We never heard of such a +person.” +</p> + +<p> +“All I can tell you is that he will be my husband, if ever I have one,” +returned Helga; and that was all she would say. +</p> + +<p> +Before very long the young men who lived in the neighbouring villages or on the +sides of the mountains, had heard of this talk of the three girls, and Sigmunds +and Sigurds in scores came to visit the little cottage. There were other young +men too, who bore different names, though not one of them was called “Hábogi,” +and these thought that they might perhaps gain the heart of the youngest. But +though there was more than one “Njal” amongst them, Helga’s eyes seemed always +turned another way. +</p> + +<p> +At length the two elder sisters made their choice from out of the Sigurds and +the Sigmunds, and it was decided that both weddings should take place at the +same time. Invitations were sent out to the friends and relations, and when, on +the morning of the great day, they were all assembled, a rough, coarse old +peasant left the crowd and came up to the brides’ father. +</p> + +<p> +“My name is Hábogi, and Helga must be my wife,” was all he said. And though +Helga stood pale and trembling with surprise, she did not try to run away. +</p> + +<p> +“I cannot talk of such things just now,” answered the father, who could not +bear the thought of giving his favourite daughter to this horrible old man, and +hoped, by putting it off, that something might happen. But the sisters, who had +always been rather jealous of Helga, were secretly pleased that their +bridegrooms should outshine hers. +</p> + +<p> +When the feast was over, Hábogi led up a beautiful horse from a field where he +had left it to graze, and bade Helga jump up on its splendid saddle, all +embroidered in scarlet and gold. “You shall come back again,” said he; “but now +you must see the house that you are to live in.” And though Helga was very +unwilling to go, something inside her forced her to obey. +</p> + +<p> +The old man settled her comfortably, then sprang up in front of her as easily +as if he had been a boy, and, shaking the reins, they were soon out of sight. +</p> + +<p> +After some miles they rode through a meadow with grass so green that Helga’s +eyes felt quite dazzled; and feeding on the grass were a quantity of large fat +sheep, with the curliest and whitest wool in the world. +</p> + +<p> +“What lovely sheep! whose are they?” cried Helga. +</p> + +<p> +“Your Hábogi’s,” answered he, “all that you see belongs to him; but the finest +sheep in the whole herd, which has little golden bells hanging between its +horns, you shall have for yourself.” +</p> + +<p> +This pleased Helga very much, for she had never had anything of her own; and +she smiled quite happily as she thanked Hábogi for his present. +</p> + +<p> +They soon left the sheep behind them, and entered a large field with a river +running through it, where a number of beautiful grey cows were standing by a +gate waiting for a milk-maid to come and milk them. +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, what lovely cows!” cried Helga again; “I am sure their milk must be +sweeter than any other cows. How I should like to have some! I wonder to whom +they belong?” +</p> + +<p> +“To your Hábogi,” replied he; “and some day you shall have as much milk as you +like, but we cannot stop now. Do you see that big grey one, with the silver +bells between her horns? That is to be yours, and you can have her milked every +morning the moment you wake.” +</p> + +<p> +And Helga’s eyes shone, and though she did not say anything, she thought that +she would learn to milk the cow herself. +</p> + +<p> +A mile further on they came to a wide common, with short, springy turf, where +horses of all colours, with skins of satin, were kicking up their heels in +play. The sight of them so delighted Helga that she nearly sprang from her +saddle with a shriek of joy. +</p> + +<p> +“Whose are they?” Oh! whose are they?” she asked. “How happy any man must be +who is the master of such lovely creatures!” +</p> + +<p> +“They are your Hábogi’s,” replied he, “and the one which you think the most +beautiful of all you shall have for yourself, and learn to ride him.” +</p> + +<p> +At this Helga quite forgot the sheep and the cow. +</p> + +<p> +“A horse of my own!” said she. “Oh, stop one moment, and let me see which I +will choose. The white one? No. The chestnut? No. I think, after all, I like +the coal-black one best, with the little white star on his forehead. Oh, do +stop, just for a minute.” +</p> + +<p> +But Hábogi would not stop or listen. “When you are married you will have plenty +of time to choose one,” was all he answered, and they rode on two or three +miles further. +</p> + +<p> +At length Hábogi drew rein before a small house, very ugly and mean-looking, +and that seemed on the point of tumbling to pieces. +</p> + +<p> +“This is my house, and is to be yours,” said Hábogi, as he jumped down and held +out his arms to lift Helga from the horse. The girl’s heart sank a little, as +she thought that the man who possessed such wonderful sheep, and cows, and +horses, might have built himself a prettier place to live in; but she did not +say so. And, taking her arm, he led her up the steps. +</p> + +<p> +But when she got inside, she stood quite bewildered at the beauty of all around +her. None of her friends owned such things, not even the miller, who was the +richest man she knew. There were carpets everywhere, thick and soft, and of +deep rich colours; and the cushions were of silk, and made you sleepy even to +look at them; and curious little figures in china were scattered about. Helga +felt as if it would take her all her life to see everything properly, and it +only seemed a second since she had entered the house, when Hábogi came up to +her. +</p> + +<p> +“I must begin the preparations for our wedding at once,” he said; “but my +foster-brother will take you home, as I promised. In three days he will bring +you back here, with your parents and sisters, and any guests you may invite, in +your company. By that time the feast will be ready.” +</p> + +<p> +Helga had so much to think about, that the ride home appeared very short. Her +father and mother were delighted to see her, as they did not feel sure that so +ugly and cross-looking a man as Hábogi might not have played her some cruel +trick. And after they had given her some supper they begged her to tell them +all she had done. But Helga only told them that they should see for themselves +on the third day, when they would come to her wedding. +</p> + +<p> +It was very early in the morning when the party set out, and Helga’s two +sisters grew green with envy as they passed the flocks of sheep, and cows, and +horses, and heard that the best of each was given to Helga herself; but when +they caught sight of the poor little house which was to be her home their +hearts grew light again. +</p> + +<p> +“I should be ashamed of living in such a place,” whispered each to the other; +and the eldest sister spoke of the carved stone over HER doorway, and the +second boasted of the number of rooms SHE had. But the moment they went inside +they were struck dumb with rage at the splendour of everything, and their faces +grew white and cold with fury when they saw the dress which Hábogi had prepared +for his bride—a dress that glittered like sunbeams dancing upon ice. +</p> + +<p> +“She SHALL not look so much finer than us,” they cried passionately to each +other as soon as they were alone; and when night came they stole out of their +rooms, and taking out the wedding-dress, they laid it in the ash-pit, and +heaped ashes upon it. But Hábogi, who knew a little magic, and had guessed what +they would do, changed the ashes into roses, and cast a spell over the sisters, +so that they could not leave the spot for a whole day, and every one who passed +by mocked at them. +</p> + +<p> +The next morning when they all awoke the ugly tumble-down house had +disappeared, and in its place stood a splendid palace. The guests’ eyes sought +in vain for the bridegroom, but could only see a handsome young man, with a +coat of blue velvet and silver and a gold crown upon his head. +</p> + +<p> +“Who is that?” they asked Helga. +</p> + +<p> +“That is my Hábogi,” said she. +</p> + +<p> +[From Neuislandischem Volksmärchen.] +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap11"></a> +How the Little Brother Set Free His Big Brothers</h2> + +<p> +In a small hut, right in the middle of the forest, lived a man, his wife, three +sons and a daughter. For some reason, all the animals seemed to have left that +part of the country, and food grew very scarce; so, one morning, after a night +of snow, when the tracks of beasts might be easily seen, the three boys started +off to hunt. +</p> + +<p> +They kept together for some time, till they reached a place where the path they +had been following split into two, and one of the brothers called his dog and +went to the left, while the others took the trail to the right. These had not +gone far when their dogs scented a bear, and drove him out from the thicket. +The bear ran across a clearing, and the elder brother managed to place an arrow +right in his head. +</p> + +<p> +They both took up the bear, and carried it towards home, meeting the third at +the spot where they had parted from him. When they reached home they threw the +bear down on the floor of the hut saying, +</p> + +<p> +“Father, here is a bear which we killed; now we can have some dinner.” +</p> + +<p> +But the father, who was in a bad temper, only said: +</p> + +<p> +“When I was a young man we used to get two bears in one day.” +</p> + +<p> +The sons were rather disappointed at hearing this, and though there was plenty +of meat to last for two or three days, they started off early in the morning +down the same trail that they had followed before. As they drew near the fork a +bear suddenly ran out from behind a tree, and took the path on the right. The +two elder boys and their dogs pursued him, and soon the second son, who was +also a good shot, killed him instantly with an arrow. At the fork of the trail, +on their way home, they met the youngest, who had taken the left-hand road, and +had shot a bear for himself. But when they threw the two bears triumphantly on +the floor of the hut their father hardly looked at them, and only said: +</p> + +<p> +“When I was a young man I used to get three bears in one day.” +</p> + +<p> +The next day they were luckier than before, and brought back three bears, on +which their father told them that HE had always killed four. However, that did +not prevent him from skinning the bears and cooking them in a way of his own, +which he thought very good, and they all ate an excellent supper. +</p> + +<p> +Now these bears were the servants of the great bear chief who lived in a high +mountain a long way off. And every time a bear was killed his shadow returned +to the house of the bear chief, with the marks of his wounds plainly to bee +seen by the rest. +</p> + +<p> +The chief was furious at the number of bears the hunters had killed, and +determined that he would find some way of destroying them. So he called another +of his servants, and said to him: +</p> + +<p> +“Go to the thicket near the fork, where the boys killed your brothers, and +directly they or the dogs see you return here as fast as ever you can. The +mountain will open to let you in, and the hunters will follow you. Then I shall +have them in my power, and be able to revenge myself.” +</p> + +<p> +The servant bowed low, and started at once for the fork, where he hid himself +in the bushes. +</p> + +<p> +By-and-by the boys came in sight, but this time there were only two of them, as +the youngest had stayed at home. The air was warm and damp, and the snow soft +and slushy, and the elder brother’s bowstring hung loose, while the bow of the +younger caught in a tree and snapped in half. At that moment the dogs began to +bark loudly, and the bear rushed out of the thicket and set off in the +direction of the mountain. Without thinking that they had nothing to defend +themselves with, should the bear turn and attack them, the boys gave chase. The +bear, who knew quite well that he could not be shot, sometimes slackened his +pace and let the dogs get quite close; and in this way the elder son reached +the mountain without observing it, while his brother, who had hurt his foot, +was still far behind. +</p> + +<p> +As he ran up, the mountain opened to admit the bear, and the boy, who was close +on his heels, rushed in after him, and did not know where he was till he saw +bears sitting on every side of him, holding a council. The animal he had been +chasing sank panting in their midst, and the boy, very much frightened, stood +still, letting his bow fall to the ground. +</p> + +<p> +“Why are you trying to kill all my servants?” asked the chief. “Look round and +see their shades, with arrows sticking in them. It was I who told the bear +to-day how he was to lure you into my power. I shall take care that you shall +not hurt my people any more, because you will become a bear yourself.” +</p> + +<p> +At this moment the second brother came up—for the mountain had been left open +on purpose to tempt him also—and cried out breathlessly: “Don’t you see that +the bear is lying close to you? Why don’t you shoot him?” And, without waiting +for a reply, pressed forward to drive his arrow into the heart of the bear. But +the elder one caught his raised arm, and whispered: “Be quiet! can’t you tell +where you are?” Then the boy looked up and saw the angry bears about him. On +the one side were the servants of the chief, and on the other the servants of +the chief’s sister, who was sorry for the two youths, and begged that their +lives might be spared. The chief answered that he would not kill them, but only +cast a spell over them, by which their heads and bodies should remain as they +were, but their arms and legs should change into those of a bear, so that they +would go on all fours for the rest of their lives. And, stooping over a spring +of water, he dipped a handful of moss in it and rubbed it over the arms and +legs of the boys. In an instant the transformation took place, and two +creatures, neither beast nor human stood before the chief. +</p> + +<p> +Now the bear chief of course knew that the boys’ father would seek for his sons +when they did not return home, so he sent another of his servants to the +hiding-place at the fork of the trail to see what would happen. He had not +waited long, when the father came in sight, stooping as he went to look for his +sons’ tracks in the snow. When he saw the marks of snow-shoes along the path on +the right he was filled with joy, not knowing that the servant had made some +fresh tracks on purpose to mislead him; and he hastened forward so fast that he +fell headlong into a pit, where the bear was sitting. Before he could pick +himself up the bear had quietly broken his neck, and, hiding the body under the +snow, sat down to see if anyone else would pass that way. +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile the mother at home was wondering what had become of her two sons, and +as the hours went on, and their father never returned, she made up her mind to +go and look for him. The youngest boy begged her to let him undertake the +search, but she would not hear of it, and told him he must stay at home and +take care of his sister. So, slipping on her snow-shoes, she started on her +way. +</p> + +<p> +As no fresh snow had fallen, the trail was quite easy to find, and she walked +straight on, till it led her up to the pit where the bear was waiting for her. +He grasped her as she fell and broke her neck, after which he laid her in the +snow beside her husband, and went back to tell the bear chief. +</p> + +<p> +Hour after hour dragged heavily by in the forest hut, and at last the brother +and sister felt quite sure that in some way or other all the rest of the family +had perished. Day after day the boy climbed to the top of a tall tree near the +house, and sat there till he was almost frozen, looking on all sides through +the forest openings, hoping that he might see someone coming along. Very soon +all the food in the house was eaten, and he knew he would have to go out and +hunt for more. Besides, he wished to seek for his parents. +</p> + +<p> +The little girl did not like being left alone in the hut, and cried bitterly; +but her brother told her that there was no use sitting down quietly to starve, +and that whether he found any game or not he would certainly be back before the +following night. Then he cut himself some arrows, each from a different tree, +and winged with the feathers of four different birds. He then made himself a +bow, very light and strong, and got down his snow-shoes. All this took some +time, and he could not start that day, but early next morning he called his +little dog Redmouth, whom he kept in a box, and set out. +</p> + +<p> +After he had followed the trail for a great distance he grew very tired, and +sat upon the branch of a tree to rest. But Redmouth barked so furiously that +the boy thought that perhaps his parents might have been killed under its +branches, and stepping back, shot one of his arrows at the root of the tree. +Whereupon a noise like thunder shook it from top to bottom, fire broke out, and +in a few minutes a little heap of ashes lay in the place where it had stood. +</p> + +<p> +Not knowing quite what to make of it all, the boy continued on the trail, and +went down the right-hand fork till he came to the clump of bushes where the +bears used to hide. +</p> + +<p> +Now, as was plain by his being able to change the shape of the two brothers, +the bear chief knew a good deal of magic, and he was quite aware that the +little boy was following the trail, and he sent a very small but clever bear +servant to wait for him in the bushes and to try to tempt him into the +mountain. But somehow his spells could not have worked properly that day, as +the bear chief did not know that Redmouth had gone with his master, or he would +have been more careful. For the moment the dog ran round the bushes barking +loudly, the little bear servant rushed out in a fright, and set out for the +mountains as fast as he could. +</p> + +<p> +The dog followed the bear, and the boy followed the dog, until the mountain, +the house of the great bear chief, came in sight. But along the road the snow +was so wet and heavy that the boy could hardly get along, and then the thong of +his snow-shoes broke, and he had to stop and mend it, so that the bear and the +dog got so far ahead that he could scarcely hear the barking. When the strap +was firm again the boy spoke to his snow-shoes and said: +</p> + +<p> +“Now you must go as fast as you can, or, if not, I shall lose the dog as well +as the bear.” And the snow-shoes sang in answer that they would run like the +wind. +</p> + +<p> +As he came along, the bear chief’s sister was looking out of the window, and +took pity on this little brother, as she had on the two elder ones, and waited +to see what the boy would do, when he found that the bear servant and the dog +had already entered the mountain. +</p> + +<p> +The little brother was certainly very much puzzled at not seeing anything of +either of the animals, which had vanished suddenly out of his sight. He paused +for an instant to think what he should do next, and while he did so he fancied +he heard Redmouth’s voice on the opposite side of the mountain. With great +difficulty he scrambled over steep rocks, and forced a path through tangled +thickets; but when he reached the other side the sound appeared to start from +the place from which he had come. Then he had to go all the way back again, and +at the very top, where he stopped to rest, the barking was directly beneath +him, and he knew in an instant where he was and what had happened. +</p> + +<p> +“Let my dog out at once, bear chief!” cried he. “If you do not, I shall destroy +your palace.” But the bear chief only laughed, and said nothing. The boy was +very angry at his silence, and aiming one of his arrows at the bottom of the +mountain, shot straight through it. +</p> + +<p> +As the arrow touched the ground a rumbling was heard, and with a roar a fire +broke out which seemed to split the whole mountain into pieces. The bear chief +and all his servants were burnt up in the flames, but his sister and all that +belonged to her were spared because she had tried to save the two elder boys +from punishment. +</p> + +<p> +As soon as the fire had burnt itself out the little hunter entered what was +left of the mountain, and the first thing he saw was his two brothers—half +bear, half boy. +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, help us! help us!” cried they, standing on their hind legs as they spoke, +and stretching out their fore-paws to him. +</p> + +<p> +“But how am I to help you?” asked the little brother, almost weeping. “I can +kill people, and destroy trees and mountains, but I have no power over men.” +And the two elder brothers came up and put their paws on his shoulders, and +they all three wept together. +</p> + +<p> +The heart of the bear chief’s sister was moved when she saw their misery, and +she came gently up behind, and whispered: +</p> + +<p> +“Little boy, gather some moss from the spring over there, and let your brothers +smell it.” +</p> + +<p> +With a bound all three were at the spring, and as the youngest plucked a +handful of wet moss, the two others sniffed at it with all their might. Then +the bearskin fell away from them, and they stood upright once more. +</p> + +<p> +“How can we thank you? how can we thank you?” they stammered, hardly able to +speak; and fell at her feet in gratitude. But the bear’s sister only smiled, +and bade them go home and look after the little girl, who had no one else to +protect her. +</p> + +<p> +And this the boys did, and took such good care of their sister that, as she was +very small, she soon forgot that she had ever had a father and mother. +</p> + +<p> +[From the Bureau of Ethnology, U.S.] +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap12"></a> +The Sacred Milk of Koumongoé</h2> + +<p> +Far way, in a very hot country, there once lived a man and woman who had two +children, a son named Koane and a daughter called Thakane. +</p> + +<p> +Early in the morning and late in the evenings the parents worked hard in the +fields, resting, when the sun was high, under the shade of some tree. While +they were absent the little girl kept house alone, for her brother always got +up before the dawn, when the air was fresh and cool, and drove out the cattle +to the sweetest patches of grass he could find. +</p> + +<p> +One day, when Koane had slept later than usual, his father and mother went to +their work before him, and there was only Thakane to be seen busy making the +bread for supper. +</p> + +<p> +“Thakane,” he said, “I am thirsty. Give me a drink from the tree Koumongoé, +which has the best milk in the world.” +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, Koane,” cried his sister, “you know that we are forbidden to touch that +tree. What would father say when he came home? For he would be sure to know.” +</p> + +<p> +“Nonsense,” replied Koane, “there is so much milk in Koumongoé that he will +never miss a little. If you won’t give it to me, I sha’n’t take the cattle out. +They will just have to stay all day in the hut, and you know that they will +starve.” And he turned from her in a rage, and sat down in the corner. +</p> + +<p> +After a while Thakane said to him: “It is getting hot, had you better drive out +the cattle now?” +</p> + +<p> +But Koane only answered sulkily: “I told you I am not going to drive them out +at all. If I have to do without milk, they shall do without grass.” +</p> + +<p> +Thakane did not know what to do. She was afraid to disobey her parents, who +would most likely beat her, yet the beasts would be sure to suffer if they were +kept in, and she would perhaps be beaten for that too. So at last she took an +axe and a tiny earthen bowl, she cut a very small hole in the side of +Koumongoé, and out gushed enough milk to fill the bowl. +</p> + +<p> +“Here is the milk you wanted,” said she, going up to Koane, who was still +sulking in his corner. +</p> + +<p> +“What is the use of that?” grumbled Koane; “why, there is not enough to drown a +fly. Go and get me three times as much!” +</p> + +<p> +Trembling with fright, Thakane returned to the tree, and struck it a sharp blow +with the axe. In an instant there poured forth such a stream of milk that it +ran like a river into the hut. +</p> + +<p> +“Koane! Koane!” cried she, “come and help me to plug up the hole. There will be +no milk left for our father and mother.” But Koane could not stop it any more +than Thakane, and soon the milk was flowing through the hut downhill towards +their parents in the fields below. +</p> + +<p> +The man saw a white stream a long way off, and guessed what had happened. +</p> + +<p> +“Wife, wife,” he called loudly to the woman, who was working at a little +distance: “Do you see Koumongoé running fast down the hill? That is some +mischief of the children’s, I am sure. I must go home and find out what is the +matter.” And they both threw down their hoes and hurried to the side of +Koumongoé. +</p> + +<p> +Kneeling on the grass, the man and his wife made a cup of their hands and drank +the milk from it. And no sooner had they done this, than Koumongoé flowed back +again up the hill, and entered the hut. +</p> + +<p> +“Thakane,” said the parents, severely, when they reached home panting from the +heat of the sun, “what have you been doing? Why did Koumongoé come to us in the +fields instead of staying in the garden?” +</p> + +<p> +“It was Koane’s fault,” answered Thakane. “He would not take the cattle to feed +until he drank some of the milk from Koumongoé. So, as I did not know what else +to do, I gave it to him.” +</p> + +<p> +The father listened to Thakane’s words, but made no answer. Instead, he went +outside and brought in two sheepskins, which he stained red and sent for a +blacksmith to forge some iron rings. The rings were then passed over Thakane’s +arms and legs and neck, and the skins fastened on her before and behind. When +all was ready, the man sent for his servants and said: +</p> + +<p> +“I am going to get rid of Thakane.” +</p> + +<p> +“Get rid of your only daughter?” they answered, in surprise. “But why?” +</p> + +<p> +“Because she has eaten what she ought not to have eaten. She has touched the +sacred tree which belongs to her mother and me alone.” And, turning his back, +he called to Thakane to follow him, and they went down the road which led to +the dwelling of an ogre. +</p> + +<p> +They were passing along some fields where the corn was ripening, when a rabbit +suddenly sprang out at their feet, and standing on its hind legs, it sang: +</p> + +<p> +Why do you give to the ogre Your child, so fair, so fair? +</p> + +<p> +“You had better ask her,” replied the man, “she is old enough to give you an +answer.” +</p> + +<p> +Then, in her turn, Thakane sang: +</p> + +<p> +I gave Koumongoé to Koane, Koumongoé to the keeper of beasts; For without +Koumongoé they could not go to the meadows: Without Koumongoé they would starve +in the hut; That was why I gave him the Koumongoé of my father. +</p> + +<p> +And when the rabbit heard that, he cried: “Wretched man! it is you whom the +ogre should eat, and not your beautiful daughter.” +</p> + +<p> +But the father paid no heed to what the rabbit said, and only walked on the +faster, bidding Thakane to keep close behind him. By-and-by they met with a +troop of great deer, called elands, and they stopped when they saw Thakane and +sang: +</p> + +<p> +Why do you give to the ogre Your child, so fair, so fair? +</p> + +<p> +“You had better ask her, replied the man, “she is old enough to give you an +answer.” +</p> + +<p> +Then, in her turn, Thakane sang: +</p> + +<p> +I gave Koumongoé to Koane, Koumongoé to the keeper of beasts; For without +Koumongoé they could not go to the meadows: Without Koumongoé they would starve +in the hut; That was why I gave him the Koumongoé of my father. +</p> + +<p> +And the elands all cried: “Wretched man! it is you whom the ogre should eat, +and not your beautiful daughter.” +</p> + +<p> +By this time it was nearly dark, and the father said they could travel no +further that night, and must go to sleep where they were. Thakane was thankful +indeed when she heard this, for she was very tired, and found the two skins +fastened round her almost too heavy to carry. So, in spite of her dread of the +ogre, she slept till dawn, when her father woke her, and told her roughly that +he was ready to continue their journey. +</p> + +<p> +Crossing the plain, the girl and her father passed a herd of gazelles feeding. +They lifted their heads, wondering who was out so early, and when they caught +sight of Thakane, they sang: +</p> + +<p> +Why do you give to the ogre Your child, so fair, so fair? +</p> + +<p> +“You had better ask her, replied the man, “she is old enough to answer for +herself.” +</p> + +<p> +Then, in her turn, Thakane sang: +</p> + +<p> +I gave Koumongoé to Koane, Koumongoé to the keeper of beasts; For without +Koumongoé they could not go to the meadows: Without Koumongoé they would starve +in the hut; That was why I gave him the Koumongoé of my father. +</p> + +<p> +And the gazelles all cried: “Wretched man! it is you whom the ogre should eat, +and not your beautiful daughter.” +</p> + +<p> +At last they arrived at the village where the ogre lived, and they went +straight to his hut. He was nowhere to be seen, but in his place was his son +Masilo, who was not an ogre at all, but a very polite young man. He ordered his +servants to bring a pile of skins for Thakane to sit on, but told her father he +must sit on the ground. Then, catching sight of the girl’s face, which she had +kept down, he was struck by its beauty, and put the same question that the +rabbit, and the elands, and the gazelles had done. +</p> + +<p> +Thakane answered him as before, and he instantly commanded that she should be +taken to the hut of his mother, and placed under her care, while the man should +be led to his father. Directly the ogre saw him he bade the servant throw him +into the great pot which always stood ready on the fire, and in five minutes he +was done to a turn. After that the servant returned to Masilo and related all +that had happened. +</p> + +<p> +Now Masilo had fallen in loved with Thakane the moment he saw her. At first he +did not know what to make of this strange feeling, for all his life he had +hated women, and had refused several brides whom his parents had chosen for +him. However, they were so anxious that he should marry, that they willingly +accepted Thakane as their daughter-in-law, though she did bring any marriage +portion with her. +</p> + +<p> +After some time a baby was born to her, and Thakane thought it was the most +beautiful baby that ever was seen. But when her mother-in-law saw it was a +girl, she wrung her hands and wept, saying: +</p> + +<p> +“O miserable mother! Miserable child! Alas for you! why were you not a boy!” +</p> + +<p> +Thakane, in great surprise, asked the meaning of her distress; and the old +woman told her that it was the custom in that country that all the girls who +were born should be given to the ogre to eat. +</p> + +<p> +Then Thakane clasped the baby tightly in her arms, and cried: +</p> + +<p> +“But it is not the customer in MY country! There, when children die, they are +buried in the earth. No one shall take my baby from me.” +</p> + +<p> +That night, when everyone in the hut was asleep, Thakane rose, and carrying her +baby on her back, went down to a place where the river spread itself out into a +large lake, with tall willows all round the bank. Here, hidden from everyone, +she sat down on a stone and began to think what she should do to save her +child. +</p> + +<p> +Suddenly she heard a rustling among the willows, and an old woman appeared +before her. +</p> + +<p> +“What are you crying for, my dear?” said she. +</p> + +<p> +And Thakane answered: “I was crying for my baby—I cannot hide her for ever, and +if the ogre sees her, he will eat her; and I would rather she was drowned than +that.” +</p> + +<p> +“What you say is true,” replied the old woman. “Give me your child, and let me +take care of it. And if you will fix a day to meet me here I will bring the +baby.” +</p> + +<p> +Then Thakane dried her eyes, and gladly accepted the old woman’s offer. When +she got home she told her husband she had thrown it in the river, and as he had +watched her go in that direction he never thought of doubting what she said. +</p> + +<p> +On the appointed day, Thakane slipped out when everybody was busy, and ran down +the path that led to the lake. As soon as she got there, she crouched down +among the willows, and sang softly: +</p> + +<p> +Bring to me Dilah, Dilah the rejected one, Dilah, whom her father Masilo cast +out! +</p> + +<p> +And in a moment the old woman appeared holding the baby in her arms. Dilah had +become so big and strong, that Thakane’s heart was filled with joy and +gratitude, and she stayed as long as she dared, playing with her baby. At last +she felt she must return to the village, lest she should be missed, and the +child was handed back to the old woman, who vanished with her into the lake. +</p> + +<p> +Children grow up very quickly when they live under water, and in less time than +anyone could suppose, Dilah had changed from a baby to a woman. Her mother came +to visit her whenever she was able, and one day, when they were sitting talking +together, they were spied out by a man who had come to cut willows to weave +into baskets. He was so surprised to see how like the face of the girl was to +Masilo, that he left his work and returned to the village. +</p> + +<p> +“Masilo,” he said, as he entered the hut, “I have just beheld your wife near +the river with a girl who must be your daughter, she is so like you. We have +been deceived, for we all thought she was dead.” +</p> + +<p> +When he heard this, Masilo tried to look shocked because his wife had broken +the law; but in his heart he was very glad. +</p> + +<p> +“But what shall we do now?” asked he. +</p> + +<p> +“Make sure for yourself that I am speaking the truth by hiding among the bushes +the first time Thakane says she is going to bathe in the river, and waiting +till the girl appears.” +</p> + +<p> +For some days Thakane stayed quietly at home, and her husband began to think +that the man had been mistaken; but at last she said to her husband: “I am +going to bathe in the river.” +</p> + +<p> +“Well, you can go,” answered he. But he ran down quickly by another path, and +got there first, and hid himself in the bushes. An instant later, Thakane +arrived, and standing on the bank, she sang: +</p> + +<p> +Bring to me Dilah, Dilah the rejected one, Dilah, whom her father Masilo cast +out! +</p> + +<p> +Then the old woman came out of the water, holding the girl, now tall and +slender, by the hand. And as Masilo looked, he saw that she was indeed his +daughter, and he wept for joy that she was not lying dead in the bottom of the +lake. The old woman, however, seemed uneasy, and said to Thakane: “I feel as if +someone was watching us. I will not leave the girl to-day, but will take her +back with me”; and sinking beneath the surface, she drew the girl after her. +After they had gone, Thakane returned to the village, which Masilo had managed +to reach before her. +</p> + +<p> +All the rest of the day he sat in a corner weeping, and his mother who came in +asked: “Why are you weeping so bitterly, my son?” +</p> + +<p> +“My head aches,” he answered; “it aches very badly.” And his mother passed on, +and left him alone. +</p> + +<p> +In the evening he said to his wife: “I have seen my daughter, in the place +where you told me you had drowned her. Instead, she lives at the bottom of the +lake, and has now grown into a young woman.” +</p> + +<p> +“I don’t know what you are talking about,” replied Thakane. “I buried my child +under the sand on the beach.” +</p> + +<p> +Then Masilo implored her to give the child back to him; but she would not +listen, and only answered: “If I were to give her back you would only obey the +laws of your country and take her to your father, the ogre, and she would be +eaten.” +</p> + +<p> +But Masilo promised that he would never let his father see her, and that now +she was a woman no one would try to hurt her; so Thakane’s heart melted, and +she went down to the lake to consult the old woman. +</p> + +<p> +“What am I to do?” she asked, when, after clapping her hands, the old woman +appeared before her. “Yesterday Masilo beheld Dilah, and ever since he has +entreated me to give him back his daughter.” +</p> + +<p> +“If I let her go he must pay me a thousand head of cattle in exchange,” replied +the old woman. And Thakane carried her answer back to Masilo. +</p> + +<p> +“Why, I would gladly give her two thousand!” cried he, “for she has saved my +daughter.” And he bade messengers hasten to all the neighbouring villages, and +tell his people to send him at once all the cattle he possessed. When they were +all assembled he chose a thousand of the finest bulls and cows, and drove them +down to the river, followed by a great crowd wondering what would happen. +</p> + +<p> +Then Thakane stepped forward in front of the cattle and sang: +</p> + +<p> +Bring to me Dilah, Dilah the rejected one, Dilah, whom her father Masilo cast +out! +</p> + +<p> +And Dilah came from the waters holding out her hands to Masilo and Thakane, and +in her place the cattle sank into the lake, and were driven by the old woman to +the great city filled with people, which lies at the bottom. +</p> + +<p> +[Contes Populaires des Bassoutos.] +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap13"></a> +The Wicked Wolverine</h2> + +<p> +One day a wolverine was out walking on the hill-side, when, on turning a +corner, he suddenly saw a large rock. +</p> + +<p> +“Was that you I heard walking about just now?” he asked, for wolverines are +cautious animals, and always like to know the reasons of things. +</p> + +<p> +“No, certainly not,” answered the rock; “I don’t know how to walk.” +</p> + +<p> +“But I SAW you walking,” continued the wolverine. +</p> + +<p> +“I am afraid that you were not taught to speak the truth,” retorted the rock. +</p> + +<p> +“You need not speak like that, for I have SEEN you walking,” replied the +wolverine, “though I am quite sure that you could never catch ME!” and he ran a +little distance and then stopped to see if the rock was pursuing him; but, to +his vexation, the rock was still in the same place. Then the wolverine went up +close, and struck the rock a blow with his paw, saying: “Well, will you catch +me NOW?” +</p> + +<p> +“I can’t walk, but I can ROLL,” answered the rock. +</p> + +<p> +And the wolverine laughed and said: “Oh, that will do just as well”; and began +to run down the side of the mountain. +</p> + +<p> +At first he went quite slowly, “just to give the rock a chance,” he thought to +himself; but soon he quickened his pace, for he found that the rock was almost +at his heels. But the faster the wolverine ran, the faster the rock rolled, and +by-and-by the little creature began to get very tired, and was sorry he had not +left the rock to itself. Thinking that if he could manage to put on a spurt he +would reach the forest of great trees at the bottom of the mountain, where the +rock could not come, he gathered up all his strength, and instead of running he +leaped over sticks and stones, but, whatever he did, the rock was always close +behind him. At length he grew so weary that he could not even see where he was +going, and catching his foot in a branch he tripped and fell. The rock stopped +at once, but there came a shriek from the wolverine: +</p> + +<p> +“Get off, get off! can’t you see that you are on my legs?” +</p> + +<p> +“Why did you not leave me alone?” asked the rock. “I did not want to move—I +hate moving. But you WOULD have it, and I certainly sha’n’t move now till I am +forced to.” +</p> + +<p> +“I will call my brothers,” answered the wolverine. “There are many of them in +the forest, and you will soon see that they are stronger than you.” And he +called, and called, and called, till wolves and foxes and all sorts of other +creatures all came running to see what was the matter. +</p> + +<p> +“How DID you get under that rock?” asked they, making a ring round him; but +they had to repeat their question several times before the wolverine would +answer, for he, like many other persons, found it hard to confess that he had +brought his troubles on himself. +</p> + +<p> +“Well, I was dull, and wanted someone to play with me,” he said at last, in +sulky voice, “and I challenged the rock to catch me. Of course I thought I +could run the fastest; but I tripped, and it rolled on me. It was just an +accident.” +</p> + +<p> +“It serves you right for being so silly,” said they; but they pushed and hauled +at the rock for a long time without making it move an inch. +</p> + +<p> +“You are no good at all,” cried the wolverine crossly, for it was suffering +great pain, “and if you cannot get me free, I shall see what my friends the +lightning and thunder can do.” And he called loudly to the lightning to come +and help him as quickly as possible. +</p> + +<p> +In a few minutes a dark cloud came rolling up the sky, giving out such terrific +claps of thunder that the wolves and the foxes and all the other creatures ran +helter-skelter in all directions. But, frightened though they were, they did +not forget to beg the lightning to take off the wolverine’s coat and to free +his legs, but to be careful not to hurt him. So the lightning disappeared into +the cloud for a moment to gather up fresh strength, and then came rushing down, +right upon the rock, which it sent flying in all directions, and took the +wolverine’s coat so neatly that, though it was torn into tiny shreds, the +wolverine himself was quite unharmed. +</p> + +<p> +“That was rather clumsy of you,” said he, standing up naked in his flesh. +“Surely you could have split the rock without tearing my coat to bits!” And he +stooped down to pick up the pieces. It took him a long time, for there were a +great many of them, but at last he had them all in his hand. +</p> + +<p> +“I’ll go to my sister the frog,” he thought to himself, “and she will sew them +together for me”; and he set off at once for the swamp in which his sister +lived. +</p> + +<p> +“Will you sew my coat together? I had an unlucky accident, and it is quite +impossible to wear,” he said, when he found her. +</p> + +<p> +“With pleasure,” she answered, for she had always been taught to be polite; and +getting her needle and thread she began to fit the pieces. But though she was +very good-natured, she was not very clever, and she got some of the bits wrong. +When the wolverine, who was very particular about his clothes, came to put it +on, he grew very angry. +</p> + +<p> +“What a useless creature you are!” cried he. “Do you expect me to go about in +such a coat as that? Why it bulges all down the back, as if I had a hump, and +it is so tight across the chest that I expect it to burst every time I breathe. +I knew you were stupid, but I did not think you were as stupid as that.” And +giving the poor frog a blow on her head, which knocked her straight into the +water, he walked off in a rage to his younger sister the mouse. +</p> + +<p> +“I tore my coat this morning,” he began, when he had found her sitting at the +door of her house eating an apple. “It was all in little bits, and I took it to +our sister the frog to ask her to sew it for me. But just look at the way she +has done it! You will have to take it to pieces and fit them together properly, +and I hope I shall not have to complain again.” For as the wolverine was older +than the mouse, he was accustomed to speak to her in this manner. However, the +mouse was used to it and only answered: “I think you had better stay here till +it is done, and if there is any alteration needed I can make it.” So the +wolverine sat down on a heap of dry ferns, and picking up the apple, he +finished it without even asking the mouse’s leave. +</p> + +<p> +At last the coat was ready, and the wolverine put it on. +</p> + +<p> +“Yes, it fits very well,” said he, “and you have sewn it very neatly. When I +pass this way again I will bring you a handful of corn, as a reward”; and he +ran off as smart as ever, leaving the mouse quite grateful behind him. +</p> + +<p> +He wandered about for many days, till he reached a place where food was very +scarce, and for a whole week he went without any. He was growing desperate, +when he suddenly came upon a bear that was lying asleep. “Ah! here is food at +last!” thought he; but how was he to kill the bear, who was so much bigger than +himself? It was no use to try force, he must invent some cunning plan which +would get her into his power. At last, after thinking hard, he decided upon +something, and going up to the bear, he exclaimed: “Is that you, my sister?” +</p> + +<p> +The bear turned round and saw the wolverine, and murmuring to herself, so low +that nobody could hear, “I never heard before that I had a brother,” got up and +ran quickly to a tree, up which she climbed. Now the wolverine was very angry +when he saw his dinner vanishing in front of him, especially as HE could not +climb trees like the bear, so he followed, and stood at the foot of the tree, +shrieking as loud as he could, “Come down, sister; our father has sent me to +look for you! You were lost when you were a little girl and went out picking +berries, and it was only the other day that we heard from a beaver where you +were.” At these words, the bear came a little way down the tree, and the +wolverine, seeing this, went on: +</p> + +<p> +“Are you not fond of berries? I am! And I know a place where they grow so thick +the ground is quite hidden. Why, look for yourself! That hillside is quite red +with them!” +</p> + +<p> +“I can’t see so far,” answered the bear, now climbing down altogether. “You +must have wonderfully good eyes! I wish I had; but my sight is very short.” +</p> + +<p> +“So was mine till my father smashed a pailful of cranberries, and rubbed my +eyes with them,” replied the wolverine. “But if you like to go and gather some +of the berries I will do just as he did, and you will soon be able to see as +far as me.” +</p> + +<p> +It took the bear a long while to gather the berries, for she was slow about +everything, and, besides, it made her back ache to stoop. But at last she +returned with a sackful, and put them down beside the wolverine. “That is +splendid, sister!” cried the wolverine. “Now lie flat on the ground with your +head on this stone, while I smash them.” +</p> + +<p> +The bear, who was very tired, was only too glad to do as she was bid, and +stretched herself comfortably on the grass. +</p> + +<p> +“I am ready now,” said the wolverine after a bit; “just at first you will find +that the berries make your eyes smart, but you must be careful not to move, or +the juice will run out, and then it will have to be done all over again.” +</p> + +<p> +So the bear promised to lie very still; but the moment the cranberries touched +her eyes she sprang up with a roar. +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, you mustn’t mind a little pain,” said the wolverine, “it will soon be +over, and then you will see all sorts of things you have never dreamt of.” The +bear sank down with a groan, and as her eyes were full of cranberry juice, +which completely blinded her, the wolverine took up a sharp knife and stabbed +her to the heart. +</p> + +<p> +Then he took off the skin, and, stealing some fire from a tent, which his sharp +eyes had perceived hidden behind a rock, he set about roasting the bear bit by +bit. He thought the meat was the best he ever had tasted, and when dinner was +done he made up his mind to try that same trick again, if ever he was hungry. +</p> + +<p> +And very likely he did! +</p> + +<p> +[Adapted from Bureau of Ethnology.] +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap14"></a> +The Husband of the Rat’s Daughter</h2> + +<p> +Once upon a time there lived in Japan a rat and his wife who came of an old and +noble race, and had one daughter, the loveliest girl in all the rat world. Her +parents were very proud of her, and spared no pains to teach her all she ought +to know. There was not another young lady in the whole town who was as clever +as she was in gnawing through the hardest wood, or who could drop from such a +height on to a bed, or run away so fast if anyone was heard coming. Great +attention, too, was paid to her personal appearance, and her skin shone like +satin, while her teeth were as white as pearls, and beautifully pointed. +</p> + +<p> +Of course, with all these advantages, her parents expected her to make a +brilliant marriage, and, as she grew up, they began to look round for a +suitable husband. +</p> + +<p> +But here a difficulty arose. The father was a rat from the tip of his nose to +the end of his tail, outside as well as in, and desired that his daughter +should wed among her own people. She had no lack of lovers, but her father’s +secret hopes rested on a fine young rat, with moustaches which almost swept the +ground, whose family was still nobler and more ancient than his own. Unluckily, +the mother had other views for her precious child. She was one of those people +who always despise their own family and surroundings, and take pleasure in +thinking that they themselves are made of finer material than the rest of the +world. “HER daughter should never marry a mere rat,” she declared, holding her +head high. “With her beauty and talents she had a right to look for someone a +little better than THAT.” +</p> + +<p> +So she talked, as mothers will, to anyone that would listen to her. What the +girl thought about the matter nobody knew or cared—it was not the fashion in +the rat world. +</p> + +<p> +Many were the quarrels which the old rat and his wife had upon the subject, and +sometimes they bore on their faces certain marks which looked as if they had +not kept to words only. +</p> + +<p> +“Reach up to the stars is MY motto,” cried the lady one day, when she was in a +greater passion than usual. “My daughter’s beauty places her higher than +anything upon earth,” she cried; “and I am certainly not going to accept a +son-in-law who is beneath her.” +</p> + +<p> +“Better offer her in marriage to the sun,” answered her husband impatiently. +“As far as I know there is nothing greater than he.” +</p> + +<p> +“Well, I WAS thinking of it,” replied the wife, “and as you are of the same +mind, we will pay him a visit to-morrow.” +</p> + +<p> +So the next morning, the two rats, having spent hours in making themselves +smart, set out to see the sun, leading their daughter between them. +</p> + +<p> +The journey took some time, but at length they came to the golden palace where +the sun lived. +</p> + +<p> +“Noble king,” began the mother, “behold our daughter! She is so beautiful that +she is above everything in the whole world. Naturally, we wish for a son-in-law +who, on his side, is greater than all. Therefore we have come to you.” +</p> + +<p> +“I feel very much flattered,” replied the sun, who was so busy that he had not +the least wish to marry anybody. “You do me great honour by your proposal. +Only, in one point you are mistaken, and it would be wrong of me to take +advantage of your ignorance. There is something greater than I am, and that is +the cloud. Look!” And as he spoke a cloud spread itself over the sun’s face, +blotting out his rays. +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, well, we will speak to the cloud,” said the mother. And turning to the +cloud she repeated her proposal. +</p> + +<p> +“Indeed I am unworthy of anything so charming,” answered the cloud; “but you +make a mistake again in what you say. There is one thing that is even more +powerful than I, and that is the wind. Ah, here he comes, you can see for +yourself.” +</p> + +<p> +And she DID see, for catching up the cloud as he passed, he threw it on the +other side of the sky. Then, tumbling father, mother and daughter down to the +earth again, he paused for a moment beside them, his foot on an old wall. +</p> + +<p> +When she had recovered her breath, the mother began her little speech once +more. +</p> + +<p> +“The wall is the proper husband for your daughter,” answered the wind, whose +home consisted of a cave, which he only visited when he was not rushing about +elsewhere; “you can see for yourself that he is greater than I, for he has +power to stop me in my flight.” And the mother, who did not trouble to conceal +her wishes, turned at once to the wall. +</p> + +<p> +Then something happened which was quite unexpected by everyone. +</p> + +<p> +“I won’t marry that ugly old wall, which is as old as my grandfather,” sobbed +the girl, who had not uttered one word all this time. “I would have married the +sun, or the cloud, or the wind, because it was my duty, although I love the +handsome young rat, and him only. But that horrid old wall—I would sooner die!” +</p> + +<p> +And the wall, rather hurt in his feelings, declared that he had no claim to be +the husband of so beautiful a girl. +</p> + +<p> +“It is quite true,” he said, “that I can stop the wind who can part the clouds +who can cover the sun; but there is someone who can do more than all these, and +that is the rat. It is the rat who passes through me, and can reduce me to +powder, simply with his teeth. If, therefore, you want a son-in-law who is +greater than the whole world, seek him among the rats.” +</p> + +<p> +“Ah, what did I tell you?” cried the father. And his wife, though for the +moment angry at being beaten, soon thought that a rat son-in-law was what she +had always desired. +</p> + +<p> +So all three returned happily home, and the wedding was celebrated three days +after. +</p> + +<p> +[Contes Populaires.] +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap15"></a> +The Mermaid and the Boy</h2> + +<p> +Long, long ago, there lived a king who ruled over a country by the sea. When he +had been married about a year, some of his subjects, inhabiting a distant group +of islands, revolted against his laws, and it became needful for him to leave +his wife and go in person to settle their disputes. The queen feared that some +ill would come of it, and implored him to stay at home, but he told her that +nobody could do his work for him, and the next morning the sails were spread, +and the king started on his voyage. +</p> + +<p> +The vessel had not gone very far when she ran upon a rock, and stuck so fast in +a cleft that the strength of the whole crew could not get her off again. To +make matters worse, the wind was rising too, and it was quite plain that in a +few hours the ship would be dashed to pieces and everybody would be drowned, +when suddenly the form of a mermaid was seen dancing on the waves which +threatened every moment to overwhelm them. +</p> + +<p> +“There is only one way to free yourselves,” she said to the king, bobbing up +and down in the water as she spoke, “and that is to give me your solemn word +that you will deliver to me the first child that is born to you.” +</p> + +<p> +The king hesitated at this proposal. He hoped that some day he might have +children in his home, and the thought that he must yield up the heir to his +crown was very bitter to him; but just then a huge wave broke with great force +on the ship’s side, and his men fell on their knees and entreated him to save +them. +</p> + +<p> +So he promised, and this time a wave lifted the vessel clean off the rocks, and +she was in the open sea once more. +</p> + +<p> +The affairs of the islands took longer to settle than the king had expected, +and some months passed away before he returned to his palace. In his absence a +son had been born to him, and so great was his joy that he quite forgot the +mermaid and the price he had paid for the safety of his ship. But as the years +went on, and the baby grew into a fine big boy, the remembrance of it came +back, and one day he told the queen the whole story. From that moment the +happiness of both their lives was ruined. Every night they went to bed +wondering if they should find his room empty in the morning, and every day they +kept him by their sides, expecting him to be snatched away before their very +eyes. +</p> + +<p> +At last the king felt that this state of things could not continue, and he said +to his wife: +</p> + +<p> +“After all, the most foolish thing in the world one can do is to keep the boy +here in exactly the place in which the mermaid will seek him. Let us give him +food and send him on his travels, and perhaps, if the mermaid ever blocs come +to seek him, she may be content with some other child.” And the queen agreed +that his plan seemed the wisest. +</p> + +<p> +So the boy was called, and his father told him the story of the voyage, as he +had told his mother before him. The prince listened eagerly, and was delighted +to think that he was to go away all by himself to see the world, and was not in +the least frightened; for though he was now sixteen, he had scarcely been +allowed to walk alone beyond the palace gardens. He began busily to make his +preparations, and took off his smart velvet coat, putting on instead one of +green cloth, while he refused a beautiful bag which the queen offered him to +hold his food, and slung a leather knapsack over his shoulders instead, just as +he had seen other travellers do. Then he bade farewell to his parents and went +his way. +</p> + +<p> +All through the day he walked, watching with interest the strange birds and +animals that darted across his path in the forest or peeped at him from behind +a bush. But as evening drew on he became tired, and looked about as he walked +for some place where he could sleep. At length he reached a soft mossy bank +under a tree, and was just about to stretch himself out on it, when a fearful +roar made him start and tremble all over. In another moment something passed +swiftly through the air and a lion stood before him. +</p> + +<p> +“What are you doing here?” asked the lion, his eyes glaring fiercely at the +boy. +</p> + +<p> +“I am flying from the mermaid,” the prince answered, in a quaking voice. +</p> + +<p> +“Give me some food then,” said the lion, “it is past my supper time, and I am +very hungry.” +</p> + +<p> +The boy was so thankful that the lion did not want to eat him, that he gladly +picked up his knapsack which lay on the ground, and held out some bread and a +flask of wine. +</p> + +<p> +“I feel better now,” said the lion when he had done, “so now I shall go to +sleep on this nice soft moss, and if you like you can lie down beside me.” So +the boy and the lion slept soundly side by side, till the sun rose. +</p> + +<p> +“I must be off now,” remarked the lion, shaking the boy as he spoke; “but cut +off the tip of my ear, and keep it carefully, and if you are in any danger just +wish yourself a lion and you will become one on the spot. One good turn +deserves another, you know.” +</p> + +<p> +The prince thanked him for his kindness, and did as he was bid, and the two +then bade each other farewell. +</p> + +<p> +“I wonder how it feels to be a lion,” thought the boy, after he had gone a +little way; and he took out the tip of the ear from the breast of his jacket +and wished with all his might. In an instant his head had swollen to several +times its usual size, and his neck seemed very hot and heavy; and, somehow, his +hands became paws, and his skin grew hairy and yellow. But what pleased him +most was his long tail with a tuft at the end, which he lashed and switched +proudly. “I like being a lion very much,” he said to himself, and trotted gaily +along the road. +</p> + +<p> +After a while, however, he got tired of walking in this unaccustomed way—it +made his back ache and his front paws felt sore. So he wished himself a boy +again, and in the twinkling of an eye his tail disappeared and his head shrank, +and the long thick mane became short and curly. Then he looked out for a +sleeping place, and found some dry ferns, which he gathered and heaped up. +</p> + +<p> +But before he had time to close his eyes there was a great noise in the trees +near by, as if a big heavy body was crashing through them. The boy rose and +turned his head, and saw a huge black bear coming towards him. +</p> + +<p> +“What are you doing here?” cried the bear. +</p> + +<p> +“I am running away from the mermaid,” answered the boy; but the bear took no +interest in the mermaid, and only said: “I am hungry; give me something to +eat.” +</p> + +<p> +The knapsack was lying on the ground among the fern, but the prince picked it +up, and, unfastening the strap, took out his second flask of wine and another +loaf of bread. “We will have supper together,” he remarked politely; but the +bear, who had never been taught manners, made no reply, and ate as fast as he +could. When he had quite finished, he got up and stretched himself. +</p> + +<p> +“You have got a comfortable-looking bed there,” he observed. “I really think +that, bad sleeper as I am, I might have a good night on it. I can manage to +squeeze you in,” he added; “you don’t take up a great deal of room.” The boy +was rather indignant at the bear’s cool way of talking; but as he was too tired +to gather more fern, they lay down side by side, and never stirred till sunrise +next morning. +</p> + +<p> +“I must go now,” said the bear, pulling the sleepy prince on to his feet; “but +first you shall cut off the tip of my ear, and when you are in any danger just +wish yourself a bear and you will become one. One good turn deserves another, +you know.” And the boy did as he was bid, and he and the bear bade each other +farewell. +</p> + +<p> +“I wonder how it feels to be a bear,” thought he to himself when he had walked +a little way; and he took out the tip from the breast of his coat and wished +hard that he might become a bear. The next moment his body stretched out and +thick black fur covered him all over. As before, his hands were changed into +paws, but when he tried to switch his tail he found to his disgust that it +would not go any distance. “Why it is hardly worth calling a tail!” said he. +For the rest of the day he remained a bear and continued his journey, but as +evening came on the bear-skin, which had been so useful when plunging through +brambles in the forest, felt rather heavy, and he wished himself a boy again. +He was too much exhausted to take the trouble of cutting any fern or seeking +for moss, but just threw himself down under a tree, when exactly above his head +he heard a great buzzing as a bumble-bee alighted on a honeysuckle branch. +“What are you doing here?” asked the bee in a cross voice; “at your age you +ought to be safe at home.” +</p> + +<p> +“I am running away from the mermaid,” replied the boy; but the bee, like the +lion and the bear, was one of those people who never listen to the answers to +their questions, and only said: “I am hungry. Give me something to eat.” +</p> + +<p> +The boy took his last loaf and flask out of his knapsack and laid them on the +ground, and they had supper together. “Well, now I am going to sleep,” observed +the bee when the last crumb was gone, “but as you are not very big I can make +room for you beside me,” and he curled up his wings, and tucked in his legs, +and he and the prince both slept soundly till morning. Then the bee got up and +carefully brushed every scrap of dust off his velvet coat and buzzed loudly in +the boy’s ear to waken him. +</p> + +<p> +“Take a single hair from one of my wings,” said he, “and if you are in danger +just wish yourself a bee and you will become one. One good turn deserves +another, so farewell, and thank you for your supper.” And the bee departed +after the boy had pulled out the hair and wrapped it carefully in a leaf. +</p> + +<p> +“It must feel quite different to be a bee from what it does to be a lion or +bear,” thought the boy to himself when he had walked for an hour or two. “I +dare say I should get on a great deal faster,” so he pulled out his hair and +wished himself a bee. +</p> + +<p> +In a moment the strangest thing happened to him. All his limbs seemed to draw +together, and his body to become very short and round; his head grew quite +tiny, and instead of his white skin he was covered with the richest, softest +velvet. Better than all, he had two lovely gauze wings which carried him the +whole day without getting tired. +</p> + +<p> +Late in the afternoon the boy fancied he saw a vast heap of stones a long way +off, and he flew straight towards it. But when he reached the gates he saw that +it was really a great town, so he wished himself back in his own shape and +entered the city. +</p> + +<p> +He found the palace doors wide open and went boldly into a sort of hall which +was full of people, and where men and maids were gossiping together. He joined +their talk and soon learned from them that the king had only one daughter who +had such a hatred to men that she would never suffer one to enter her presence. +Her father was in despair, and had had pictures painted of the handsomest +princes of all the courts in the world, in the hope that she might fall in love +with one of them; but it was no use; the princess would not even allow the +pictures to be brought into her room. +</p> + +<p> +“It is late,” remarked one of the women at last; “I must go to my mistress.” +And, turning to one of the lackeys, she bade him find a bed for the youth. +</p> + +<p> +“It is not necessary,” answered the prince, “this bench is good enough for me. +I am used to nothing better.” And when the hall was empty he lay down for a few +minutes. But as soon as everything was quiet in the palace he took out the hair +and wished himself a bee, and in this shape he flew upstairs, past the guards, +and through the keyhole into the princess’s chamber. Then he turned himself +into a man again. +</p> + +<p> +At this dreadful sight the princess, who was broad awake, began to scream +loudly. “A man! a man!” cried she; but when the guards rushed in there was only +a bumble-bee buzzing about the room. They looked under the bed, and behind the +curtains, and into the cupboards, then came to the conclusion that the princess +had had a bad dream, and bowed themselves out. The door had scarcely closed on +them than the bee disappeared, and a handsome youth stood in his place. +</p> + +<p> +“I knew a man was hidden somewhere,” cried the princess, and screamed more +loudly than before. Her shrieks brought back the guards, but though they looked +in all kinds of impossible places no man was to be seen, and so they told the +princess. +</p> + +<p> +“He was here a moment ago—I saw him with my own eyes,” and the guards dared not +contradict her, though they shook their heads and whispered to each other that +the princess had gone mad on this subject, and saw a man in every table and +chair. And they made up their minds that—let her scream as loudly as she +might—they would take no notice. +</p> + +<p> +Now the princess saw clearly what they were thinking, and that in future her +guards would give her no help, and would perhaps, besides, tell some stories +about her to the king, who would shut her up in a lonely tower and prevent her +walking in the gardens among her birds and flowers. So when, for the third +time, she beheld the prince standing before her, she did not scream but sat up +in bed gazing at him in silent terror. +</p> + +<p> +“Do not be afraid,” he said, “I shall not hurt you”; and he began to praise her +gardens, of which he had heard the servants speak, and the birds and flowers +which she loved, till the princess’s anger softened, and she answered him with +gentle words. Indeed, they soon became so friendly that she vowed she would +marry no one else, and confided to him that in three days her father would be +off to the wars, leaving his sword in her room. If any man could find it and +bring it to him he would receive her hand as a reward. At this point a cock +crew, and the youth jumped up hastily saying: “Of course I shall ride with the +king to the war, and if I do not return, take your violin every evening to the +seashore and play on it, so that the very sea-kobolds who live at the bottom of +the ocean may hear it and come to you.” +</p> + +<p> +Just as the princess had foretold, in three days the king set out for the war +with a large following, and among them was the young prince, who had presented +himself at court as a young noble in search of adventures. They had left the +city many miles behind them, when the king suddenly discovered that he had +forgotten his sword, and though all his attendants instantly offered theirs, he +declared that he could fight with none but his own. +</p> + +<p> +“The first man who brings it to me from my daughter’s room,” cried he, “shall +not only have her to wife, but after my death shall reign in my stead.” +</p> + +<p> +At this the Red Knight, the young prince, and several more turned their horses +to ride as fast as the wind back to the palace. But suddenly a better plan +entered the prince’s head, and, letting the others pass him, he took his +precious parcel from his breast and wished himself a lion. Then on he bounded, +uttering such dreadful roars that the horses were frightened and grew +unmanageable, and he easily outstripped them, and soon reached the gates of the +palace. Here he hastily changed himself into a bee, and flew straight into the +princess’s room, where he became a man again. She showed him where the sword +hung concealed behind a curtain, and he took it down, saying as he did so: “Be +sure not to forget what you have promised to do.” +</p> + +<p> +The princess made no reply, but smiled sweetly, and slipping a golden ring from +her finger she broke it in two and held half out silently to the prince, while +the other half she put in her own pocket. He kissed it, and ran down the stairs +bearing the sword with him. Some way off he met the Red Knight and the rest, +and the Red Knight at first tried to take the sword from him by force. But as +the youth proved too strong for him, he gave it up, and resolved to wait for a +better opportunity. +</p> + +<p> +This soon came, for the day was hot and the prince was thirsty. Perceiving a +little stream that ran into the sea, he turned aside, and, unbuckling the +sword, flung himself on the ground for a long drink. Unluckily, the mermaid +happened at that moment to be floating on the water not very far off, and knew +he was the boy who had been given her before he was born. So she floated gently +in to where he was lying, she seized him by the arm, and the waves closed over +them both. Hardly had they disappeared, when the Red Knight stole cautiously +up, and could hardly believe his eyes when he saw the king’s sword on the bank. +He wondered what had become of the youth, who an hour before had guarded his +treasure so fiercely; but, after all, that was no affair of his! So, fastening +the sword to his belt, he carried it to the king. +</p> + +<p> +The war was soon over, and the king returned to his people, who welcomed him +with shouts of joy. But when the princess from her window saw that her +betrothed was not among the attendants riding behind her father, her heart +sank, for she knew that some evil must have befallen him, and she feared the +Red Knight. She had long ago learned how clever and how wicked he was, and +something whispered to her that it was he who would gain the credit of having +carried back the sword, and would claim her as his bride, though he had never +even entered her chamber. And she could do nothing; for although the king loved +her, he never let her stand in the way of his plans. +</p> + +<p> +The poor princess was only too right, and everything came to pass exactly as +she had foreseen it. The king told her that the Red Knight had won her fairly, +and that the wedding would take place next day, and there would be a great +feast after it. +</p> + +<p> +In those days feasts were much longer and more splendid than they are now; and +it was growing dark when the princess, tired out with all she had gone through, +stole up to her own room for a little quiet. But the moon was shining so +brightly over the sea that it seemed to draw her towards it, and taking her +violin under her arm, she crept down to the shore. +</p> + +<p> +“Listen! listen! said the mermaid to the prince, who was lying stretched on a +bed of seaweeds at the bottom of the sea. “Listen! that is your old love +playing, for mermaids know everything that happens upon earth.” +</p> + +<p> +“I hear nothing,” answered the youth, who did not look happy. “Take me up +higher, where the sounds can reach me.” +</p> + +<p> +So the mermaid took him on her shoulders and bore him up midway to the surface. +“Can you hear now?” she asked. +</p> + +<p> +“No,” answered the prince, “I hear nothing but the water rushing; I must go +higher still.” +</p> + +<p> +Then the mermaid carried him to the very top. “You must surely be able to hear +now?” said she. +</p> + +<p> +“Nothing but the water,” repeated the youth. So she took him right to the land. +</p> + +<p> +“At any rate you can hear now?” she said again. +</p> + +<p> +“The water is still rushing in my ears,” answered he; “but wait a little, that +will soon pass off.” And as he spoke he put his hand into his breast, and +seizing the hair wished himself a bee, and flew straight into the pocket of the +princess. The mermaid looked in vain for him, and coated all night upon the +sea; but he never came back, and never more did he gladden her eyes. But the +princess felt that something strange was about her, though she knew not what, +and returned quickly to the palace, where the young man at once resumed his own +shape. Oh, what joy filled her heart at the sight of him! But there was no time +to be lost, and she led him right into the hall, where the king and his nobles +were still sitting at the feast. “Here is a man who boasts that he can do +wonderful tricks,” said she, “better even than the Red Knight’s! That cannot be +true, of course, but it might be well to give this impostor a lesson. He +pretends, for instance, that he can turn himself into a lion; but that I do not +believe. I know that you have studied the art of magic,” she went on, turning +to the Red Knight, “so suppose you just show him how it is done, and bring +shame upon him.” +</p> + +<p> +Now the Red Knight had never opened a book of magic in his life; but he was +accustomed to think that he could do everything better than other people +without any teaching at all. So he turned and twisted himself about, and +bellowed and made faces; but he did not become a lion for all that. +</p> + +<p> +“Well, perhaps it is very difficult to change into a lion. Make yourself a +bear,” said the princess. But the Red Knight found it no easier to become a +bear than a lion. +</p> + +<p> +“Try a bee,” suggested she. “I have always read that anyone who can do magic at +all can do that.” And the old knight buzzed and hummed, but he remained a man +and not a bee. +</p> + +<p> +“Now it is your turn,” said the princess to the youth. “Let us see if you can +change yourself into a lion.” And in a moment such a fierce creature stood +before them, that all the guests rushed out of the hall, treading each other +underfoot in their fright. The lion sprang at the Red Knight, and would have +torn him in pieces had not the princess held him back, and bidden him to change +himself into a man again. And in a second a man took the place of the lion. +</p> + +<p> +“Now become a bear,” said she; and a bear advanced panting and stretching out +his arms to the Red Knight, who shrank behind the princess. +</p> + +<p> +By this time some of the guests had regained their courage, and returned as far +as the door, thinking that if it was safe for the princess perhaps it was safe +for them. The king, who was braver than they, and felt it needful to set them a +good example besides, had never left his seat, and when at a new command of the +princess the bear once more turned into a man, he was silent from astonishment, +and a suspicion of the truth began to dawn on him. “Was it he who fetched the +sword?” asked the king. +</p> + +<p> +“Yes, it was,” answered the princess; and she told him the whole story, and how +she had broken her gold ring and given him half of it. And the prince took out +his half of the ring, and the princess took out hers, and they fitted exactly. +Next day the Red Knight was hanged, as he richly deserved, and there was a new +marriage feast for the prince and princess. +</p> + +<p> +[Lapplandische Mahrchen.] +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap16"></a> +Pivi and Kabo</h2> + +<p> +When birds were men, and men were birds, Pivi and Kabo lived in an island far +away, called New Claledonia. Pivi was a cheery little bird that chirps at +sunset; Kabo was an ugly black fowl that croaks in the darkness. One day Pivi +and Kabo thought that they would make slings, and practice slinging, as the +people of the island still do. So they went to a banyan tree, and stripped the +bark to make strings for their slings, and next they repaired to the river bank +to find stones. Kabo stood on the bank of the river, and Pivi went into the +water. The game was for Kabo to sling at Pivi, and for Pivi to dodge the +stones, if he could. For some time he dodged them cleverly, but at last a stone +from Kabo’s sling hit poor Pivi on the leg and broke it. Down went Pivi into +the stream, and floated along it, till he floated into a big hollow bamboo, +which a woman used for washing her sweet potatoes. +</p> + +<p> +“What is that in my bamboo?” said the woman. And she blew in at one end, and +blew little Pivi out at the other, like a pea from a pea-shooter. +</p> + +<p> +“Oh!” cried the woman, “what a state you are in! What have you been doing?” +</p> + +<p> +“It was Kabo who broke my leg at the slinging game,” said Pivi. +</p> + +<p> +“Well, I am sorry for you,” said the woman; “will you come with me, and do what +I tell you?” +</p> + +<p> +“I will!” said Pivi, for the woman was very kind and pretty. She took Pivi into +a shed where she kept her fruit laid him on a bed of mats, and made him as +comfortable as she could, and attended to his broken leg without cutting off +the flesh round the bone, as these people usually do. +</p> + +<p> +“You will be still, won’t you, Pivi?” she said. “If you hear a little noise you +will pretend to be dead. It is the Black Ant who will come and creep from your +feet up to your head. Say nothing, and keep quiet, won’t you, Pivi?” +</p> + +<p> +“Certainly, kind lady,” said Pivi, “I will lie as still as can be.” +</p> + +<p> +“Next will come the big Red Ant—you know him?” +</p> + +<p> +“Yes, I know him, with his feet like a grasshopper’s.” +</p> + +<p> +“He will walk over your body up to your head. Then you must shake all your +body. Do you understand, Pivi?” +</p> + +<p> +“Yes, dear lady, I shall do just as you say.” +</p> + +<p> +“Very good,” said the woman, going out and shutting the door. +</p> + +<p> +Pivi lay still under his coverings, then a tiny noise was heard, and the Black +Ant began to march over Pivi, who lay quite still. Then came the big Red Ant +skipping along his body, and then Pivi shook himself all over. He jumped up +quite well again, he ran to the river, he looked into the water and saw that he +was changed from a bird into a fine young man! +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, lady,” he cried, “look at me now! I am changed into a man, and so +handsome!” +</p> + +<p> +“Will you obey me again?” said the woman. +</p> + +<p> +“Always; whatever you command I will do it,” said Pivi, politely. +</p> + +<p> +“Then climb up that cocoa-nut tree, with your legs only, not using your hands,” +said the woman. +</p> + +<p> +Now the natives can run up cocoa-nut trees like squirrels, some using only one +hand; the girls can do that. But few can climb without using their hands at +all. +</p> + +<p> +“At the top of the tree you will find two cocoa-nuts. You must not throw them +down, but carry them in your hands; and you must descend as you went up, using +your legs only.” +</p> + +<p> +“I shall try, at least,” said Pivi. And up he went, but it was very difficult, +and down he came. +</p> + +<p> +“Here are your cocoa-nuts,” he said, presenting them to the woman. +</p> + +<p> +“Now, Pivi, put them in the shed where you lay, and when the sun sets to cool +himself in the sea and rise again not so hot in the dawn you must go and take +the nuts.” +</p> + +<p> +All day Pivi played about in the river, as the natives do, throwing fruit and +silvery showers of water at each other. When the sun set he went into the hut. +But as he drew near he heard sweet voices talking and laughing within. +</p> + +<p> +“What is that? People chattering in the hut! Perhaps they have taken my +cocoa-nuts,” said Pivi to himself. +</p> + +<p> +In he went, and there he found two pretty, laughing, teasing girls. He hunted +for his cocoanuts, but none were there. +</p> + +<p> +Down he ran to the river. “Oh, lady, my nuts have been stolen!” he cried. +</p> + +<p> +“Come with me, Pivi, and there will be nuts for you,” said the woman. +</p> + +<p> +They went back to the hut, where the girls were laughing and playing. +</p> + +<p> +“Nuts for you?” said the woman, “there are two wives for you, Pivi, take them +to your house.” +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, good lady,” cried Pivi, “how kind you are!” +</p> + +<p> +So they were married and very happy, when in came cross old Kabo. +</p> + +<p> +“Is this Pivi?” said he. “Yes, it is—no, it isn’t. It is not the same Pivi—but +there is a kind of likeness. Tell me, are you Pivi?” +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, yes!” said Pivi. “But I am much better looking, and there are my two +wives, are they not beautiful?” +</p> + +<p> +“You are mocking me, Pivi! Your wives? How? Where did you get them? You, with +wives!” +</p> + +<p> +Then Pivi told Kabo about the kind woman, and all the wonderful things that had +happened to him. +</p> + +<p> +“Well, well!” said Kabo, “but I want to be handsome too, and to have pretty +young wives.” +</p> + +<p> +“But how can we manage that?” asked Pivi. +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, we shall do all the same things over again—play at slinging, and, this +time, you shall break my leg, Pivi!” +</p> + +<p> +“With all the pleasure in life,” said Pivi, who was always ready to oblige. +</p> + +<p> +So they went slinging, and Pivi broke Kabo’s leg, and Kabo fell into the river, +and floated into the bamboo, and the woman blew him out, just as before. Then +she picked up Kabo, and put him in the shed, and told him what to do when the +Black Ant came, and what to do when the Red Ant came. But he didn’t! +</p> + +<p> +When the Black Ant came, he shook himself, and behold, he had a twisted leg, +and a hump back, and was as black as the ant. +</p> + +<p> +Then he ran to the woman. +</p> + +<p> +“Look, what a figure I am!” he said; but she only told him to climb the tree, +as she had told Pivi. +</p> + +<p> +But Kabo climbed with both hands and feet, and he threw down the nuts, instead +of carrying them down, and he put them in the hut. And when he went back for +them there he found two horrid old black hags, wrangling, and scolding, and +scratching! So back he went to Pivi with his two beautiful wives, and Pivi was +very sorry, but what could he do? Nothing, but sit and cry. +</p> + +<p> +So, one day, Kabo came and asked Pivi to sail in his canoe to a place where he +knew of a great big shell-fish, enough to feed on for a week. Pivi went, and +deep in the clear water they saw a monstrous shell-fish, like an oyster, as big +as a rock, with the shell wide open. +</p> + +<p> +“We shall catch it, and dry it, and kipper it,” said Pivi, “and give a dinner +to all our friends!” +</p> + +<p> +“I shall dive for it, and break it off the rock,” said Kabo, “and then you must +help me to drag it up into the canoe.” +</p> + +<p> +There the shell-fish lay and gaped, but Kabo, though he dived in, kept well out +of the way of the beast. +</p> + +<p> +Up he came, puffing and blowing: “Oh, Pivi,” he cried, “I cannot move it. Jump +in and try yourself!” +</p> + +<p> +Pivi dived, with his spear, and the shell-fish opened its shell wider yet, and +sucked, and Pivi disappeared into its mouth, and the shell shut up with a snap! +</p> + +<p> +Kabo laughed like a fiend, and then went home. +</p> + +<p> +“Where is Pivi?” asked the two pretty girls. Kabo pretended to cry, and told +how Pivi had been swallowed. +</p> + +<p> +“But dry your tears, my darlings,” said Kabo, “I will be your husband, and my +wives shall be your slaves. Everything is for the best, in the best of all +possible worlds.” +</p> + +<p> +“No, no!” cried the girls, “we love Pivi. We do not love anyone else. We shall +stay at home, and weep for Pivi!” +</p> + +<p> +“Wretched idiots!” cried Kabo; “Pivi was a scoundrel who broke my leg, and +knocked me into the river.” +</p> + +<p> +Then a little cough was heard at the door, and Kabo trembled, for he knew it +was the cough of Pivi! +</p> + +<p> +“Ah, dear Pivi!” cried Kabo, rushing to the door. “What joy! I was trying to +console your dear wives.” +</p> + +<p> +Pivi said not one word. He waved his hand, and five and twenty of his friends +came trooping down the hill. They cut up Kabo into little pieces. Pivi turned +round, and there was the good woman of the river. +</p> + +<p> +“Pivi,” she said, “how did you get out of the living tomb into which Kabo sent +you?” +</p> + +<p> +“I had my spear with me,” said Pivi. “It was quite dry inside the shell, and I +worked away at the fish with my spear, till he saw reason to open his shell, +and out I came.” Then the good woman laughed; and Pivi and his two wives lived +happy ever afterwards. +</p> + +<p> +[Moncelon. Bulletin de la Societe d’Anthropologie. Series iii. vol. ix., pp. +613-365.] +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap17"></a> +The Elf Maiden</h2> + +<p> +Once upon a time two young men living in a small village fell in love with the +same girl. During the winter, it was all night except for an hour or so about +noon, when the darkness seemed a little less dark, and then they used to see +which of them could tempt her out for a sleigh ride with the Northern Lights +flashing above them, or which could persuade her to come to a dance in some +neighbouring barn. But when the spring began, and the light grew longer, the +hearts of the villagers leapt at the sight of the sun, and a day was fixed for +the boats to be brought out, and the great nets to be spread in the bays of +some islands that lay a few miles to the north. Everybody went on this +expedition, and the two young men and the girl went with them. +</p> + +<p> +They all sailed merrily across the sea chattering like a flock of magpies, or +singing their favourite songs. And when they reached the shore, what an +unpacking there was! For this was a noted fishing ground, and here they would +live, in little wooden huts, till autumn and bad weather came round again. +</p> + +<p> +The maiden and the two young men happened to share the same hut with some +friends, and fished daily from the same boat. And as time went on, one of the +youths remarked that the girl took less notice of him than she did of his +companion. At first he tried to think that he was dreaming, and for a long +while he kept his eyes shut very tight to what he did not want to see, but in +spite of his efforts, the truth managed to wriggle through, and then the young +man gave up trying to deceive himself, and set about finding some way to get +the better of his rival. +</p> + +<p> +The plan that he hit upon could not be carried out for some months; but the +longer the young man thought of it, the more pleased he was with it, so he made +no sign of his feelings, and waited patiently till the moment came. This was +the very day that they were all going to leave the islands, and sail back to +the mainland for the winter. In the bustle and hurry of departure, the cunning +fisherman contrived that their boat should be the last to put off, and when +everything was ready, and the sails about to be set, he suddenly called out: +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, dear, what shall I do! I have left my best knife behind in the hut. Run, +like a good fellow, and get it for me, while I raise the anchor and loosen the +tiller.” +</p> + +<p> +Not thinking any harm, the youth jumped back on shore and made his way up the +steep hank. At the door of the hut he stopped and looked back, then started and +gazed in horror. The head of the boat stood out to sea, and he was left alone +on the island. +</p> + +<p> +Yes, there was no doubt of it—he was quite alone; and he had nothing to help +him except the knife which his comrade had purposely dropped on the ledge of +the window. For some minutes he was too stunned by the treachery of his friend +to think about anything at all, but after a while he shook himself awake, and +determined that he would manage to keep alive somehow, if it were only to +revenge himself. +</p> + +<p> +So he put the knife in his pocket and went off to a part of the island which +was not so bare as the rest, and had a small grove of trees. From one of these +he cut himself a bow, which he strung with a piece of cord that had been left +lying about the huts. +</p> + +<p> +When this was ready the young man ran down to the shore and shot one or two +sea-birds, which he plucked and cooked for supper. +</p> + +<p> +In this way the months slipped by, and Christmas came round again. The evening +before, the youth went down to the rocks and into the copse, collecting all the +drift wood the sea had washed up or the gale had blown down, and he piled it up +in a great stack outside the door, so that he might not have to fetch any all +the next day. As soon as his task was done, he paused and looked out towards +the mainland, thinking of Christmas Eve last year, and the merry dance they had +had. The night was still and cold, and by the help of the Northern Lights he +could almost sea across to the opposite coast, when, suddenly, he noticed a +boat, which seemed steering straight for the island. At first he could hardly +stand for joy, the chance of speaking to another man was so delightful; but as +the boat drew near there was something, he could not tell what, that was +different from the boats which he had been used to all his life, and when it +touched the shore he saw that the people that filled it were beings of another +world than ours. Then he hastily stepped behind the wood stack, and waited for +what might happen next. +</p> + +<p> +The strange folk one by one jumped on to the rocks, each bearing a load of +something that they wanted. Among the women he remarked two young girls, more +beautiful and better dressed than any of the rest, carrying between them two +great baskets full of provisions. The young man peeped out cautiously to see +what all this crowd could be doing inside the tiny hut, but in a moment he drew +back again, as the girls returned, and looked about as if they wanted to find +out what sort of a place the island was. +</p> + +<p> +Their sharp eyes soon discovered the form of a man crouching behind the bundles +of sticks, and at first they felt a little frightened, and started as if they +would run away. But the youth remained so still, that they took courage and +laughed gaily to each other. “What a strange creature, let us try what he is +made of,” said one, and she stooped down and gave him a pinch. +</p> + +<p> +Now the young man had a pin sticking in the sleeve of his jacket, and the +moment the girl’s hand touched him she pricked it so sharply that the blood +came. The girl screamed so loudly that the people all ran out of their huts to +see what was the matter. But directly they caught sight of the man they turned +and fled in the other direction, and picking up the goods they had brought with +them scampered as fast as they could down to the shore. In an instant, boat, +people, and goods had vanished completely. +</p> + +<p> +In their hurry they had, however, forgotten two things: a bundle of keys which +lay on the table, and the girl whom the pin had pricked, and who now stood pale +and helpless beside the wood stack. +</p> + +<p> +“You will have to make me your wife,” she said at last, “for you have drawn my +blood, and I belong to you.” +</p> + +<p> +“Why not? I am quite willing,” answered he. “But how do you suppose we can +manage to live till summer comes round again?” +</p> + +<p> +“Do not be anxious about that,” said the girl; “if you will only marry me all +will be well. I am very rich, and all my family are rich also.” +</p> + +<p> +Then the young man gave her his promise to make her his wife, and the girl +fulfilled her part of the bargain, and food was plentiful on the island all +through the long winter months, though he never knew how it got there. And +by-and-by it was spring once more, and time for the fisher-folk to sail from +the mainland. +</p> + +<p> +“Where are we to go now?” asked the girl, one day, when the sun seemed brighter +and the wind softer than usual. +</p> + +<p> +“I do not care where I go,” answered the young man; “what do you think?” +</p> + +<p> +The girl replied that she would like to go somewhere right at the other end of +the island, and build a house, far away from the huts of the fishing-folk. And +he consented, and that very day they set off in search of a sheltered spot on +the banks of a stream, so that it would be easy to get water. +</p> + +<p> +In a tiny bay, on the opposite side of the island they found the very thing, +which seemed to have been made on purpose for them; and as they were tired with +their long walk, they laid themselves down on a bank of moss among some birches +and prepared to have a good night’s rest, so as to be fresh for work next day. +But before she went to sleep the girl turned to her husband, and said: “If in +your dreams you fancy that you hear strange noises, be sure you do not stir, or +get up to see what it is.” +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, it is not likely we shall hear any noises in such a quiet place,” answered +he, and fell sound asleep. +</p> + +<p> +Suddenly he was awakened by a great clatter about his ears, as if all the +workmen in the world were sawing and hammering and building close to him. He +was just going to spring up and go to see what it meant, when he luckily +remembered his wife’s words and lay still. But the time till morning seemed +very long, and with the first ray of sun they both rose, and pushed aside the +branches of the birch trees. There, in the very place they had chosen, stood a +beautiful house—doors and windows, and everything all complete! +</p> + +<p> +“Now you must fix on a spot for your cow-stalls,” said the girl, when they had +breakfasted off wild cherries; “and take care it is the proper size, neither +too large nor too small.” And the husband did as he was bid, though he wondered +what use a cow-house could be, as they had no cows to put in it. But as he was +a little afraid of his wife, who knew so much more than he, he asked no +questions. +</p> + +<p> +This night also he was awakened by the same sounds as before, and in the +morning they found, near the stream, the most beautiful cow-house that ever was +seen, with stalls and milk-pails and stools all complete, indeed, everything +that a cow-house could possibly want, except the cows. Then the girl bade him +measure out the ground for a storehouse, and this, she said, might be as large +as he pleased; and when the storehouse was ready she proposed that they should +set off to pay her parents a visit. +</p> + +<p> +The old people welcomed them heartily, and summoned their neighbours, for many +miles round, to a great feast in their honour. In fact, for several weeks there +was no work done on the farm at all; and at length the young man and his wife +grew tired of so much play, and declared that they must return to their own +home. But, before they started on the journey, the wife whispered to her +husband: “Take care to jump over the threshold as quick as you can, or it will +be the worse for you.” +</p> + +<p> +The young man listened to her words, and sprang over the threshold like an +arrow from a bow; and it was well he did, for, no sooner was he on the other +side, than his father-in-law threw a great hammer at him, which would have +broken both his legs, if it had only touched them. +</p> + +<p> +When they had gone some distance on the road home, the girl turned to her +husband and said: “Till you step inside the house, be sure you do not look +back, whatever you may hear or see.” +</p> + +<p> +And the husband promised, and for a while all was still; and he thought no more +about the matter till he noticed at last that the nearer he drew to the house +the louder grew the noise of the trampling of feet behind him. As he laid his +hand upon the door he thought he was safe, and turned to look. There, sure +enough, was a vast herd of cattle, which had been sent after him by his +father-in-law when he found that his daughter had been cleverer than he. Half +of the herd were already through the fence and cropping the grass on the banks +of the stream, but half still remained outside and faded into nothing, even as +he watched them. +</p> + +<p> +However, enough cattle were left to make the young man rich, and he and his +wife lived happily together, except that every now and then the girl vanished +from his sight, and never told him where she had been. For a long time he kept +silence about it; but one day, when he had been complaining of her absence, she +said to him: “Dear husband, I am bound to go, even against my will, and there +is only one way to stop me. Drive a nail into the threshold, and then I can +never pass in or out.” +</p> + +<p> +And so he did. +</p> + +<p> +[Lapplandische Mahrchen.] +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap18"></a> +How Some Wild Animals Became Tame Ones</h2> + +<p> +Once upon a time there lived a miller who was so rich that, when he was going +to be married, he asked to the feast not only his own friends but also the wild +animals who dwelt in the hills and woods round about. The chief of the bears, +the wolves, the foxes, the horses, the cows, the goats, the sheep, and the +reindeer, all received invitations; and as they were not accustomed to weddings +they were greatly pleased and flattered, and sent back messages in the politest +language that they would certainly be there. +</p> + +<p> +The first to start on the morning of the wedding-day was the bear, who always +liked to be punctual; and, besides, he had a long way to go, and his hair, +being so thick and rough, needed a good brushing before it was fit to be seen +at a party. However, he took care to awaken very early, and set off down the +road with a light heart. Before he had walked very far he met a boy who came +whistling along, hitting at the tops of the flowers with a stick. +</p> + +<p> +“Where are you going?” said he, looking at the bear in surprise, for he was an +old acquaintance, and not generally so smart. +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, just to the miller’s marriage,” answered the bear carelessly. “Of course, +I would much rather stay at home, but the miller was so anxious I should be +there that I really could not refuse.” +</p> + +<p> +“Don’t go, don’t go!” cried the boy. “If you do you will never come back! You +have got the most beautiful skin in the world—just the kind that everyone is +wanting, and they will be sure to kill you and strip you of it.” +</p> + +<p> +“I had not thought of that,” said the bear, whose face turned white, only +nobody could see it. “If you are certain that they would be so wicked—but +perhaps you are jealous because nobody has invited you?” +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, nonsense!” replied the boy angrily, “do as you see. It is your skin, and +not mine; I don’t care what becomes of it!” And he walked quickly on with his +head in the air. +</p> + +<p> +The bear waited until he was out of sight, and then followed him slowly, for he +felt in his heart that the boy’s advice was good, though he was too proud to +say so. +</p> + +<p> +The boy soon grew tired of walking along the road, and turned off into the +woods, where there were bushes he could jump and streams he could wade; but he +had not gone far before he met the wolf. +</p> + +<p> +“Where are you going?” asked he, for it was not the first time he had seen him. +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, just to the miller’s marriage,” answered the wolf, as the bear had done +before him. “It is rather tiresome, of course—weddings are always so stupid; +but still one must be good-natured!” +</p> + +<p> +“Don’t go!” said the boy again. “Your skin is so thick and warm, and winter is +not far off now. They will kill you, and strip it from you.” +</p> + +<p> +The wolf’s jaw dropped in astonishment and terror. “Do you really think that +would happen?” he gasped. +</p> + +<p> +“Yes, to be sure, I do,” answered the boy. “But it is your affair, not mine. So +good-morning,” and on he went. The wolf stood still for a few minutes, for he +was trembling all over, and then crept quietly back to his cave. +</p> + +<p> +Next the boy met the fox, whose lovely coat of silvery grey was shining in the +sun. +</p> + +<p> +“You look very fine!” said the boy, stopping to admire him, “are you going to +the miller’s wedding too?” +</p> + +<p> +“Yes,” answered the fox; “it is a long journey to take for such a thing as +that, but you know what the miller’s friends are like—so dull and heavy! It is +only kind to go and amuse them a little.” +</p> + +<p> +“You poor fellow,” said the boy pityingly. “Take my advice and stay at home. If +you once enter the miller’s gate his dogs will tear you in pieces.” +</p> + +<p> +“Ah, well, such things have occurred, I know,” replied the fox gravely. And +without saying any more he trotted off the way he had come. +</p> + +<p> +His tail had scarcely disappeared, when a great noise of crashing branches was +heard, and up bounded the horse, his black skin glistening like satin. +</p> + +<p> +“Good-morning,” he called to the boy as he galloped past, “I can’t wait to talk +to you now. I have promised the miller to be present at his wedding-feast, and +they won’t sit down till I come.” +</p> + +<p> +“Stop! stop!” cried the boy after him, and there was something in his voice +that made the horse pull up. “What is the matter?” asked he. +</p> + +<p> +“You don’t know what you are doing,” said the boy. “If once you go there you +will never gallop through these woods any more. You are stronger than many men, +but they will catch you and put ropes round you, and you will have to work and +to serve them all the days of your life.” +</p> + +<p> +The horse threw back his head at these words, and laughed scornfully. +</p> + +<p> +“Yes, I am stronger than many men,” answered he, “and all the ropes in the +world would not hold me. Let them bind me as fast as they will, I can always +break loose, and return to the forest and freedom.” +</p> + +<p> +And with this proud speech he gave a whisk of his long tail, and galloped away +faster than before. +</p> + +<p> +But when he reached the miller’s house everything happened as the boy had said. +While he was looking at the guests and thinking how much handsomer and stronger +he was than any of them, a rope was suddenly flung over his head, and he was +thrown down and a bit thrust between his teeth. Then, in spite of his +struggles, he was dragged to a stable, and shut up for several days without any +food, till his spirit was broken and his coat had lost its gloss. After that he +was harnessed to a plough, and had plenty of time to remember all he had lost +through not listening to the counsel of the boy. +</p> + +<p> +When the horse had turned a deaf ear to his words the boy wandered idly along, +sometimes gathering wild strawberries from a bank, and sometimes plucking wild +cherries from a tree, till he reached a clearing in the middle of the forest. +Crossing this open space was a beautiful milk-white cow with a wreath of +flowers round her neck. +</p> + +<p> +“Good-morning,” she said pleasantly, as she came up to the place where the boy +was standing. +</p> + +<p> +“Good-morning,” he returned. “Where are you going in such a hurry?” +</p> + +<p> +“To the miller’s wedding; I am rather late already, for the wreath took such a +long time to make, so I can’t stop.” +</p> + +<p> +“Don’t go,” said the boy earnestly; when once they have tasted your milk they +will never let you leave them, and you will have to serve them all the days of +your life.” +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, nonsense; what do you know about it?” answered the cow, who always thought +she was wiser than other people. “Why, I can run twice as fast as any of them! +I should like to see anybody try to keep me against my will.” And, without even +a polite bow, she went on her way, feeling very much offended. +</p> + +<p> +But everything turned out just as the boy had said. The company had all heard +of the fame of the cow’s milk, and persuaded her to give them some, and then +her doom was sealed. A crowd gathered round her, and held her horns so that she +could not use them, and, like the horse, she was shut in the stable, and only +let out in the mornings, when a long rope was tied round her head, and she was +fastened to a stake in a grassy meadow. +</p> + +<p> +And so it happened to the goat and to the sheep. +</p> + +<p> +Last of all came the reindeer, looking as he always did, as if some serious +business was on hand. +</p> + +<p> +“Where are you going?” asked the boy, who by this time was tired of wild +cherries, and was thinking of his dinner. +</p> + +<p> +“I am invited to the wedding,” answered the reindeer, “and the miller has +begged me on no account to fail him.” +</p> + +<p> +“O fool!” cried the boy, “have you no sense at all? Don’t you know that when +you get there they will hold you fast, for neither beast nor bird is as strong +or as swift as you?” +</p> + +<p> +“That is exactly why I am quite safe,” replied the reindeer. “I am so strong +that no one can bind me, and so swift that not even an arrow can catch me. So, +goodbye for the present, you will soon see me back.” +</p> + +<p> +But none of the animals that went to the miller’s wedding ever came back. And +because they were self-willed and conceited, and would not listen to good +advice, they and their children have been the servants of men to this very day. +</p> + +<p> +[Lapplandische Mahrchen.] +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap19"></a> +Fortune and the Wood-Cutter</h2> + +<p> +Several hundreds of years ago there lived in a forest a wood-cutter and his +wife and children. He was very poor, having only his axe to depend upon, and +two mules to carry the wood he cut to the neighbouring town; but he worked +hard, and was always out of bed by five o’clock, summer and winter. +</p> + +<p> +This went on for twenty years, and though his sons were now grown up, and went +with their father to the forest, everything seemed to go against them, and they +remained as poor as ever. In the end the wood-cutter lost heart, and said to +himself: +</p> + +<p> +“What is the good of working like this if I never am a penny the richer at the +end? I shall go to the forest no more! And perhaps, if I take to my bed, and do +not run after Fortune, one day she may come to me.” +</p> + +<p> +So the next morning he did not get up, and when six o’clock struck, his wife, +who had been cleaning the house, went to see what was the matter. +</p> + +<p> +“Are you ill?” she asked wonderingly, surprised at not finding him dressed. +“The cock has crowed ever so often. It is high time for you to get up.” +</p> + +<p> +“Why should I get up?” asked the man, without moving. +</p> + +<p> +“Why? to go to the forest, of course.” +</p> + +<p> +“Yes; and when I have toiled all day I hardly earn enough to give us one meal.” +</p> + +<p> +“But what can we do, my poor husband?” said she. “It is just a trick of +Fortune’s, who would never smile upon us.” +</p> + +<p> +“Well, I have had my fill of Fortune’s tricks,” cried he. “If she wants me she +can find me here. But I have done with the wood for ever.” +</p> + +<p> +“My dear husband, grief has driven you mad! Do you think Fortune will come to +anybody who does not go after her? Dress yourself, and saddle the mules, and +begin your work. Do you know that there is not a morsel of bread in the house?” +</p> + +<p> +“I don’t care if there isn’t, and I am not going to the forest. It is no use +your talking; nothing will make me change my mind.” +</p> + +<p> +The distracted wife begged and implored in vain; her husband persisted in +staying in bed, and at last, in despair, she left him and went back to her +work. +</p> + +<p> +An hour or two later a man from the nearest village knocked at her door, and +when she opened it, he said to her: “Good-morning, mother. I have got a job to +do, and I want to know if your husband will lend me your mules, as I see he is +not using them, and can lend me a hand himself?” +</p> + +<p> +“He is upstairs; you had better ask him,” answered the woman. And the man went +up, and repeated his request. +</p> + +<p> +“I am sorry, neighbour, but I have sworn not to leave my bed, and nothing will +make me break my vow.” +</p> + +<p> +“Well, then, will you lend me your two mules? I will pay you something for +them.” +</p> + +<p> +“Certainly, neighbour. Take them and welcome.” +</p> + +<p> +So the man left the house, and leading the mules from the stable, placed two +sacks on their back, and drove them to a field where he had found a hidden +treasure. He filled the sacks with the money, though he knew perfectly well +that it belonged to the sultan, and was driving them quietly home again, when +he saw two soldiers coming along the road. Now the man was aware that if he was +caught he would be condemned to death, so he fled back into the forest. The +mules, left to themselves, took the path that led to their master’s stable. +</p> + +<p> +The wood-cutter’s wife was looking out of the window when the mules drew up +before the door, so heavily laden that they almost sank under their burdens. +She lost no time in calling her husband, who was still lying in bed. +</p> + +<p> +“Quick! quick! get up as fast as you can. Our two mules have returned with +sacks on their backs, so heavily laden with something or other that the poor +beasts can hardly stand up.” +</p> + +<p> +“Wife, I have told you a dozen times already that I am not going to get up. Why +can’t you leave me in peace?” +</p> + +<p> +As she found she could get no help from her husband the woman took a large +knife and cut the cords which bound the sacks on to the animals’ backs. They +fell at once to the ground, and out poured a rain of gold pieces, till the +little court-yard shone like the sun. +</p> + +<p> +“A treasure!” gasped the woman, as soon as she could speak from surprise. “A +treasure!” And she ran off to tell her husband. +</p> + +<p> +“Get up! get up!” she cried. “You were quite right not to go to the forest, and +to await Fortune in your bed; she has come at last! Our mules have returned +home laden with all the gold in the world, and it is now lying in the court. No +one in the whole country can be as rich as we are!” +</p> + +<p> +In an instant the wood-cutter was on his feet, and running to the court, where +he paused dazzled by the glitter of the coins which lay around him. +</p> + +<p> +“You see, my dear wife, that I was right,” he said at last. “Fortune is so +capricious, you can never count on her. Run after her, and she is sure to fly +from you; stay still, and she is sure to come.” +</p> + +<p> +[Traditions Populaires de l’Asie Mineure.] +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap20"></a> +The Enchanted Head</h2> + +<p> +Once upon a time an old woman lived in a small cottage near the sea with her +two daughters. They were very poor, and the girls seldom left the house, as +they worked all day long making veils for the ladies to wear over their faces, +and every morning, when the veils were finished, the other took them over the +bridge and sold them in the city. Then she bought the food that they needed for +the day, and returned home to do her share of veil-making. +</p> + +<p> +One morning the old woman rose even earlier than usual, and set off for the +city with her wares. She was just crossing the bridge when, suddenly, she +knocked up against a human head, which she had never seen there before. The +woman started back in horror; but what was her surprise when the head spoke, +exactly as if it had a body joined on to it. +</p> + +<p> +“Take me with you, good mother!” it said imploringly; “take me with you back to +your house.” +</p> + +<p> +At the sound of these words the poor woman nearly went mad with terror. Have +that horrible thing always at home? Never! never! And she turned and ran back +as fast as she could, not knowing that the head was jumping, dancing, and +rolling after her. But when she reached her own door it bounded in before her, +and stopped in front of the fire, begging and praying to be allowed to stay. +</p> + +<p> +All that day there was no food in the house, for the veils had not been sold, +and they had no money to buy anything with. So they all sat silent at their +work, inwardly cursing the head which was the cause of their misfortunes. +</p> + +<p> +When evening came, and there was no sign of supper, the head spoke, for the +first time that day: +</p> + +<p> +“Good mother, does no one ever eat here? During all the hours I have spent in +your house not a creature has touched anything.” +</p> + +<p> +“No,” answered the old woman, “we are not eating anything.” +</p> + +<p> +“And why not, good mother?” +</p> + +<p> +“Because we have no money to buy any food.” +</p> + +<p> +“Is it your custom never to eat?” +</p> + +<p> +“No, for every morning I go into the city to sell my veils, and with the few +shillings I get for them I buy all we want. To-day I did not cross the bridge, +so of course I had nothing for food.” +</p> + +<p> +“Then I am the cause of your having gone hungry all day?” asked the head. +</p> + +<p> +“Yes, you are,” answered the old woman. +</p> + +<p> +“Well, then, I will give you money and plenty of it, if you will only do as I +tell you. In an hour, as the clock strikes twelve, you must be on the bridge at +the place where you met me. When you get there call out ‘Ahmed,’ three times, +as loud as you can. Then a negro will appear, and you must say to him: ‘The +head, your master, desires you to open the trunk, and to give me the green +purse which you will find in it.’” +</p> + +<p> +“Very well, my lord,” said the old woman, “I will set off at once for the +bridge.” And wrapping her veil round her she went out. +</p> + +<p> +Midnight was striking as she reached the spot where she had met the head so +many hours before. +</p> + +<p> +“Ahmed! Ahmed! Ahmed!” cried she, and immediately a huge negro, as tall as a +giant, stood on the bridge before her. +</p> + +<p> +“What do you want?” asked he. +</p> + +<p> +“The head, your master, desires you to open the trunk, and to give me the green +purse which you will find in it.” +</p> + +<p> +“I will be back in a moment, good mother,” said he. And three minutes later he +placed a purse full of sequins in the old woman’s hand. +</p> + +<p> +No one can imagine the joy of the whole family at the sight of all this wealth. +The tiny, tumble-down cottage was rebuilt, the girls had new dresses, and their +mother ceased selling veils. It was such a new thing to them to have money to +spend, that they were not as careful as they might have been, and by-and-by +there was not a single coin left in the purse. When this happened their hearts +sank within them, and their faces fell. +</p> + +<p> +“Have you spent your fortune?” asked the head from its corner, when it saw how +sad they looked. “Well, then, go at midnight, good mother, to the bridge, and +call out ‘Mahomet!’ three times, as loud as you can. A negro will appear in +answer, and you must tell him to open the trunk, and to give you the red purse +which he will find there.” +</p> + +<p> +The old woman did not need twice telling, but set off at once for the bridge. +</p> + +<p> +“Mahomet! Mahomet! Mahomet!” cried she, with all her might; and in an instant a +negro, still larger than the last, stood before her. +</p> + +<p> +“What do you want?” asked he. +</p> + +<p> +“The head, your master, bids you open the trunk, and to give me the red purse +which you will find in it.” +</p> + +<p> +“Very well, good mother, I will do so,” answered the negro, and, the moment +after he had vanished, he reappeared with the purse in his hand. +</p> + +<p> +This time the money seemed so endless that the old woman built herself a new +house, and filled it with the most beautiful things that were to be found in +the shops. Her daughters were always wrapped in veils that looked as if they +were woven out of sunbeams, and their dresses shone with precious stones. The +neighbours wondered where all this sudden wealth had sprung from, but nobody +knew about the head. +</p> + +<p> +“Good mother,” said the head, one day, “this morning you are to go to the city +and ask the sultan to give me his daughter for my bride.” +</p> + +<p> +“Do what?” asked the old woman in amazement. “How can I tell the sultan that a +head without a body wishes to become his son-in-law? They will think that I am +mad, and I shall be hooted from the palace and stoned by the children.” +</p> + +<p> +“Do as I bid you,” replied the head; “it is my will.” +</p> + +<p> +The old woman was afraid to say anything more, and, putting on her richest +clothes, started for the palace. The sultan granted her an audience at once, +and, in a trembling voice, she made her request. +</p> + +<p> +“Are you mad, old woman?” said the sultan, staring at her. +</p> + +<p> +“The wooer is powerful, O Sultan, and nothing is impossible to him.” +</p> + +<p> +“Is that true?” +</p> + +<p> +“It is, O Sultan; I swear it,” answered she. +</p> + +<p> +“Then let him show his power by doing three things, and I will give him my +daughter.” +</p> + +<p> +“Command, O gracious prince,” said she. +</p> + +<p> +“Do you see that hill in front of the palace?” asked the sultan. +</p> + +<p> +“I see it,” answered she. +</p> + +<p> +“Well, in forty days the man who has sent you must make that hill vanish, and +plant a beautiful garden in its place. That is the first thing. Now go, and +tell him what I say.” +</p> + +<p> +So the old woman returned and told the head the sultan’s first condition. +</p> + +<p> +“It is well,” he replied; and said no more about it. +</p> + +<p> +For thirty-nine days the head remained in its favourite corner. The old woman +thought that the task set before was beyond his powers, and that no more would +be heard about the sultan’s daughter. But on the thirty-ninth evening after her +visit to the palace, the head suddenly spoke. +</p> + +<p> +“Good mother,” he said, “you must go to-night to the bridge, and when you are +there cry ‘Ali! Ali! Ali!’ as loud as you can. A negro will appear before you, +and you will tell him that he is to level the hill, and to make, in its place, +the most beautiful garden that ever was seen.” +</p> + +<p> +“I will go at once,” answered she. +</p> + +<p> +It did not take her long to reach the bridge which led to the city, and she +took up her position on the spot where she had first seen the head, and called +loudly “Ali! Ali! Ali.” In an instant a negro appeared before her, of such a +huge size that the old woman was half frightened; but his voice was mild and +gentle as he said: “What is it that you want?” +</p> + +<p> +“Your master bids you level the hill that stands in front of the sultan’s +palace and in its place to make the most beautiful garden in the world.” +</p> + +<p> +“Tell my master he shall be obeyed,” replied Ali; “it shall be done this +moment.” And the old woman went home and gave Ali’s message to the head. +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile the sultan was in his palace waiting till the fortieth day should +dawn, and wondering that not one spadeful of earth should have been dug out of +the hill. +</p> + +<p> +“If that old woman has been playing me a trick,” thought he, “I will hang her! +And I will put up a gallows to-morrow on the hill itself.” +</p> + +<p> +But when to-morrow came there was no hill, and when the sultan opened his eyes +he could not imagine why the room was so much lighter than usual, and what was +the reason of the sweet smell of flowers that filled the air. +</p> + +<p> +“Can there be a fire?” he said to himself; “the sun never came in at this +window before. I must get up and see.” So he rose and looked out, and +underneath him flowers from every part of the world were blooming, and creepers +of every colour hung in chains from tree to tree. +</p> + +<p> +Then he remembered. “Certainly that old woman’s son is a clever magician!” +cried he; “I never met anyone as clever as that. What shall I give him to do +next? Let me think. Ah! I know.” And he sent for the old woman, who by the +orders of the head, was waiting below. +</p> + +<p> +“Your son has carried out my wishes very nicely,” he said. “The garden is +larger and better than that of any other king. But when I walk across it I +shall need some place to rest on the other side. In forty days he must build me +a palace, in which every room shall be filled with different furniture from a +different country, and each more magnificent than any room that ever was seen.” +And having said this he turned round and went away. +</p> + +<p> +“Oh! he will never be able to do that,” thought she; “it is much more difficult +than the hill.” And she walked home slowly, with her head bent. +</p> + +<p> +“Well, what am I to do next?” asked the head cheerfully. And the old woman told +her story. +</p> + +<p> +“Dear me! is that all? why it is child’s play,” answered the head; and troubled +no more about the palace for thirty-nine days. Then he told the old woman to go +to the bridge and call for Hassan. +</p> + +<p> +“What do you want, old woman?” asked Hassan, when he appeared, for he was not +as polite as the others had been. +</p> + +<p> +“Your master commands you to build the most magnificent palace that ever was +seen,” replied she; “and you are to place it on the borders of the new garden.” +</p> + +<p> +“He shall be obeyed,” answered Hassan. And when the sultan woke he saw, in the +distance, a palace built of soft blue marble, resting on slender pillars of +pure gold. +</p> + +<p> +“That old woman’s son is certainly all-powerful,” cried he; “what shall I bid +him do now?” And after thinking some time he sent for the old woman, who was +expecting the summons. +</p> + +<p> +“The garden is wonderful, and the palace the finest in the world,” said he, “so +fine, that my servants would cut but a sorry figure in it. Let your son fill it +with forty slaves whose beauty shall be unequalled, all exactly like each +other, and of the same height.” +</p> + +<p> +This time the king thought he had invented something totally impossible, and +was quite pleased with himself for his cleverness. +</p> + +<p> +Thirty-nine days passed, and at midnight on the night of the last the old woman +was standing on the bridge. +</p> + +<p> +“Bekir! Bekir! Bekir!” cried she. And a negro appeared, and inquired what she +wanted. +</p> + +<p> +“The head, your master, bids you find forty slaves of unequalled beauty, and of +the same height, and place them in the sultan’s palace on the other side of the +garden.” +</p> + +<p> +And when, on the morning of the fortieth day, the sultan went to the blue +palace, and was received by the forty slaves, he nearly lost his wits from +surprise. +</p> + +<p> +“I will assuredly give my daughter to the old woman’s son,” thought he. “If I +were to search all the world through I could never find a more powerful +son-in-law.” +</p> + +<p> +And when the old woman entered his presence he informed her that he was ready +to fulfil his promise, and she was to bid her son appear at the palace without +delay. +</p> + +<p> +This command did not at all please the old woman, though, of course, she made +no objections to the sultan. +</p> + +<p> +“All has gone well so far,” she grumbled, when she told her story to the head,” +but what do you suppose the sultan will say, when he sees his daughter’s +husband?” +</p> + +<p> +“Never mind what he says! Put me on a silver dish and carry me to the palace.” +</p> + +<p> +So it was done, though the old woman’s heart beat as she laid down the dish +with the head upon it. +</p> + +<p> +At the sight before him the king flew into a violent rage. +</p> + +<p> +“I will never marry my daughter to such a monster,” he cried. But the princess +placed her head gently on his arm. +</p> + +<p> +“You have given your word, my father, and you cannot break it,” said she. +</p> + +<p> +“But, my child, it is impossible for you to marry such a being,” exclaimed the +sultan. +</p> + +<p> +“Yes, I will marry him. He had a beautiful head, and I love him already.” +</p> + +<p> +So the marriage was celebrated, and great feasts were held in the palace, +though the people wept tears to think of the sad fate of their beloved +princess. But when the merry-making was done, and the young couple were alone, +the head suddenly disappeared, or, rather, a body was added to it, and one of +the handsomest young men that ever was seen stood before the princess. +</p> + +<p> +“A wicked fairy enchanted me at my birth,” he said, “and for the rest of the +world I must always be a head only. But for you, and you only, I am a man like +other men.” +</p> + +<p> +“And that is all I care about,” said the princess. +</p> + +<p> +[Traditions populaires de toutes les nations (Asie Mineure)]. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap21"></a> +The Sister of the Sun</h2> + +<p> +A long time ago there lived a young prince whose favourite playfellow was the +son of the gardener who lived in the grounds of the palace. The king would have +preferred his choosing a friend from the pages who were brought up at court; +but the prince would have nothing to say to them, and as he was a spoilt child, +and allowed his way in all things, and the gardener’s boy was quiet and +well-behaved, he was suffered to be in the palace, morning, noon, and night. +</p> + +<p> +The game the children loved the best was a match at archery, for the king had +given them two bows exactly alike, and they would spend whole days in trying to +see which could shoot the highest. This is always very dangerous, and it was a +great wonder they did not put their eyes out; but somehow or other they managed +to escape. +</p> + +<p> +One morning, when the prince had done his lessons, he ran out to call his +friend, and they both hurried off to the lawn which was their usual playground. +They took their bows out of the little hut where their toys were kept, and +began to see which could shoot the highest. At last they happened to let fly +their arrows both together, and when they fell to earth again the tail feather +of a golden hen was found sticking in one. Now the question began to arise +whose was the lucky arrow, for they were both alike, and look as closely as you +would you could see no difference between them. The prince declared that the +arrow was his, and the gardener’s boy was quite sure it was HIS—and on this +occasion he was perfectly right; but, as they could not decide the matter, they +went straight to the king. +</p> + +<p> +When the king had heard the story, he decided that the feather belonged to his +son; but the other boy would not listen to this and claimed the feather for +himself. At length the king’s patience gave way, and he said angrily: +</p> + +<p> +“Very well; if you are so sure that the feather is yours, yours it shall be; +only you will have to seek till you find a golden hen with a feather missing +from her tail. And if you fail to find her your head will be the forfeit.” +</p> + +<p> +The boy had need of all his courage to listen silently to the king’s words. He +had no idea where the golden hen might be, or even, if he discovered that, how +he was to get to her. But there was nothing for it but to do the king’s +bidding, and he felt that the sooner he left the palace the better. So he went +home and put some food into a bag, and then set forth, hoping that some +accident might show him which path to take. +</p> + +<p> +After walking for several hours he met a fox, who seemed inclined to be +friendly, and the boy was so glad to have anyone to talk to that he sat down +and entered into conversation. +</p> + +<p> +“Where are you going?” asked the fox. +</p> + +<p> +“I have got to find a golden hen who has lost a feather out of her tail,” +answered the boy; “but I don’t know where she lives or how I shall catch her!” +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, I can show you the way!” said the fox, who was really very good-natured. +“Far towards the east, in that direction, lives a beautiful maiden who is +called ‘The Sister of the Sun.’ She has three golden hens in her house. Perhaps +the feather belongs to one of them.” +</p> + +<p> +The boy was delighted at this news, and they walked on all day together, the +fox in front, and the boy behind. When evening came they lay down to sleep, and +put the knapsack under their heads for a pillow. +</p> + +<p> +Suddenly, about midnight, the fox gave a low whine, and drew nearer to his +bedfellow. “Cousin,” he whispered very low, “there is someone coming who will +take the knapsack away from me. Look over there!” And the boy, peeping through +the bushes, saw a man. +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, I don’t think he will rob us!” said the boy; and when the man drew near, +he told them his story, which so much interested the stranger that he asked +leave to travel with them, as he might be of some use. So when the sun rose +they set out again, the fox in front as before, the man and boy following. +</p> + +<p> +After some hours they reached the castle of the Sister of the Sun, who kept the +golden hens among her treasures. They halted before the gate and took counsel +as to which of them should go in and see the lady herself. +</p> + +<p> +“I think it would be best for me to enter and steal the hens,” said the fox; +but this did not please the boy at all. +</p> + +<p> +“No, it is my business, so it is right that I should go,” answered he. +</p> + +<p> +“You will find it a very difficult matter to get hold of the hens,” replied the +fox. +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, nothing is likely to happen to me,” returned the boy. +</p> + +<p> +“Well, go then,” said the fox, “but be careful not to make any mistake. Steal +only the hen which has the feather missing from her tail, and leave the others +alone.” +</p> + +<p> +The man listened, but did not interfere, and the boy entered the court of the +palace. +</p> + +<p> +He soon spied the three hens strutting proudly about, though they were really +anxiously wondering if there were not some grains lying on the ground that they +might be glad to eat. And as the last one passed by him, he saw she had one +feather missing from her tail. +</p> + +<p> +At this sight the youth darted forward and seized the hen by the neck so that +she could not struggle. Then, tucking her comfortably under his arm, he made +straight for the gate. Unluckily, just as he was about to go through it he +looked back and caught a glimpse of wonderful splendours from an open door of +the palace. “After all, there is no hurry,” he said to himself; “I may as well +see something now I AM here,” and turned back, forgetting all about the hen, +which escaped from under his arm, and ran to join her sisters. +</p> + +<p> +He was so much fascinated by the sight of all the beautiful things which peeped +through the door that he scarcely noticed that he had lost the prize he had +won; and he did not remember there was such a thing as a hen in the world when +he beheld the Sister of the Sun sleeping on a bed before him. +</p> + +<p> +For some time he stood staring; then he came to himself with a start, and +feeling that he had no business there, softly stole away, and was fortunate +enough to recapture the hen, which he took with him to the gate. On the +threshold he stopped again. “Why should I not look at the Sister of the Sun?” +he thought to himself; “she is asleep, and will never know.” And he turned back +for the second time and entered the chamber, while the hen wriggled herself +free as before. When he had gazed his fill he went out into the courtyard and +picked up his hen who was seeking for corn. +</p> + +<p> +As he drew near the gate he paused. “Why did I not give her a kiss?” he said to +himself; “I shall never kiss any woman so beautiful.” And he wrung his hands +with regret, so that the hen fell to the ground and ran away. +</p> + +<p> +“But I can do it still!” he cried with delight, and he rushed back to the +chamber and kissed the sleeping maiden on the forehead. But, alas! when he came +out again he found that the hen had grown so shy that she would not let him +come near her. And, worse than that, her sisters began to cluck so loud that +the Sister of the Sun was awakened by the noise. She jumped up in haste from +her bed, and going to the door she said to the boy: +</p> + +<p> +“You shall never, never, have my hen till you bring me back my sister who was +carried off by a giant to his castle, which is a long way off.” +</p> + +<p> +Slowly and sadly the youth left the palace and told his story to his friends, +who were waiting outside the gate, how he had actually held the hen three times +in his arms and had lost her. +</p> + +<p> +“I knew that we should not get off so easily,” said the fox, shaking his head; +“but there is no more time to waste. Let us set off at once in search of the +sister. Luckily, I know the way.” +</p> + +<p> +They walked on for many days, till at length the fox, who, as usual, was going +first, stopped suddenly. +</p> + +<p> +“The giant’s castle is not far now,” he said, “but when we reach it you two +must remain outside while I go and fetch the princess. Directly I bring her out +you must both catch hold of her tight, and get away as fast as you can; while I +return to the castle and talk to the giants—for there are many of them—so that +they may not notice the escape of the princess.” +</p> + +<p> +A few minutes later they arrived at the castle, and the fox, who had often been +there before, slipped in without difficulty. There were several giants, both +young and old, in the hall, and they were all dancing round the princess. As +soon as they saw the fox they cried out: “Come and dance too, old fox; it is a +long time since we have seen you.” +</p> + +<p> +So the fox stood up, and did his steps with the best of them; but after a while +he stopped and said: +</p> + +<p> +“I know a charming new dance that I should like to show you; but it can only be +done by two people. If the princess will honour me for a few minutes, you will +soon see how it is done.” +</p> + +<p> +“Ah, that is delightful; we want something new,” answered they, and placed the +princess between the outstretched arms of the fox. In one instant he had +knocked over the great stand of lights that lighted the hall, and in the +darkness had borne the princess to the gate. His comrades seized hold of her, +as they had been bidden, and the fox was back again in the hall before anyone +had missed him. He found the giants busy trying to kindle a fire and get some +light; but after a bit someone cried out: +</p> + +<p> +“Where is the princess?” +</p> + +<p> +“Here, in my arms,” replied the fox. “Don’t be afraid; she is quite safe.” And +he waited until he thought that his comrades had gained a good start, and put +at least five or six mountains between themselves and the giants. Then he +sprang through the door, calling, as he went: “The maiden is here; take her if +you can!” +</p> + +<p> +At these words the giants understood that their prize had escaped, and they ran +after the fox as fast as their great legs could carry them, thinking that they +should soon come up with the fox, who they supposed had the princess on his +back. The fox, on his side, was far too clever to choose the same path that his +friends had taken, but would in and out of the forest, till at last even HE was +tired out, and fell fast asleep under a tree. Indeed, he was so exhausted with +his day’s work that he never heard the approach of the giants, and their hands +were already stretched out to seize his tail when his eyes opened, and with a +tremendous bound he was once more beyond their reach. All the rest of the night +the fox ran and ran; but when bright red spread over the east, he stopped and +waited till the giants were close upon him. Then he turned, and said quietly: +“Look, there is the Sister of the Sun!” +</p> + +<p> +The giants raised their eyes all at once, and were instantly turned into +pillars of stone. The fox then made each pillar a low bow, and set off to join +his friends. +</p> + +<p> +He knew a great many short cuts across the hills, so it was not long before he +came up with them, and all four travelled night and day till they reached the +castle of the Sister of the Sun. What joy and feasting there was throughout the +palace at the sight of the princess whom they had mourned as dead! and they +could not make enough of the boy who had gone through such dangers in order to +rescue her. The golden hen was given to him at once, and, more than that, the +Sister of the Sun told him that, in a little time, when he was a few years +older, she would herself pay a visit to his home and become his wife. The boy +could hardly believe his ears when he heard what was in store for him, for his +was the most beautiful princess in all the world; and however thick the +darkness might be, it fled away at once from the light of a star on her +forehead. +</p> + +<p> +So the boy set forth on his journey home, with his friends for company; his +heart full of gladness when he thought of the promise of the princess. But, one +by one, his comrades dropped off at the places where they had first met him, +and he was quite alone when he reached his native town and the gates of the +palace. With the golden hen under his arm he presented himself before the king, +and told his adventures, and how he was going to have for a wife a princess so +wonderful and unlike all other princesses, that the star on her forehead could +turn night into day. The king listened silently, and when the boy had done, he +said quietly: “If I find that your story is not true I will have you thrown +into a cask of pitch.” +</p> + +<p> +“It is true—every word of it,” answered the boy; and went on to tell that the +day and even the hour were fixed when his bride was to come and seek him. +</p> + +<p> +But as the time drew near, and nothing was heard of the princess, the youth +became anxious and uneasy, especially when it came to his ears that the great +cask was being filled with pitch, and that sticks were laid underneath to make +a fire to boil it with. All day long the boy stood at the window, looking over +the sea by which the princess must travel; but there were no signs of her, not +even the tiniest white sail. And, as he stood, soldiers came and laid hands on +him, and led him up to the cask, where a big fire was blazing, and the horrid +black pitch boiling and bubbling over the sides. He looked and shuddered, but +there was no escape; so he shut his eyes to avoid seeing. +</p> + +<p> +The word was given for him to mount the steps which led to the top of the cask, +when, suddenly, some men were seen running with all their might, crying as they +went that a large ship with its sails spread was making straight for the city. +No one knew what the ship was, or whence it came; but the king declared that he +would not have the boy burned before its arrival, there would always be time +enough for that. +</p> + +<p> +At length the vessel was safe in port, and a whisper went through the watching +crowd that on board was the Sister of the Sun, who had come to marry the young +peasant as she had promised. In a few moments more she had landed, and desired +to be shown the way to the cottage which her bridegroom had so often described +to her; and whither he had been led back by the king’s order at the first sign +of the ship. +</p> + +<p> +“Don’t you know me?” asked the Sister of the Sun, bending over him where he +lay, almost driven out of his senses with terror. +</p> + +<p> +“No, no; I don’t know you,” answered the youth, without raising his eyes. +</p> + +<p> +“Kiss me,” said the Sister of the Sun; and the youth obeyed her, but still +without looking up. +</p> + +<p> +“Don’t you know me NOW?” asked she. +</p> + +<p> +“No, I don’t know you—I don’t know you,” he replied, with the manner of a man +whom fear had driven mad. +</p> + +<p> +At this the Sister of the Sun grew rather frightened, and beginning at the +beginning, she told him the story of his meeting with her, and how she had come +a long way in order to marry him. And just as she had finished in walked the +king, to see if what the boy had said was really true. But hardly had he opened +the door of the cottage when he was almost blinded by the light that filled it; +and he remembered what he had been told about the star on the forehead of the +princess. He staggered back as if he had been struck, then a curious feeling +took hold of him, which he had never felt before, and falling on his knees +before the Sister of the Sun, he implored her to give up all thought of the +peasant boy, and to share his throne. But she laughed, and said she had a finer +throne of her own, if she wanted to sit on it, and that she was free to please +herself, and would have no husband but the boy whom she would never have seen +except for the king himself. +</p> + +<p> +“I shall marry him to-morrow,” ended she; and ordered the preparations to be +set on foot at once. +</p> + +<p> +When the next day came, however, the bridegroom’s father informed the princess +that, by the law of the land, the marriage must take place in the presence of +the king; but he hoped his majesty would not long delay his arrival. An hour or +two passed, and everyone was waiting and watching, when at last the sound of +trumpets was heard and a grand procession was seen marching up the street. A +chair covered with velvet had been made ready for the king, and he took his +seat upon it, and, looking round upon the assembled company, he said: +</p> + +<p> +“I have no wish to forbid this marriage; but, before I can allow it to be +celebrated, the bridegroom must prove himself worthy of such a bride by +fulfilling three tasks. And the first is that in a single day he must cut down +every tree in an entire forest. +</p> + +<p> +The youth stood aghast as the king’s words. He had never cut down a tree in his +life, and had not the least idea how to begin. And as for a whole forest—! But +the princess saw what was passing in his mind, and whispered to him: +</p> + +<p> +“Don’t be afraid. In my ship you will find an axe, which you must carry off to +the forest. When you have cut down one tree with it just say: ‘So let the +forest fall,’ and in an instant all the trees will be on the ground. But pick +up three chips of the tree you felled, and put them in your pocket.” +</p> + +<p> +And the young man did exactly as he was bid, and soon returned with the three +chips safe in his coat. +</p> + +<p> +The following morning the princess declared that she had been thinking about +the matter, and that, as she was not a subject of the king, she saw no reason +why she should be bound by his laws; and she meant to be married that very day. +But the bridegroom’s father told her that it was all very well for her to talk +like that, but it was quite different for his son, who would pay with his head +for any disobedience to the king’s commands. However, in consideration of what +the youth had done the day before, he hoped his majesty’s heart might be +softened, especially as he had sent a message that they might expect him at +once. With this the bridal pair had to be content, and be as patient as they +could till the king’s arrival. +</p> + +<p> +He did not keep them long, but they saw by his face that nothing good awaited +them. +</p> + +<p> +“The marriage cannot take place,” he said shortly, “till the youth has joined +to their roots all the trees he cut down yesterday.” +</p> + +<p> +This sounded much more difficult than what he had done before, and he turned in +despair to the Sister of the Sun. +</p> + +<p> +“It is all right,” she whispered encouragingly. “Take this water and sprinkle +it on one of the fallen trees, and say to it: ‘So let all the trees of the +forest stand upright,’ and in a moment they will be erect again.” +</p> + +<p> +And the young man did what he was told, and left the forest looking exactly as +it had done before. +</p> + +<p> +Now, surely, thought the princess, there was no longer any need to put off the +wedding; and she gave orders that all should be ready for the following day. +But again the old man interfered, and declared that without the king’s +permission no marriage could take place. For the third time his majesty was +sent for, and for the third time he proclaimed that he could not give his +consent until the bridegroom should have slain a serpent which dwelt in a broad +river that flowed at the back of the castle. Everyone knew stories of this +terrible serpent, though no one had actually seen it; but from time to time a +child strayed from home and never came back, and then mothers would forbid the +other children to go near the river, which had juicy fruits and lovely flowers +growing along its banks. +</p> + +<p> +So no wonder the youth trembled and turned pale when he heard what lay before +him. +</p> + +<p> +“You will succeed in this also,” whispered the Sister of the Sun, pressing his +hand, “for in my ship is a magic sword which will cut through everything. Go +down to the river and unfasten a boat which lies moored there, and throw the +chips into the water. When the serpent rears up its body you will cut off its +three heads with one blow of your sword. Then take the tip of each tongue and +go with it to-morrow morning into the king’s kitchen. If the king himself +should enter, just say to him: ‘Here are three gifts I offer you in return for +the services you demanded of me!’ and throw the tips of the serpent’s tongues +at him, and hasten to the ship as fast as your legs will carry you. But be sure +you take great care never to look behind you.” +</p> + +<p> +The young man did exactly what the princess had told him. The three chips which +he flung into the river became a boat, and, as he steered across the stream, +the serpent put up its head and hissed loudly. The youth had his sword ready, +and in another second the three heads were bobbing on the water. Guiding his +boat till he was beside them, he stooped down and snipped off the ends of the +tongues, and then rowed back to the other bank. Next morning he carried them +into the royal kitchen, and when the king entered, as was his custom, to see +what he was going to have for dinner, the bridegroom flung them in his face, +saying: “Here is a gift for you in return for the services you asked of me.” +And, opening the kitchen door, he fled to the ship. Unluckily he missed the +way, and in his excitement ran backwards and forwards, without knowing whither +he was going. At last, in despair, he looked round, and saw to his amazement +that both the city and palace had vanished completely. Then he turned his eyes +in the other direction, and, far, far away, he caught sight of the ship with +her sails spread, and a fair wind behind her. +</p> + +<p> +This dreadful spectacle seemed to take away his senses, and all day long he +wandered about, without knowing where he was going, till, in the evening, he +noticed some smoke from a little hut of turf near by. He went straight up to it +and cried: “O mother, let me come in for pity’s sake!” The old woman who lived +in the hut beckoned to him to enter, and hardly was he inside when he cried +again: “O mother, can you tell me anything of the Sister of the Sun?” +</p> + +<p> +But the woman only shook her head. “No, I know nothing of her,” said she. +</p> + +<p> +The young man turned to leave the hut, but the old woman stopped him, and, +giving him a letter, begged him to carry it to her next eldest sister, saying: +“If you should get tired on the way, take out the letter and rustle the paper.” +</p> + +<p> +This advice surprised the young man a good deal, as he did not see how it could +help him; but he did not answer, and went down the road without knowing where +he was going. At length he grew so tired he could walk no more; then he +remembered what the old woman had said. After he had rustled the leaves only +once all fatigue disappeared, and he strode over the grass till he came to +another little turf hut. +</p> + +<p> +“Let me in, I pray you, dear mother,” cried he. And the door opened in front of +him. “Your sister has sent you this letter,” he said, and added quickly: “O +mother! can you tell me anything of the Sister of the Sun?” +</p> + +<p> +“No, I know nothing of her,” answered she. But as he turned hopelessly away, +she stopped him. +</p> + +<p> +“If you happen to pass my eldest sister’s house, will you give her this +letter?” said she. “And if you should get tired on the road, just take it out +of your pocket and rustle the paper.” +</p> + +<p> +So the young man put the letter in his pocket, and walked all day over the +hills till he reached a little turf hut, exactly like the other two. +</p> + +<p> +“Let me in, I pray you, dear mother,” cried he. And as he entered he added: +“Here is a letter from your sister and—can you tell me anything of the Sister +of the Sun?” +</p> + +<p> +“Yes, I can,” answered the old woman. “She lives in the castle on the Banka. +Her father lost a battle only a few days ago because you had stolen his sword +from him, and the Sister of the Sun herself is almost dead of grief. But, when +you see her, stick a pin into the palm of her hand, and suck the drops of blood +that flow. Then she will grow calmer, and will know you again. Only, beware; +for before you reach the castle on the Banka fearful things will happen.” +</p> + +<p> +He thanked the old woman with tears of gladness for the good news she had given +him, and continued his journey. But he had not gone very far when, at a turn of +the road, he met with two brothers, who were quarrelling over a piece of cloth. +</p> + +<p> +“My good men, what are you fighting about?” said he. “That cloth does not look +worth much!” +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, it is ragged enough,” answered they, “but it was left us by our father, +and if any man wraps it round him no one can see him; and we each want it for +our own.” +</p> + +<p> +“Let me put it round me for a moment,” said the youth, “and then I will tell +you whose it ought to be!” +</p> + +<p> +The brothers were pleased with this idea, and gave him the stuff; but the +moment he had thrown it over his shoulder he disappeared as completely as if he +had never been there at all. +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile the young man walked briskly along, till he came up with two other +men, who were disputing over a table-cloth. +</p> + +<p> +“What is the matter?” asked he, stopping in front of them. +</p> + +<p> +“If this cloth is spread on a table,” answered they, “the table is instantly +covered with the most delicious food; and we each want to have it.” +</p> + +<p> +“Let me try the table-cloth,” said the youth, “and I will tell you whose it +ought to be.” +</p> + +<p> +The two men were quite pleased with this idea, and handed him the cloth. He +then hastily threw the first piece of stuff round his shoulders and vanished +from sight, leaving the two men grieving over their own folly. +</p> + +<p> +The young man had not walked far before he saw two more men standing by the +road-side, both grasping the same stout staff, and sometimes one seemed on the +point of getting it, and sometimes the other. +</p> + +<p> +“What are you quarrelling about? You could cut a dozen sticks from the wood +each just as good as that!” said the young man. And as he spoke the fighters +both stopped and looked at him. +</p> + +<p> +“Ah! you may think so,” said one, “but a blow from one end of this stick will +kill a man, while a touch from the other end will bring him back to life. You +won’t easily find another stick like that!” +</p> + +<p> +“No; that is true,” answered the young man. “Let me just look at it, and I will +tell you whose it ought to be.” +</p> + +<p> +The men were pleased with the idea, and handed him the staff. +</p> + +<p> +“It is very curious, certainly,” said he; “but which end is it that restores +people to life? After all, anyone can be killed by a blow from a stick if it is +only hard enough!” But when he was shown the end he threw the stuff over his +shoulders and vanished. +</p> + +<p> +At last he saw another set of men, who were struggling for the possession of a +pair of shoes. +</p> + +<p> +“Why can’t you leave that pair of old shoes alone?” said he. “Why, you could +not walk a yard in them!” +</p> + +<p> +“Yes, they are old enough,” answered they; “but whoever puts them on and wishes +himself at a particular place, gets there without going.” +</p> + +<p> +“That sounds very clever,” said the youth. “Let me try them, and then I shall +be able to tell you whose they ought to be.” +</p> + +<p> +The idea pleased the men, and they handed him the shoes; but the moment they +were on his feet he cried: +</p> + +<p> +“I wish to be in the castle on the Banka!” And before he knew it, he was there, +and found the Sister of the Sun dying of grief. He knelt down by her side, and +pulling a pin he stuck it into the palm of her hand, so that a drop of blood +gushed out. This he sucked, as he had been told to do by the old woman, and +immediately the princess came to herself, and flung her arms round his neck. +Then she told him all her story, and what had happened since the ship had +sailed away without him. “But the worst misfortune of all,” she added, “was a +battle which my father lost because you had vanished with his magic sword; and +out of his whole army hardly one man was left.” +</p> + +<p> +“Show me the battle-field,” said he. And she took him to a wild heath, where +the dead were lying as they fell, waiting for burial. One by one he touched +them with the end of his staff, till at length they all stood before him. +Throughout the kingdom there was nothing but joy; and THIS time the wedding was +REALLY celebrated. And the bridal pair lived happily in the castle on the Banka +till they died. +</p> + +<p> +[Lapplandische Mahrchen.] +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap22"></a> +The Prince and the Three Fates</h2> + +<p> +Once upon a time a little boy was born to a king who ruled over a great country +through which ran a wide river. The king was nearly beside himself with joy, +for he had always longed for a son to inherit his crown, and he sent messages +to beg all the most powerful fairies to come and see this wonderful baby. In an +hour or two, so many were gathered round the cradle, that the child seemed in +danger of being smothered; but the king, who was watching the fairies eagerly, +was disturbed to see them looking grave. “Is there anything the matter?” he +asked anxiously. +</p> + +<p> +The fairies looked at him, and all shook their heads at once. +</p> + +<p> +“He is a beautiful boy, and it is a great pity; but what IS to happen WILL +happen,” said they. “It is written in the books of fate that he must die, +either by a crocodile, or a serpent, or by a dog. If we could save him we +would; but that is beyond our power.” +</p> + +<p> +And so saying they vanished. +</p> + +<p> +For a time the king stood where he was, horror-stricken at what he had heard; +but, being of a hopeful nature, he began at once to invent plans to save the +prince from the dreadful doom that awaited him. He instantly sent for his +master builder, and bade him construct a strong castle on the top of a +mountain, which should be fitted with the most precious things from the king’s +own palace, and every kind of toy a child could wish to play with. And, +besides, he gave the strictest orders that a guard should walk round the castle +night and day. +</p> + +<p> +For four or five years the baby lived in the castle alone with his nurses, +taking his airings on the broad terraces, which were surrounded by walls, with +a moat beneath them, and only a drawbridge to connect them with the outer +world. +</p> + +<p> +One day, when the prince was old enough to run quite fast by himself, he looked +from the terrace across the moat, and saw a little soft fluffy ball of a dog +jumping and playing on the other side. Now, of course, all dogs had been kept +from him for fear that the fairies’ prophecy should come true, and he had never +even beheld one before. So he turned to the page who was walking behind him, +and said: +</p> + +<p> +“What is that funny little thing which is running so fast over there?” +</p> + +<p> +“That is a dog, prince,” answered the page. +</p> + +<p> +“Well, bring me one like it, and we will see which can run the faster.” And he +watched the dog till it had disappeared round the corner. +</p> + +<p> +The page was much puzzled to know what to do. He had strict orders to refuse +the prince nothing; yet he remembered the prophecy, and felt that this was a +serious matter. At last he thought he had better tell the king the whole story, +and let him decide the question. +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, get him a dog if he wants one,” said the king, “he will only cry his heart +out if he does not have it.” So a puppy was found, exactly like the other; they +might have been twins, and perhaps they were. +</p> + +<p> +Years went by, and the boy and the dog played together till the boy grew tall +and strong. The time came at last when he sent a message to his father, saying: +</p> + +<p> +“Why do you keep me shut up here, doing nothing? I know all about the prophecy +that was made at my birth, but I would far rather be killed at once than live +an idle, useless life here. So give me arms, and let me go, I pray you; me and +my dog too.” +</p> + +<p> +And again the king listened to his wishes, and he and his dog were carried in a +ship to the other side of the river, which was so broad here it might almost +have been the sea. A black horse was waiting for him, tied to a tree, and he +mounted and rode away wherever his fancy took him, the dog always at his heels. +Never was any prince so happy as he, and he rode and rode till at length he +came to a king’s palace. +</p> + +<p> +The king who lived in it did not care about looking after his country, and +seeing that his people lived cheerful and contented lives. He spent his whole +time in making riddles, and inventing plans which he had much better have let +alone. At the period when the young prince reached the kingdom he had just +completed a wonderful house for his only child, a daughter. It had seventy +windows, each seventy feet from the ground, and he had sent the royal herald +round the borders of the neighbouring kingdoms to proclaim that whoever could +climb up the walls to the window of the princess should win her for his wife. +</p> + +<p> +The fame of the princess’s beauty had spread far and wide, and there was no +lack of princes who wished to try their fortune. Very funny the palace must +have looked each morning, with the dabs of different colour on the white marble +as the princes were climbing up the walls. But though some managed to get +further than others, nobody was anywhere near the top. +</p> + +<p> +They had already been spending several days in this manner when the young +prince arrived, and as he was pleasant to look upon, and civil to talk to, they +welcomed him to the house, which had been given to them, and saw that his bath +was properly perfumed after his long journey. “Where do you come from?” they +said at last. “And whose son are you?” +</p> + +<p> +But the young prince had reasons for keeping his own secret, and he answered: +</p> + +<p> +“My father was master of the horse to the king of my country, and after my +mother died he married another wife. At first all went well, but as soon as she +had babies of her own she hated me, and I fled, lest she should do me harm.” +</p> + +<p> +The hearts of the other young men were touched as soon as they heard this +story, and they did everything they could think of to make him forget his past +sorrows. +</p> + +<p> +“What are you doing here?” said the youth, one day. +</p> + +<p> +“We spend our whole time climbing up the walls of the palace, trying to reach +the windows of the princess,” answered the young men; “but, as yet, no one has +reached within ten feet of them.” +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, let me try too,” cried the prince; “but to-morrow I will wait and see what +you do before I begin. +</p> + +<p> +So the next day he stood where he could watch the young men go up, and he noted +the places on the wall that seemed most difficult, and made up his mind that +when his turn came he would go up some other way. +</p> + +<p> +Day after day he was to be seen watching the wooers, till, one morning, he felt +that he knew the plan of the walls by heart, and took his place by the side of +the others. Thanks to what he had learned from the failure of the rest, he +managed to grasp one little rough projection after another, till at last, to +the envy of his friends, he stood on the sill of the princess’s window. Looking +up from below, they saw a white hand stretched forth to draw him in. +</p> + +<p> +Then one of the young men ran straight to the king’s palace, and said: “The +wall has been climbed, and the prize is won!” +</p> + +<p> +“By whom?” cried the king, starting up from his throne; “which of the princes +may I claim as my son-in-law?” +</p> + +<p> +“The youth who succeeded in climbing to the princess’s window is not a prince +at all,” answered the young man. “He is the son of the master of the horse to +the great king who dwells across the river, and he fled from his own country to +escape from the hatred of his stepmother.” +</p> + +<p> +At this news the king was very angry, for it had never entered his head that +anyone BUT a prince would seek to woo his daughter. +</p> + +<p> +“Let him go back to the land whence he came,” he shouted in wrath; “does he +expect me to give my daughter to an exile?” And he began to smash the drinking +vessels in his fury; indeed, he quite frightened the young man, who ran hastily +home to his friends, and told the youth what the king had said. +</p> + +<p> +Now the princess, who was leaning from her window, heard his words and bade the +messenger go back to the king her father and tell him that she had sworn a vow +never to eat or drink again if the youth was taken from her. The king was more +angry than ever when he received this message, and ordered his guards to go at +once to the palace and put the successful wooer to death; but the princess +threw herself between him and his murderers. +</p> + +<p> +“Lay a finger on him, and I shall be dead before sunset,” said she; and as they +saw that she meant it, they left the palace, and carried the tale to her +father. +</p> + +<p> +By this time the king’s anger was dying away, and he began to consider what his +people would think of him if he broke the promise he had publicly given. So he +ordered the princess to be brought before him, and the young man also, and when +they entered the throne room he was so pleased with the noble air of the victor +that his wrath quite melted away, and he ran to him and embraced him. +</p> + +<p> +“Tell me who you are?” he asked, when he had recovered himself a little, “for I +will never believe that you have not royal blood in your veins.” +</p> + +<p> +But the prince still had his reasons for being silent, and only told the same +story. However, the king had taken such a fancy to the youth that he said no +more, and the marriage took place the following day, and great herds of cattle +and a large estate were given to the young couple. +</p> + +<p> +After a little while the prince said to his wife: “My life is in the hands of +three creatures—a crocodile, a serpent, and a dog.” +</p> + +<p> +“Ah, how rash you are!” cried the princess, throwing her arms round his neck. +“If you know that, how can you have that horrid beast about you? I will give +orders to have him killed at once.” +</p> + +<p> +But the prince would not listen to her. +</p> + +<p> +“Kill my dear little dog, who had been my playfellow since he was a puppy?” +exclaimed he. “Oh, never would I allow that.” And all that the princess could +get from him was that he would always wear a sword, and have somebody with him +when he left the palace. +</p> + +<p> +When the prince and princess had been married a few months, the prince heard +that his stepmother was dead, and his father was old and ill, and longing to +have his eldest son by his side again. The young man could not remain deaf to +such a message, and he took a tender farewell of his wife, and set out on his +journey home. It was a long way, and he was forced to rest often on the road, +and so it happened that, one night, when he was sleeping in a city on the banks +of the great river, a huge crocodile came silently up and made its way along a +passage to the prince’s room. Fortunately one of his guards woke up as it was +trying to steal past them, and shut the crocodile up in a large hall, where a +giant watched over it, never leaving the spot except during the night, when the +crocodile slept. And this went on for more than a month. +</p> + +<p> +Now, when the prince found that he was not likely to leave his father’s kingdom +again, he sent for his wife, and bade the messenger tell her that he would +await her coming in the town on the banks of the great river. This was the +reason why he delayed his journey so long, and narrowly escaped being eaten by +the crocodile. During the weeks that followed the prince amused himself as best +he could, though he counted the minutes to the arrival of the princess, and +when she did come, he at once prepared to start for the court. That very night, +however, while he was asleep, the princess noticed something strange in one of +the corners of the room. It was a dark patch, and seemed, as she looked, to +grow longer and longer, and to be moving slowly towards the cushions on which +the prince was lying. She shrank in terror, but, slight as was the noise, the +thing heard it, and raised its head to listen. Then she saw it was the long +flat head of a serpent, and the recollection of the prophecy rushed into her +mind. Without waking her husband, she glided out of bed, and taking up a heavy +bowl of milk which stood on a table, laid it on the floor in the path of the +serpent—for she knew that no serpent in the world can resist milk. She held her +breath as the snake drew near, and watched it throw up its head again as if it +was smelling something nice, while its forky tongue darted out greedily. At +length its eyes fell upon the milk, and in an instant it was lapping it so fast +that it was a wonder the creature did not choke, for it never took its head +from the bowl as long as a drop was left in it. After that it dropped on the +ground and slept heavily. This was what the princess had been waiting for, and +catching up her husband’s sword, she severed the snake’s head from its body. +</p> + +<p> +The morning after this adventure the prince and princess set out for the king’s +palace, but found when they reached it, that he was already dead. They gave him +a magnificent burial, and then the prince had to examine the new laws which had +been made in his absence, and do a great deal of business besides, till he grew +quite ill from fatigue, and was obliged to go away to one of his palaces on the +banks of the river, in order to rest. Here he soon got better, and began to +hunt, and to shoot wild duck with his bow; and wherever he went, his dog, now +grown very old, went with him. +</p> + +<p> +One morning the prince and his dog were out as usual, and in chasing their game +they drew near the bank of the river. The prince was running at full speed +after his dog when he almost fell over something that looked like a log of +wood, which was lying in his path. To his surprise a voice spoke to him, and he +saw that the thing which he had taken for a branch was really a crocodile. +</p> + +<p> +“You cannot escape from me,” it was saying, when he had gathered his senses +again. “I am your fate, and wherever you go, and whatever you do, you will +always find me before you. There is only one means of shaking off my power. If +you can dig a pit in the dry sand which will remain full of water, my spell +will be broken. If not death will come to you speedily. I give you this one +chance. Now go.” +</p> + +<p> +The young man walked sadly away, and when he reached the palace he shut himself +into his room, and for the rest of the day refused to see anyone, not even his +wife. At sunset, however, as no sound could be heard through the door, the +princess grew quite frightened, and made such a noise that the prince was +forced to draw back the bolt and let her come in. “How pale you look,” she +cried, “has anything hurt you? Tell me, I pray you, what is the matter, for +perhaps I can help!” +</p> + +<p> +So the prince told her the whole story, and of the impossible task given him by +the crocodile. +</p> + +<p> +“How can a sand hole remain full of water?” asked he. “Of course, it will all +run through. The crocodile called it a ‘chance’; but he might as well have +dragged me into the river at once. He said truly that I cannot escape him.” +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, if that is all,” cried the princess, “I can set you free myself, for my +fairy godmother taught me to know the use of plants and in the desert not far +from here there grows a little four-leaved herb which will keep the water in +the pit for a whole year. I will go in search of it at dawn, and you can begin +to dig the hole as soon as you like. +</p> + +<p> +To comfort her husband, the princess had spoken lightly and gaily; but she knew +very well she had no light task before her. Still, she was full of courage and +energy, and determined that, one way or another, her husband should be saved. +</p> + +<p> +It was still starlight when she left the palace on a snow-white donkey, and +rode away from the river straight to the west. For some time she could see +nothing before her but a flat waste of sand, which became hotter and hotter as +the sun rose higher and higher. Then a dreadful thirst seized her and the +donkey, but there was no stream to quench it, and if there had been she would +hardly have had time to stop, for she still had far to go, and must be back +before evening, or else the crocodile might declare that the prince had not +fulfilled his conditions. So she spoke cheering words to her donkey, who brayed +in reply, and the two pushed steadily on. +</p> + +<p> +Oh! how glad they both were when they caught sight of a tall rock in the +distance. They forgot that they were thirsty, and that the sun was hot; and the +ground seemed to fly under their feet, till the donkey stopped of its own +accord in the cool shadow. But though the donkey might rest the princess could +not, for the plant, as she knew, grew on the very top of the rock, and a wide +chasm ran round the foot of it. Luckily she had brought a rope with her, and +making a noose at one end, she flung it across with all her might. The first +time it slid back slowly into the ditch, and she had to draw it up, and throw +it again, but at length the noose caught on something, the princess could not +see what, and had to trust her whole weight to this little bridge, which might +snap and let her fall deep down among the rocks. And in that case her death was +as certain as that of the prince. +</p> + +<p> +But nothing so dreadful happened. The princess got safely to the other side, +and then became the worst part of her task. As fast as she put her foot on a +ledge of the rock the stone broke away from under her, and left her in the same +place as before. Meanwhile the hours were passing, and it was nearly noon. +</p> + +<p> +The heart of the poor princess was filled with despair, but she would not give +up the struggle. She looked round till she saw a small stone above her which +seemed rather stronger than the rest, and by only poising her foot lightly on +those that lay between, she managed by a great effort to reach it. In this way, +with torn and bleeding hands, she gained the top; but here such a violent wind +was blowing that she was almost blinded with dust, and was obliged to throw +herself on the ground, and feel about after the precious herb. +</p> + +<p> +For a few terrible moments she thought that the rock was bare, and that her +journey had been to no purpose. Feel where she would, there was nothing but +grit and stones, when, suddenly, her fingers touched something soft in a +crevice. It was a plant, that was clear; but was it the right one? See she +could not, for the wind was blowing more fiercely than ever, so she lay where +she was and counted the leaves. One, two, three—yes! yes! there were four! And +plucking a leaf she held it safe in her hand while she turned, almost stunned +by the wind, to go down the rock. +</p> + +<p> +When once she was safely over the side all became still in a moment, and she +slid down the rock so fast that it was only a wonder that she did not land in +the chasm. However, by good luck, she stopped quite close to her rope bridge +and was soon across it. The donkey brayed joyfully at the sight of her, and set +off home at his best speed, never seeming to know that the earth under his feet +was nearly as hot as the sun above him. +</p> + +<p> +On the bank of the great river he halted, and the princess rushed up to where +the prince was standing by the pit he had digged in the dry sand, with a huge +water pot beside it. A little way off the crocodile lay blinking in the sun, +with his sharp teeth and whity-yellow jaws wide open. +</p> + +<p> +At a signal from the princess the prince poured the water in the hole, and the +moment it reached the brim the princess flung in the four-leaved plant. Would +the charm work, or would the water trickle away slowly through the sand, and +the prince fall a victim to that horrible monster? For half an hour they stood +with their eyes rooted to the spot, but the hole remained as full as at the +beginning, with the little green leaf floating on the top. Then the prince +turned with a shout of triumph, and the crocodile sulkily plunged into the +river. +</p> + +<p> +The prince had escape for ever the second of his three fates! +</p> + +<p> +He stood there looking after the crocodile, and rejoicing that he was free, +when he was startled by a wild duck which flew past them, seeking shelter among +the rushes that bordered the edge of the stream. In another instant his dog +dashed by in hot pursuit, and knocked heavily against his master’s legs. The +prince staggered, lost his balance and fell backwards into the river, where the +mud and the rushes caught him and held him fast. He shrieked for help to his +wife, who came running; and luckily brought her rope with her. The poor old dog +was drowned, but the prince was pulled to shore. “My wife,” he said, “has been +stronger than my fate.” +</p> + +<p> +[Adapted from Les Contes Populaires de l’Egypte Ancienne.] +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap23"></a> +The Fox and the Lapp</h2> + +<p> +Once upon a time a fox lay peeping out of his hole, watching the road that ran +by at a little distance, and hoping to see something that might amuse him, for +he was feeling very dull and rather cross. For a long while he watched in vain; +everything seemed asleep, and not even a bird stirred overhead. The fox grew +crosser than ever, and he was just turning away in disgust from his place when +he heard the sound of feet coming over the snow. He crouched eagerly down at +the edge of the road and said to himself: “I wonder what would happen if I were +to pretend to be dead! This is a man driving a reindeer sledge, I know the +tinkling of the harness. And at any rate I shall have an adventure, and that is +always something!” +</p> + +<p> +So he stretched himself out by the side of the road, carefully choosing a spot +where the driver could not help seeing him, yet where the reindeer would not +tread on him; and all fell out just as he had expected. The sledge-driver +pulled up sharply, as his eyes lighted on the beautiful animal lying stiffly +beside him, and jumping out he threw the fox into the bottom of the sledge, +where the goods he was carrying were bound tightly together by ropes. The fox +did not move a muscle though his bones were sore from the fall, and the driver +got back to his seat again and drove on merrily. +</p> + +<p> +But before they had gone very far, the fox, who was near the edge, contrived to +slip over, and when the Laplander saw him stretched out on the snow he pulled +up his reindeer and put the fox into one of the other sledges that was fastened +behind, for it was market-day at the nearest town, and the man had much to +sell. +</p> + +<p> +They drove on a little further, when some noise in the forest made the man turn +his head, just in time to see the fox fall with a heavy thump on to the frozen +snow. “That beast is bewitched!” he said to himself, and then he threw the fox +into the last sledge of all, which had a cargo of fishes. This was exactly what +the cunning creature wanted, and he wriggled gently to the front and bit the +cord which tied the sledge to the one before it so that it remained standing in +the middle of the road. +</p> + +<p> +Now there were so many sledges that the Lapp did not notice for a long while +that one was missing; indeed, he would have entered the town without knowing if +snow had not suddenly begun to fall. Then he got down to secure more firmly the +cloths that kept his goods dry, and going to the end of the long row, +discovered that the sledge containing the fish and the fox was missing. He +quickly unharnessed one of his reindeer and rode back along the way he had +come, to find the sledge standing safe in the middle of the road; but as the +fox had bitten off the cord close to the noose there was no means of moving it +away. +</p> + +<p> +The fox meanwhile was enjoying himself mightily. As soon as he had loosened the +sledge, he had taken his favourite fish from among the piles neatly arranged +for sale, and had trotted off to the forest with it in his mouth. By-and-by he +met a bear, who stopped and said: “Where did you find that fish, Mr. Fox?” +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, not far off,” answered he; “I just stuck my tail in the stream close by +the place where the elves dwell, and the fish hung on to it of itself.” +</p> + +<p> +“Dear me,” snarled the bear, who was hungry and not in a good temper, “if the +fish hung on to your tail, I suppose he will hang on to mine.” +</p> + +<p> +“Yes, certainly, grandfather,” replied the fox, “if you have patience to suffer +what I suffered.” +</p> + +<p> +“Of course I can,” replied the bear, “what nonsense you talk! Show me the way.” +</p> + +<p> +So the fox led him to the bank of a stream, which, being in a warm place, had +only lightly frozen in places, and was at this moment glittering in the spring +sunshine. +</p> + +<p> +“The elves bathe here,” he said, “and if you put in your tail the fish will +catch hold of it. But it is no use being in a hurry, or you will spoil +everything.” +</p> + +<p> +Then he trotted off, but only went out of sight of the bear, who stood still on +the bank with his tail deep in the water. Soon the sun set and it grew very +cold and the ice formed rapidly, and the bear’s tail was fixed as tight as if a +vice had held it; and when the fox saw that everything had happened just as he +had planned it, he called out loudly: +</p> + +<p> +“Be quick, good people, and come with your bows and spears. A bear has been +fishing in your brook!” +</p> + +<p> +And in a moment the whole place was full of little creatures each one with a +tiny bow and a spear hardly big enough for a baby; but both arrows and spears +could sting, as the bear knew very well, and in his fright he gave such a tug +to his tail that it broke short off, and he rolled away into the forest as fast +as his legs could carry him. At this sight the fox held his sides for laughing, +and then scampered away in another direction. By-and-by he came to a fir tree, +and crept into a hole under the root. After that he did something very strange. +</p> + +<p> +Taking one of his hind feet between his two front paws, he said softly: +</p> + +<p> +“What would you do, my foot, if someone was to betray me?” +</p> + +<p> +“I would run so quickly that he should not catch you.” +</p> + +<p> +“What would you do, mine ear, if someone was to betray me?” +</p> + +<p> +“I would listen so hard that I should hear all his plans.” +</p> + +<p> +“What would you do, my nose, if someone was to betray me?” +</p> + +<p> +“I would smell so sharply that I should know from afar that he was coming.” +</p> + +<p> +“What would you do, my tail, if someone was to betray me?” +</p> + +<p> +“I would steer you so straight a course that you would soon be beyond his +reach. Let us be off; I feel as if danger was near.” +</p> + +<p> +But the fox was comfortable where he was, and did not hurry himself to take his +tail’s advice. And before very long he found he was too late, for the bear had +come round by another path, and guessing where his enemy was began to scratch +at the roots of the tree. The fox made himself as small as he could, but a +scrap of his tail peeped out, and the bear seized it and held it tight. Then +the fox dug his claws into the ground, but he was not strong enough to pull +against the bear, and slowly he was dragged forth and his body flung over the +bear’s neck. In this manner they set out down the road, the fox’s tail being +always in the bear’s mouth. +</p> + +<p> +After they had gone some way, they passed a tree-stump, on which a bright +coloured woodpecker was tapping. +</p> + +<p> +“Ah! those were better times when I used to paint all the birds such gay +colours,” sighed the fox. +</p> + +<p> +“What are you saying, old fellow?” asked the bear. +</p> + +<p> +“I? Oh, I was saying nothing,” answered the fox drearily. “Just carry me to +your cave and eat me up as quick as you can.” +</p> + +<p> +The bear was silent, and thought of his supper; and the two continued their +journey till they reached another tree with a woodpecker tapping on it. +</p> + +<p> +“Ah! those were better times when I used to paint all the birds such gay +colours,” said the fox again to himself. +</p> + +<p> +“Couldn’t you paint me too?” asked the bear suddenly. +</p> + +<p> +But the fox shook his head; for he was always acting, even if no one was there +to see him do it. +</p> + +<p> +“You bear pain so badly,” he replied, in a thoughtful voice, “and you are +impatient besides, and could never put up with all that is necessary. Why, you +would first have to dig a pit, and then twist ropes of willow, and drive in +posts and fill the hole with pitch, and, last of all, set it on fire. Oh, no; +you would never be able to do all that.” +</p> + +<p> +“It does not matter a straw how hard the work is,” answered the bear eagerly, +“I will do it every bit.” And as he spoke he began tearing up the earth so fast +that soon a deep pit was ready, deep enough to hold him. +</p> + +<p> +“That is all right,” said the fox at last, “I see I was mistaken in you. Now +sit here, and I will bind you.” So the bear sat down on the edge of the pit, +and the fox sprang on his back, which he crossed with the willow ropes, and +then set fire to the pitch. It burnt up in an instant, and caught the bands of +willow and the bear’s rough hair; but he did not stir, for he thought that the +fox was rubbing the bright colours into his skin, and that he would soon be as +beautiful as a whole meadow of flowers. But when the fire grew hotter still he +moved uneasily from one foot to the other, saying, imploringly: “It is getting +rather warm, old man.” But all the answer he got was: “I thought you would +never be able to suffer pain like those little birds.” +</p> + +<p> +The bear did not like being told that he was not as brave as a bird, so he set +his teeth and resolved to endure anything sooner than speak again; but by this +time the last willow band had burned through, and with a push the fox sent his +victim tumbling into the grass, and ran off to hide himself in the forest. +After a while he stole cautiously and found, as he expected, nothing left but a +few charred bones. These he picked up and put in a bag, which he slung over his +back. +</p> + +<p> +By-and-by he met a Lapp driving his team of reindeer along the road, and as he +drew near, the fox rattled the bones gaily. +</p> + +<p> +“That sounds like silver or gold,” thought the man to himself. And he said +politely to the fox: +</p> + +<p> +“Good-day, friend! What have you got in your bag that makes such a strange +sound?” +</p> + +<p> +“All the wealth my father left me,” answered the fox. “Do you feel inclined to +bargain?” +</p> + +<p> +“Well, I don’t mind,” replied the Lapp, who was a prudent man, and did not wish +the fox to think him too eager; “but show me first what money you have got.” +</p> + +<p> +“Ah, but I can’t do that,” answered the fox, “my bag is sealed up. But if you +will give me those three reindeer, you shall take it as it is, with all its +contents.” +</p> + +<p> +The Lapp did not quite like it, but the fox spoke with such an air that his +doubts melted away. He nodded, and stretched out his hand; the fox put the bag +into it, and unharnassed the reindeer he had chosen. +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, I forgot!” he exclaimed, turning round, as he was about to drive them in +the opposite direction, “you must be sure not to open the bag until you have +gone at least five miles, right on the other side of those hills out there. If +you do, you will find that all the gold and silver has changed into a parcel of +charred bones.” Then he whipped up his reindeer, and was soon out of sight. +</p> + +<p> +For some time the Lapp was satisfied with hearing the bones rattle, and +thinking to himself what a good bargain he had made, and of all the things he +would buy with the money. But, after a bit, this amusement ceased to content +him, and besides, what was the use of planning when you did not know for +certain how rich you were? Perhaps there might be a great deal of silver and +only a little gold in the bag; or a great deal of gold, and only a little +silver. Who could tell? He would not, of course, take the money out to count +it, for that might bring him bad luck. But there could be no harm in just one +peep! So he slowly broke the seal, and untied the strings, and, behold, a heap +of burnt bones lay before him! In a minute he knew he had been tricked, and +flinging the bag to the ground in a rage, he ran after the fox as fast as his +snow-shoes would carry him. +</p> + +<p> +Now the fox had guessed exactly what would happen, and was on the look out. +Directly he saw the little speck coming towards him, he wished that the man’s +snow-shoes might break, and that very instant the Lapp’s shoes snapped in two. +The Lapp did now know that this was the fox’s work, but he had to stop and +fetch one of his other reindeer, which he mounted, and set off again in pursuit +of his enemy. The fox soon heard him coming, and this time he wished that the +reindeer might fall and break its leg. And so it did; and the man felt it was a +hopeless chase, and that he was no match for the fox. +</p> + +<p> +So the fox drove on in peace till he reached the cave where all his stores were +kept, and then he began to wonder whom he could get to help him kill his +reindeer, for though he could steal reindeer he was too small to kill them. +“After all, it will be quite easy,” thought he, and he bade a squirrel, who was +watching him on a tree close by, take a message to all the robber beasts of the +forest, and in less than half an hour a great crashing of branches was heard, +and bears, wolves, snakes, mice, frogs, and other creatures came pressing up to +the cave. +</p> + +<p> +When they heard why they had been summoned, they declared themselves ready each +one to do his part. The bear took his crossbow from his neck and shot the +reindeer in the chin; and, from that day to this, every reindeer has a mark in +that same spot, which is always known as the bear’s arrow. The wolf shot him in +the thigh, and the sign of his arrow still remains; and so with the mouse and +the viper and all the rest, even the frog; and at the last the reindeer all +died. And the fox did nothing, but looked on. +</p> + +<p> +“I really must go down to the brook and wash myself,” said he (though he was +perfectly clean), and he went under the bank and hid himself behind a stone. +From there he set up the most frightful shrieks, so that the animals fled away +in all directions. Only the mouse and the ermine remained where they were, for +they thought that they were much too small to be noticed. +</p> + +<p> +The fox continued his shrieks till he felt sure that the animals must have got +to a safe distance; then he crawled out of his hiding-place and went to the +bodies of the reindeer, which he now had all to himself. He gathered a bundle +of sticks for a fire, and was just preparing to cook a steak, when his enemy, +the Lapp, came up, panting with haste and excitement. +</p> + +<p> +“What are you doing there?” cried he; “why did you palm off those bones on me? +And why, when you had got the reindeer, did you kill them?” +</p> + +<p> +“Dear brother,” answered the fox with a sob, “do not blame me for this +misfortune. It is my comrades who have slain them in spite of my prayers.” +</p> + +<p> +The man made no reply, for the white fur of the ermine, who was crouching with +the mouse behind some stones, had just caught his eye. He hastily seized the +iron hook which hung over the fire and flung it at the little creature; but the +ermine was too quick for him, and the hook only touched the top of its tail, +and that has remained black to this day. As for the mouse, the Lapp threw a +half-burnt stick after him, and though it was not enough to hurt him, his +beautiful white skin was smeared all over with it, and all the washing in the +world would not make him clean again. And the man would have been wiser if he +had let the ermine and the mouse alone, for when he turned round again he found +he was alone. +</p> + +<p> +Directly the fox noticed that his enemy’s attention had wandered from himself +he watched his chance, and stole softly away till he had reached a clump of +thick bushes, when he ran as fast as he could, till he reached a river, where a +man was mending his boat. +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, I wish, I wish, I had a boat to mend too!” he cried, sitting up on his +hind-legs and looking into the man’s face. +</p> + +<p> +“Stop your silly chatter!” answered the man crossly, “or I will give you a bath +in the river.” +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, I wish, I do wish, I had a boat to mend,” cried the fox again, as if he +had not heard. And the man grew angry and seized him by the tail, and threw him +far out in the stream close to the edge of an island; which was just what the +fox wanted. He easily scrambled up, and sitting on the top, he called: “Hasten, +hasten, O fishes, and carry me to the other side!” And the fishes left the +stones where they had been sleeping, and the pools where they had been feeding, +and hurried to see who could get to the island first. +</p> + +<p> +“I have won,” shouted the pike. “Jump on my back, dear fox, and you will find +yourself in a trice on the opposite shore.” +</p> + +<p> +“No, thank you,” answered the fox, “your back is much too weak for me. I should +break it.” +</p> + +<p> +“Try mine,” said the eel, who had wriggled to the front. +</p> + +<p> +“No, thank you,” replied the fox again, “I should slip over your head and be +drowned.” +</p> + +<p> +“You won’t slip on MY back,” said the perch, coming forward. +</p> + +<p> +“No; but you are really TOO rough,” returned the fox. +</p> + +<p> +“Well, you can have no fault to find with ME,” put in the trout. +</p> + +<p> +“Good gracious! are YOU here?” exclaimed the fox. “But I’m afraid to trust +myself to you either.” +</p> + +<p> +At this moment a fine salmon swam slowly up. +</p> + +<p> +“Ah, yes, you are the person I want,” said the fox; “but come near, so that I +may get on your back, without wetting my feet.” +</p> + +<p> +So the salmon swam close under the island, and when he was touching it the fox +seized him in his claws and drew him out of the water, and put him on a spit, +while he kindled a fire to cook him by. When everything was ready, and the +water in the pot was getting hot, he popped him in, and waited till he thought +the salmon was nearly boiled. But as he stooped down the water gave a sudden +fizzle, and splashed into the fox’s eyes, blinding him. He started backwards +with a cry of pain, and sat still for some minutes, rocking himself to and fro. +When he was a little better he rose and walked down a road till he met a +grouse, who stopped and asked what was the matter. +</p> + +<p> +“Have you a pair of eyes anywhere about you?” asked the fox politely. +</p> + +<p> +“No, I am afraid I haven’t,” answered the grouse, and passed on. +</p> + +<p> +A little while after the fox heard the buzzing of an early bee, whom a gleam of +sun had tempted out. +</p> + +<p> +“Do you happen to have an extra pair of eyes anywhere?” asked the fox. +</p> + +<p> +“I am sorry to say I have only those I am using,” replied the bee. And the fox +went on till he nearly fell over an asp who was gliding across the road. +</p> + +<p> +“I should be SO glad if you would tell me where I could get a pair of eyes,” +said the fox. “I suppose you don’t happen to have any you could lend me?” +</p> + +<p> +“Well, if you only want them for a short time, perhaps I could manage,” +answered the asp; “but I can’t do without them for long.” +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, it is only for a very short time that I need them,” said the fox; “I have +a pair of my own just behind that hill, and when I find them I will bring yours +back to you. Perhaps you will keep these till them.” So he took the eyes out of +his own head and popped them into the head of the asp, and put the asp’s eyes +in their place. As he was running off he cried over his shoulder: “As long as +the world lasts the asps’ eyes will go down in the heads of foxes from +generation to generation.” +</p> + +<p> +And so it has been; and if you look at the eyes of an asp you will see that +they are all burnt; and though thousands and thousands of years have gone by +since the fox was going about playing tricks upon everybody he met, the asp +still bears the traces of the day when the sly creature cooked the salmon. +</p> + +<p> +[Lapplandische Mahrchen.] +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap24"></a> +Kisa the Cat</h2> + +<p> +Once upon a time there lived a queen who had a beautiful cat, the colour of +smoke, with china-blue eyes, which she was very fond of. The cat was constantly +with her, and ran after her wherever she went, and even sat up proudly by her +side when she drove out in her fine glass coach. +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, pussy,” said the queen one day, “you are happier than I am! For you have a +dear kitten just like yourself, and I have nobody to play with but you.” +</p> + +<p> +“Don’t cry,” answered the cat, laying her paw on her mistress’s arm. “Crying +never does any good. I will see what can be done.” +</p> + +<p> +The cat was as good as her word. As soon as she returned from her drive she +trotted off to the forest to consult a fairy who dwelt there, and very soon +after the queen had a little girl, who seemed made out of snow and sunbeams. +The queen was delighted, and soon the baby began to take notice of the kitten +as she jumped about the room, and would not go to sleep at all unless the +kitten lay curled up beside her. +</p> + +<p> +Two or three months went by, and though the baby was still a baby, the kitten +was fast becoming a cat, and one evening when, as usual, the nurse came to look +for her, to put her in the baby’s cot, she was nowhere to be found. What a hunt +there was for that kitten, to be sure! The servants, each anxious to find her, +as the queen was certain to reward the lucky man, searched in the most +impossible places. Boxes were opened that would hardly have held the kitten’s +paw; books were taken from bookshelves, lest the kitten should have got behind +them, drawers were pulled out, for perhaps the kitten might have got shut in. +But it was all no use. The kitten had plainly run away, and nobody could tell +if it would ever choose to come back. +</p> + +<p> +Years passed away, and one day, when the princess was playing ball in the +garden, she happened to throw her ball farther than usual, and it fell into a +clump of rose-bushes. The princess of course ran after it at once, and she was +stooping down to feel if it was hidden in the long grass, when she heard a +voice calling her: “Ingibjorg! Ingibjorg!” it said, “have you forgotten me? I +am Kisa, your sister!” +</p> + +<p> +“But I never HAD a sister,” answered Ingibjorg, very much puzzled; for she knew +nothing of what had taken place so long ago. +</p> + +<p> +“Don’t you remember how I always slept in your cot beside you, and how you +cried till I came? But girls have no memories at all! Why, I could find my way +straight up to that cot this moment, if I was once inside the palace.” +</p> + +<p> +“Why did you go away then?” asked the princess. But before Kisa could answer, +Ingibjorg’s attendants arrived breathless on the scene, and were so horrified +at the sight of a strange cat, that Kisa plunged into the bushes and went back +to the forest. +</p> + +<p> +The princess was very much vexed with her ladies-in-waiting for frightening +away her old playfellow, and told the queen who came to her room every evening +to bid her good-night. +</p> + +<p> +“Yes, it is quite true what Kisa said,” answered the queen; “I should have +liked to see her again. Perhaps, some day, she will return, and then you must +bring her to me.” +</p> + +<p> +Next morning it was very hot, and the princess declared that she must go and +play in the forest, where it was always cool, under the big shady trees. As +usual, her attendants let her do anything she pleased, and sitting down on a +mossy bank where a little stream tinkled by, soon fell sound asleep. The +princess saw with delight that they would pay no heed to her, and wandered on +and on, expecting every moment to see some fairies dancing round a ring, or +some little brown elves peeping at her from behind a tree. But, alas! she met +none of these; instead, a horrible giant came out of his cave and ordered her +to follow him. The princess felt much afraid, as he was so big and ugly, and +began to be sorry that she had not stayed within reach of help; but as there +was no use in disobeying the giant, she walked meekly behind. +</p> + +<p> +They went a long way, and Ingibjorg grew very tired, and at length began to +cry. +</p> + +<p> +“I don’t like girls who make horrid noises,” said the giant, turning round. +“But if you WANT to cry, I will give you something to cry for.” And drawing an +axe from his belt, he cut off both her feet, which he picked up and put in his +pocket. Then he went away. +</p> + +<p> +Poor Ingibjorg lay on the grass in terrible pain, and wondering if she should +stay there till she died, as no one would know where to look for her. How long +it was since she had set out in the morning she could not tell—it seemed years +to her, of course; but the sun was still high in the heavens when she heard the +sound of wheels, and then, with a great effort, for her throat was parched with +fright and pain, she gave a shout. +</p> + +<p> +“I am coming!” was the answer; and in another moment a cart made its way +through the trees, driven by Kisa, who used her tail as a whip to urge the +horse to go faster. Directly Kisa saw Ingibjorg lying there, she jumped quickly +down, and lifting the girl carefully in her two front paws, laid her upon some +soft hay, and drove back to her own little hut. +</p> + +<p> +In the corner of the room was a pile of cushions, and these Kisa arranged as a +bed. Ingibjorg, who by this time was nearly fainting from all she had gone +through, drank greedily some milk, and then sank back on the cushions while +Kisa fetched some dried herbs from a cupboard, soaked them in warm water and +tied them on the bleeding legs. The pain vanished at once, and Ingibjorg looked +up and smiled at Kisa. +</p> + +<p> +“You will go to sleep now,” said the cat, “and you will not mind if I leave you +for a little while. I will lock the door, and no one can hurt you.” But before +she had finished the princess was asleep. Then Kisa got into the cart, which +was standing at the door, and catching up the reins, drove straight to the +giant’s cave. +</p> + +<p> +Leaving her cart behind some trees, Kisa crept gently up to the open door, and, +crouching down, listened to what the giant was telling his wife, who was at +supper with him. +</p> + +<p> +“The first day that I can spare I shall just go back and kill her,” he said; +“it would never do for people in the forest to know that a mere girl can defy +me!” And he and his wife were so busy calling Ingibjorg all sorts of names for +her bad behaviour, that they never noticed Kisa stealing into a dark corner, +and upsetting a whole bag of salt into the great pot before the fire. +</p> + +<p> +“Dear me, how thirsty I am!” cried the giant by-and-by. +</p> + +<p> +“So am I,” answered the wife. “I do wish I had not taken that last spoonful of +broth; I am sure something was wrong with it.” +</p> + +<p> +“If I don’t get some water I shall die,” went on the giant. And rushing out of +the cave, followed by his wife, he ran down the path which led to the river. +</p> + +<p> +Then Kisa entered the hut, and lost no time in searching every hole till she +came upon some grass, under which Ingibjorg’s feet were hidden, and putting +them in her cart, drove back again to her own hut. +</p> + +<p> +Ingibjorg was thankful to see her, for she had lain, too frightened to sleep, +trembling at every noise. +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, is it you?” she cried joyfully, as Kisa turned the key. And the cat came +in, holding up the two neat little feet in their silver slippers. +</p> + +<p> +“In two minutes they shall be as tight as they ever were!” said Kisa. And +taking some strings of the magic grass which the giant had carelessly heaped on +them, she bound the feet on to the legs above. +</p> + +<p> +“Of course you won’t be able to walk for some time; you must not expect THAT,” +she continued. “But if you are very good, perhaps, in about a week, I may carry +you home again.” +</p> + +<p> +And so she did; and when the cat drove the cart up to the palace gate, lashing +the horse furiously with her tail, and the king and queen saw their lost +daughter sitting beside her, they declared that no reward could be too great +for the person who had brought her out of the giant’s hands. +</p> + +<p> +“We will talk about that by-and-by,” said the cat, as she made her best bow, +and turned her horse’s head. +</p> + +<p> +The princess was very unhappy when Kisa left her without even bidding her +farewell. She would neither eat nor drink, nor take any notice of all the +beautiful dresses her parents bought for her. +</p> + +<p> +“She will die, unless we can make her laugh,” one whispered to the other. “Is +there anything in the world that we have left untried?” +</p> + +<p> +“Nothing except marriage,” answered the king. And he invited all the handsomest +young men he could think of to the palace, and bade the princess choose a +husband from among them. +</p> + +<p> +It took her some time to decide which she admired the most, but at last she +fixed upon a young prince, whose eyes were like the pools in the forest, and +his hair of bright gold. The king and the queen were greatly pleased, as the +young man was the son of a neighbouring king, and they gave orders that a +splendid feast should be got ready. +</p> + +<p> +When the marriage was over, Kisa suddenly stood before them, and Ingibjorg +rushed forward and clasped her in her arms. +</p> + +<p> +“I have come to claim my reward,” said the cat. “Let me sleep for this night at +the foot of your bed.” +</p> + +<p> +“Is that ALL?” asked Ingibjorg, much disappointed. +</p> + +<p> +“It is enough,” answered the cat. And when the morning dawned, it was no cat +that lay upon the bed, but a beautiful princess. +</p> + +<p> +“My mother and I were both enchanted by a spiteful fairy,” said she, “we could +not free ourselves till we had done some kindly deed that had never been +wrought before. My mother died without ever finding a chance of doing anything +new, but I took advantage of the evil act of the giant to make you as whole as +ever.” +</p> + +<p> +Then they were all more delighted than before, and the princess lived in the +court until she, too, married, and went away to govern one of her own. +</p> + +<p> +[Adapted from Neuislandischen Volksmärchen.] +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap25"></a> +The Lion and the Cat</h2> + +<p> +Far away on the other side of the world there lived, long ago, a lion and his +younger brother, the wild cat, who were so fond of each other that they shared +the same hut. The lion was much the bigger and stronger of the two—indeed, he +was much bigger and stronger than any of the beasts that dwelt in the forest; +and, besides, he could jump father and run faster than all the rest. If +strength and swiftness could gain him a dinner he was sure never to be without +one, but when it came to cunning, both the grizzly bear and the serpent could +get the better of him, and he was forced to call in the help of the wild cat. +</p> + +<p> +Now the young wild cat had a lovely golden ball, so beautiful that you could +hardly look at it except through a piece of smoked glass, and he kept it hidden +in the thick fur muff that went round his neck. A very large old animal, since +dead, had given it to him when he was hardly more than a baby, and had told him +never to part with it, for as long as he kept it no harm could ever come near +him. +</p> + +<p> +In general the wild cat did not need to use his ball, for the lion was fond of +hunting, and could kill all the food that they needed; but now and then his +life would have been in danger had it not been for the golden ball. +</p> + +<p> +One day the two brothers started to hunt at daybreak, but as the cat could not +run nearly as fast as the lion, he had quite a long start. At least he THOUGHT +it was a long one, but in a very few bounds and springs the lion reached his +side. +</p> + +<p> +“There is a bear sitting on that tree,” he whispered softly. “He is only +waiting for us to pass, to drop down on my back.” +</p> + +<p> +“Ah, you are so big that he does not see I am behind you,” answered the wild +cat. And, touching the ball, he just said: “Bear, die!” And the bear tumbled +dead out of the tree, and rolled over just in front of them. +</p> + +<p> +For some time they trotted on without any adventures, till just as they were +about to cross a strip of long grass on the edge of the forest, the lion’s +quick ears detected a faint rustling noise. +</p> + +<p> +“That is a snake,” he cried, stopping short, for he was much more afraid of +snakes than of bears. +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, it is all right,” answered the cat. “Snake, die!” And the snake died, and +the two brothers skinned it. They then folded the skin up into a very small +parcel, and the cat tucked it into his mane, for snakes’ skins can do all sorts +of wonderful things, if you are lucky enough to have one of them. +</p> + +<p> +All this time they had had no dinner, for the snake’s flesh was not nice, and +the lion did not like eating bear—perhaps because he never felt sure that the +bear was REALLY dead, and would not jump up alive when his enemy went near him. +Most people are afraid of SOME thing, and bears and serpents were the only +creatures that caused the lion’s heart to tremble. So the two brothers set off +again and soon reached the side of a hill where some fine deer were grazing. +</p> + +<p> +“Kill one of those deer for your own dinner,” said the boy-brother, “but catch +me another alive. I want him.” +</p> + +<p> +The lion at once sprang towards them with a loud roar, but the deer bounded +away, and they were all three soon lost to sight. The cat waited for a long +while, but finding that the lion did not return, went back to the house where +they lived. +</p> + +<p> +It was quite dark when the lion came home, where his brother was sitting curled +up in one corner. +</p> + +<p> +“Did you catch the deer for me?” asked the boy-brother, springing up. +</p> + +<p> +“Well, no,” replied the man-brother. “The fact is, that I did not get up to +them till we had run half way across the world and left the wind far behind us. +Think what a trouble it would have been to drag it here! So—I just ate them +both.” +</p> + +<p> +The cat said nothing, but he did not feel that he loved his big brother. He had +thought a great deal about that deer, and had meant to get on his back to ride +him as a horse, and go to see all the wonderful places the lion talked to him +about when he was in a good temper. The more he thought of it the more sulky he +grew, and in the morning, when the lion said that it was time for them to start +to hunt, the cat told him that he might kill the bear and snake by himself, as +HE had a headache, and would rather stay at home. The little fellow knew quite +well that the lion would not dare to go out without him and his ball for fear +of meeting a bear or a snake. +</p> + +<p> +The quarrel went on, and for many days neither of the brothers spoke to each +other, and what made them still more cross was, that they could get very little +to eat, and we know that people are often cross when they are hungry. At last +it occurred to the lion that if he could only steal the magic ball he could +kill bears and snakes for himself, and then the cat might be as sulky as he +liked for anything that it would matter. But how was the stealing to be done? +The cat had the ball hung round his neck day and night, and he was such a light +sleeper that it was useless to think of taking it while he slept. No! the only +thing was to get him to lend it of his own accord, and after some days the lion +(who was not at all clever) hit upon a plan that he thought would do. +</p> + +<p> +“Dear me, how dull it is here!” said the lion one afternoon, when the rain was +pouring down in such torrents that, however sharp your eyes or your nose might +be, you could not spy a single bird or beast among the bushes. “Dear me, how +dull, how dreadfully dull I am. Couldn’t we have a game of catch with that +golden ball of yours?” +</p> + +<p> +“I don’t care about playing catch, it does not amuse me,” answered the cat, who +was as cross as ever; for no cat, even to this day, ever forgets an injury done +to him. +</p> + +<p> +“Well, then, lend me the ball for a little, and I will play by myself,” replied +the lion, stretching out a paw as he spoke. +</p> + +<p> +“You can’t play in the rain, and if you did, you would only lose it in the +bushes,” said the cat. +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, no, I won’t; I will play in here. Don’t be so ill-natured.” And with a +very bad grace the cat untied the string and threw the golden ball into the +lion’s lap, and composed himself to sleep again. +</p> + +<p> +For a long while the lion tossed it up and down gaily, feeling that, however +sound asleep the boy-brother might LOOK, he was sure to have one eye open; but +gradually he began to edge closer to the opening, and at last gave such a toss +that the ball went up high into the air, and he could not see what became of +it. +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, how stupid of me!” he cried, as the cat sprang up angrily, “let us go at +once and search for it. It can’t really have fallen very far.” But though they +searched that day and the next, and the next after that, they never found it, +because it never came down. +</p> + +<p> +After the loss of his ball the cat refused to live with the lion any longer, +but wandered away to the north, always hoping he might meet with his ball +again. But months passed, and years passed, and though he travelled over +hundreds of miles, he never saw any traces of it. +</p> + +<p> +At length, when he was getting quite old, he came to a place unlike any that he +had ever seen before, where a big river rolled right to the foot of some high +mountains. The ground all about the river bank was damp and marshy, and as no +cat likes to wet its feet, this one climbed a tree that rose high above the +water, and thought sadly of his lost ball, which would have helped him out of +this horrible place. Suddenly he saw a beautiful ball, for all the world like +his own, dangling from a branch of the tree he was on. He longed to get at it; +but was the branch strong enough to bear his weight? It was no use, after all +he had done, getting drowned in the water. However, it could do no harm, if he +was to go a little way; he could always manage to get back somehow. +</p> + +<p> +So he stretched himself at full length upon the branch, and wriggled his body +cautiously along. To his delight it seemed thick and stout. Another movement, +and, by stretching out his paw, he would be able to draw the string towards +him, when the branch gave a loud crack, and the cat made haste to wriggle +himself back the way he had come. +</p> + +<p> +But when cats make up their minds to do anything they generally DO it; and this +cat began to look about to see if there was really no way of getting at his +ball. Yes! there was, and it was much surer than the other, though rather more +difficult. Above the bough where the ball was hung was another bough much +thicker, which he knew could not break with his weight; and by holding on tight +to this with all his four paws, he could just manage to touch the ball with his +tail. He would thus be able to whisk the ball to and fro till, by-and-by, the +string would become quite loose, and it would fall to the ground. It might take +some time, but the lion’s little brother was patient, like most cats. +</p> + +<p> +Well, it all happened just as the cat intended it should, and when the ball +dropped on the ground the cat ran down the tree like lightning, and, picking it +up, tucked it away in the snake’s skin round his neck. Then he began jumping +along the shore of the Big Water from one place to another, trying to find a +boat, or even a log of wood, that would take him across. But there was nothing; +only, on the other side, he saw two girls cooking, and though he shouted to +them at the top of his voice, they were too far off to hear what he said. And, +what was worse, the ball suddenly fell out of its snake’s skin bag right into +the river. +</p> + +<p> +Now, it is not at all an uncommon thing for balls to tumble into rivers, but in +that case they generally either fall to the bottom and stay there, or else bob +about on the top of the water close to where they first touched it. But this +ball, instead of doing either of these things, went straight across to the +other side, and there one of the girls saw it when she stooped to dip some +water into her pail. +</p> + +<p> +“Oh! what a lovely ball!” cried she, and tried to catch it in her pail; but the +ball always kept bobbing just out of her reach. +</p> + +<p> +“Come and help me!” she called to her sister, and after a long while they had +the ball safe inside the pail. They were delighted with their new toy, and one +or the other held it in her hand till bedtime came, and then it was a long time +before they could make up their minds where it would be safest for the night. +At last they locked it in a cupboard in one corner of their room, and as there +was no hole anywhere the ball could not possibly get out. After that they went +to sleep. +</p> + +<p> +In the morning the first thing they both did was to run to the cupboard and +unlock it, but when the door opened they started back, for, instead of the +ball, there stood a handsome young man. +</p> + +<p> +“Ladies,” he said, “how can I thank you for what you have done for me? Long, +long ago, I was enchanted by a wicked fairy, and condemned to keep the shape of +a ball till I should meet with two maidens, who would take me to their own +home. But where was I to meet them? For hundreds of years I have lived in the +depths of the forest, where nothing but wild beasts ever came, and it was only +when the lion threw me into the sky that I was able to fall to earth near this +river. Where there is a river, sooner or later people will come; so, hanging +myself on a tree, I watched and waited. For a moment I lost heart when I fell +once more into the hands of my old master the wild cat, but my hopes rose again +as I saw he was making for the river bank opposite where you were standing. +That was my chance, and I took it. And now, ladies, I have only to say that, if +ever I can do anything to help you, go to the top of that high mountain and +knock three times at the iron door at the north side, and I will come to you.” +</p> + +<p> +So, with a low bow, he vanished from before them, leaving the maidens weeping +at having lost in one moment both the ball and the prince. +</p> + +<p> +[Adapted from North American Indian Legends.] +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap26"></a> +Which was the Foolishest?</h2> + +<p> +In a little village that stood on a wide plain, where you could see the sun +from the moment he rose to the moment he set, there lived two couples side by +side. The men, who worked under the same master, were quite good friends, but +the wives were always quarrelling, and the subject they quarrelled most about +was—which of the two had the stupidest husband. +</p> + +<p> +Unlike most women—who think that anything that belongs to them must be better +than what belongs to anyone else—each thought her husband the more foolish of +the two. +</p> + +<p> +“You should just see what he does!” one said to her neighbour. “He puts on the +baby’s frock upside down, and, one day, I found him trying to feed her with +boiling soup, and her mouth was scalded for days after. Then he picks up stones +in the road and sows them instead of potatoes, and one day he wanted to go into +the garden from the top window, because he declared it was a shorter way than +through the door.” +</p> + +<p> +“That is bad enough, of course,” answered the other; “but it is really NOTHING +to what I have to endure every day from MY husband. If, when I am busy, I ask +him to go and feed the poultry, he is certain to give them some poisonous stuff +instead of their proper food, and when I visit the yard next I find them all +dead. Once he even took my best bonnet, when I had gone away to my sick mother, +and when I came back I found he had given it to the hen to lay her eggs in. And +you know yourself that, only last week, when I sent him to buy a cask of +butter, he returned driving a hundred and fifty ducks which someone had induced +him to take, and not one of them would lay.” +</p> + +<p> +“Yes, I am afraid he IS trying,” replied the first; “but let us put them to the +proof, and see which of them is the most foolish.” +</p> + +<p> +So, about the time that she expected her husband home from work, she got out +her spinning-wheel, and sat busily turning it, taking care not even to look up +from her work when the man came in. For some minutes he stood with his mouth +open watching her, and as she still remained silent, he said at last: +</p> + +<p> +“Have you gone mad, wife, that you sit spinning without anything on the wheel?” +</p> + +<p> +“YOU may think that there is nothing on it,” answered she, “but I can assure +you that there is a large skein of wool, so fine that nobody can see it, which +will be woven into a coat for you.” +</p> + +<p> +“Dear me!” he replied, “what a clever wife I have got! If you had not told me I +should never have known that there was any wool on the wheel at all. But now I +really do seem to see something.” +</p> + +<p> +The woman smiled and was silent, and after spinning busily for an hour more, +she got up from her stoop, and began to weave as fast as she could. At last she +got up, and said to her husband: “I am too tired to finish it to-night, so I +shall go to bed, and to-morrow I shall only have the cutting and stitching to +do.” +</p> + +<p> +So the next morning she got up early, and after she had cleaned her house, and +fed her chickens, and put everything in its place again, she bent over the +kitchen table, and the sound of her big scissors might be heard snip! snap! as +far as the garden. Her husband could not see anything to snip at; but then he +was so stupid that was not surprising! +</p> + +<p> +After the cutting came the sewing. The woman patted and pinned and fixed and +joined, and then, turning to the man, she said: +</p> + +<p> +“Now it is ready for you to try on.” And she made him take off his coat, and +stand up in front of her, and once more she patted an pinned and fixed and +joined, and was very careful in smoothing out every wrinkle. +</p> + +<p> +“It does not feel very warm,” observed the man at last, when he had borne all +this patiently for a long time. +</p> + +<p> +“That is because it is so fine,” answered she; “you do not want it to be as +thick as the rough clothes you wear every day.” +</p> + +<p> +He DID, but was ashamed to say so, and only answered: “Well, I am sure it must +be beautiful since you say so, and I shall be smarter than anyone in the whole +village. ‘What a splendid coat!’ they will exclaim when they see me. But it is +not everybody who has a wife as clever as mine.” +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile the other wife was not idle. As soon as her husband entered she +looked at him with such a look of terror that the poor man was quite +frightened. +</p> + +<p> +“Why do you stare at me so? Is there anything the matter?” asked he. +</p> + +<p> +“Oh! go to bed at once,” she cried; “you must be very ill indeed to look like +that!” +</p> + +<p> +The man was rather surprised at first, as he felt particularly well that +evening; but the moment his wife spoke he became quite certain that he had +something dreadful the matter with him, and grew quite pale. +</p> + +<p> +“I dare say it would be the best place for me,” he answered, trembling; and he +suffered his wife to take him upstairs, and to help him off with his clothes. +</p> + +<p> +“If you sleep well during the might there MAY be a chance for you,” said she, +shaking her head, as she tucked him up warmly; “but if not—” And of course the +poor man never closed an eye till the sun rose. +</p> + +<p> +“How do you feel this morning?” asked the woman, coming in on tip-toe when her +house-work was finished. +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, bad; very bad indeed,” answered he; “I have not slept for a moment. Can +you think of nothing to make me better?” +</p> + +<p> +“I will try everything that is possible,” said the wife, who did not in the +least wish her husband to die, but was determined to show that he was more +foolish that the other man. “I will get some dried herbs and make you a drink, +but I am very much afraid that it is too late. Why did you not tell me before?” +</p> + +<p> +“I thought perhaps the pain would go off in a day or two; and, besides, I did +not want to make you unhappy,” answered the man, who was by this time quite +sure he had been suffering tortures, and had borne them like a hero. “Of +course, if I had had any idea how ill I really was, I should have spoken at +once.” +</p> + +<p> +“Well, well, I will see what can be done,” said the wife, “but talking is not +good for you. Lie still, and keep yourself warm.” +</p> + +<p> +All that day the man lay in bed, and whenever his wife entered the room and +asked him, with a shake of the head, how he felt, he always replied that he was +getting worse. At last, in the evening, she burst into tears, and when he +inquired what was the matter, she sobbed out: +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, my poor, poor husband, are you really dead? I must go to-morrow and order +your coffin.” +</p> + +<p> +Now, when the man heard this, a cold shiver ran through his body, and all at +once he knew that he was as well as he had ever been in his life. +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, no, no!” he cried, “I feel quite recovered! Indeed, I think I shall go out +to work.” +</p> + +<p> +“You will do no such thing,” replied his wife. “Just keep quite quiet, for +before the sun rises you will be a dead man.” +</p> + +<p> +The man was very frightened at her words, and lay absolutely still while the +undertaker came and measured him for his coffin; and his wife gave orders to +the gravedigger about his grave. That evening the coffin was sent home, and in +the morning at nine o’clock the woman put him on a long flannel garment, and +called to the undertaker’s men to fasten down the lid and carry him to the +grave, where all their friends were waiting them. Just as the body was being +placed in the ground the other woman’s husband came running up, dressed, as far +as anyone could see, in no clothes at all. Everybody burst into shouts of +laughter at the sight of him, and the men laid down the coffin and laughed too, +till their sides nearly split. The dead man was so astonished at this +behaviour, that he peeped out of a little window in the side of the coffin, and +cried out: +</p> + +<p> +“I should laugh as loudly as any of you, if I were not a dead man.” +</p> + +<p> +When they heard the voice coming from the coffin the other people suddenly +stopped laughing, and stood as if they had been turned into stone. Then they +rushed with one accord to the coffin, and lifted the lid so that the man could +step out amongst them. +</p> + +<p> +“Were you really not dead after all?” asked they. “And if not, why did you let +yourself be buried?” +</p> + +<p> +At this the wives both confessed that they had each wished to prove that her +husband was stupider than the other. But the villagers declared that they could +not decide which was the most foolish—the man who allowed himself to be +persuaded that he was wearing fine clothes when he was dressed in nothing, or +the man who let himself be buried when he was alive and well. +</p> + +<p> +So the women quarrelled just as much as they did before, and no one ever knew +whose husband was the most foolish. +</p> + +<p> +[Adapted from the Neuislandische Volksmärchen.] +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap27"></a> +Asmund and Signy</h2> + +<p> +Long, long ago, in the days when fairies, witches, giants and ogres still +visited the earth, there lived a king who reigned over a great and beautiful +country. He was married to a wife whom he dearly loved, and had two most +promising children—a son called Asmund, and a daughter who was named Signy. +</p> + +<p> +The king and queen were very anxious to bring their children up well, and the +young prince and princess were taught everything likely to make them clever and +accomplished. They lived at home in their father’s palace, and he spared no +pains to make their lives happy. +</p> + +<p> +Prince Asmund dearly loved all outdoor sports and an open-air life, and from +his earliest childhood he had longed to live entirely in the forest close by. +After many arguments and entreaties he succeeded in persuading the king to give +him two great oak trees for his very own. +</p> + +<p> +“Now,” said he to his sister, “I will have the trees hollowed out, and then I +will make rooms in them and furnish them so that I shall be able to live out in +the forest.” +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, Asmund!” exclaimed Signy, “what a delightful idea! Do let me come too, and +live in one of your trees. I will bring all my pretty things and ornaments, and +the trees are so near home we shall be quite safe in them.” +</p> + +<p> +Asmund, who was extremely fond of his sister, readily consented, and they had a +very happy time together, carrying over all their pet treasures, and Signy’s +jewels and other ornaments, and arranging them in the pretty little rooms +inside the trees. +</p> + +<p> +Unfortunately sadder days were to come. A war with another country broke out, +and the king had to lead his army against their enemy. During his absence the +queen fell ill, and after lingering for some time she died, to the great grief +of her children. They made up their minds to live altogether for a time in +their trees, and for this purpose they had provisions enough stored up inside +to last them a year. +</p> + +<p> +Now, I must tell you, in another country a long way off, there reigned a king +who had an only son named Ring. Prince Ring had heard so much about the beauty +and goodness of Princess Signy that he determined to marry her if possible. So +he begged his father to let him have a ship for the voyage, set sail with a +favourable wind, and after a time landed in the country where Signy lived. +</p> + +<p> +The prince lost no time in setting out for the royal palace, and on his way +there he met such a wonderfully lovely woman that he felt he had never seen +such beauty in all his life. He stopped her and at once asked who she was. +</p> + +<p> +“I am Signy, the king’s daughter,” was the reply. +</p> + +<p> +Then the prince inquired why she was wandering about all by herself, and she +told him that since her mother’s death she was so sad that whilst her father +was away she preferred being alone. +</p> + +<p> +Ring was quite deceived by her, and never guessed that she was not Princess +Signy at all, but a strong, gigantic, wicked witch bent on deceiving him under +a beautiful shape. He confided to her that he had travelled all the way from +his own country for her sake, having fallen in love with the accounts he had +heard of her beauty, and he then and there asked her to be his wife. +</p> + +<p> +The witch listened to all he said and, much pleased, ended by accepting his +offer; but she begged him to return to his ship for a little while as she +wished to go some way further into the forest, promising to join him later on. +</p> + +<p> +Prince Ring did as she wished and went back to his ship to wait, whilst she +walked on into the forest till she reached the two oak trees. +</p> + +<p> +Here she resumed her own gigantic shape, tore up the trees by their roots, +threw one of them over her back and clasped the other to her breast, carried +them down to the shore and waded out with them to the ship. +</p> + +<p> +She took care not to be noticed as she reached the ship, and directly she got +on board she once more changed to her former lovely appearance and told the +prince that her luggage was now all on board, and that they need wait for +nothing more. +</p> + +<p> +The prince gave orders to set sail at once, and after a fine voyage landed in +his own country, where his parents and his only sister received him with the +greatest joy and affection. +</p> + +<p> +The false Signy was also very kindly welcomed. A beautiful house was got ready +for her, and Prince Ring had the two oaks planted in the garden just in front +of her windows so that she might have the pleasure of seeing them constantly. +He often went to visit the witch, whom he believed to be Princess Signy, and +one day he asked: “Don’t you think we might be married before long?” +</p> + +<p> +“Yes,” said she, quite pleased, “I am quite ready to marry you whenever you +like.” +</p> + +<p> +“Then,” replied Ring, “let us decide on this day fortnight. And see, I have +brought you some stuff to make your wedding-dress of.” So saying he gave her a +large piece of the most beautiful brocade, all woven over with gold threads, +and embroidered with pearls and other jewels. +</p> + +<p> +The prince had hardly left her before the witch resumed her proper shape and +tore about the room, raging and storming and flinging the beautiful silk on the +floor. +</p> + +<p> +“What was SHE to do with such things?” she roared. “SHE did not know how to sew +or make clothes, and she was sure to die of starvation into the bargain if her +brother Ironhead did not come soon and bring her some raw meat and bones, for +she really could eat nothing else.” +</p> + +<p> +As she was raving and roaring in this frantic manner part of the floor suddenly +opened and a huge giant rose up carrying a great chest in his arms. The witch +was enchanted at this sight, and eagerly helped her brother to set down and +open the chest, which was full of the ghastly food she had been longing for. +The horrid pair set to and greedily devoured it all, and when the chest was +quite empty the giant put it on his shoulder and disappeared as he had come, +without leaving any trace of his visit. +</p> + +<p> +But his sister did not keep quiet for long, and tore and pulled at the rich +brocade as if she wanted to destroy it, stamping about and shouting angrily. +</p> + +<p> +Now, all this time Prince Asmund and his sister sat in their trees just outside +the window and saw all that was going on. +</p> + +<p> +“Dear Signy,” said Asmund, “do try to get hold of that piece of brocade and +make the clothes yourself, for really we shall have no rest day or night with +such a noise.” +</p> + +<p> +“I will try,” said Signy; “it won’t be an easy matter, but it’s worth while +taking some trouble to have a little peace.” +</p> + +<p> +So she watched for an opportunity and managed to carry off the brocade the +first time the witch left her room. Then she set to work, cutting out and +sewing as best she could, and by the end of six days she had turned it into an +elegant robe with a long train and a mantle. When it was finished she climbed +to the top of her tree and contrived to throw the clothes on to a table through +the open window. +</p> + +<p> +How delighted the witch was when she found the clothes all finished! The next +time Prince Ring came to see her she gave them to him, and he paid her many +compliments on her skilful work, after which he took leave of her in the most +friendly manner. But he had scarcely left the house when the witch began to +rage as furiously as ever, and never stopped till her brother Ironhead +appeared. +</p> + +<p> +When Asmund saw all these wild doings from his tree he felt he could no longer +keep silence. He went to Prince Ring and said: “Do come with me and see the +strange things that are happening in the new princess’s room.” +</p> + +<p> +The prince was not a little surprised, but he consented to hide himself with +Asmund behind the panelling of the room, from where they could see all that +went on through a little slit. The witch was raving and roaring as usual, and +said to her brother: +</p> + +<p> +“Once I am married to the king’s son I shall be better off than now. I shall +take care to have all that pack of courtiers put to death, and then I shall +send for all my relations to come and live here instead. I fancy the giants +will enjoy themselves very much with me and my husband.” +</p> + +<p> +When Prince Ring heard this he fell into such a rage that he ordered the house +to be set on fire, and it was burnt to the ground, with the witch and her +brother in it. +</p> + +<p> +Asmund then told the prince about the two oak trees and took him to see them. +The prince was quite astonished at them and at all their contents, but still +more so at the extreme beauty of Signy. He fell in love with her at once, and +entreated her to marry him, which, after a time, she consented to do. Asmund, +on his side, asked for the hand of Prince Ring’s sister, which was gladly +granted him, and the double wedding was celebrated with great rejoicings. +</p> + +<p> +After this Prince Asmund and his bride returned to his country to live with the +king his father. The two couples often met, and lived happily for many, many +years. And that is the end of the story. +</p> + +<p> +[From Islandische Mahrchen.] +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap28"></a> +Rübezahl</h2> + +<p> +Over all the vast under-world the mountain Gnome Rübezahl was lord; and busy +enough the care of his dominions kept him. There were the endless treasure +chambers to be gone through, and the hosts of gnomes to be kept to their tasks. +Some built strong barriers to hold back the fiery rivers in the earth’s heart, +and some had scalding vapours to change dull stones to precious metal, or were +hard at work filling every cranny of the rocks with diamonds and rubies; for +Rübezahl loved all pretty things. Sometimes the fancy would take him to leave +those gloomy regions, and come out upon the green earth for a while, and bask +in the sunshine and hear the birds sing. And as gnomes live many hundreds of +years he saw strange things. For, the first time he came up, the great hills +were covered with thick forests, in which wild animals roamed, and Rübezahl +watched the fierce fights between bear and bison, or chased the grey wolves, or +amused himself by rolling great rocks down into the desolate valleys, to hear +the thunder of their fall echoing among the hills. But the next time he +ventured above ground, what was his surprise to find everything changed! The +dark woods were hewn down, and in their place appeared blossoming orchards +surrounding cosy-looking thatched cottages; from every chimney the blue smoke +curled peacefully into the air, sheep and oxen fed in the flowery meadows, +while from the shade of the hedges came the music of the shepherd’s pipe. The +strangeness and pleasantness of the sight so delighted the gnome that he never +thought of resenting the intrusion of these unexpected guests, who, without +saying “by your leave” or “with your leave,” had made themselves so very much +at home upon his hills; nor did he wish to interfere with their doings, but +left them in quiet possession of their homes, as a good householder leaves in +peace the swallows who have built their nests under his eaves. He was indeed +greatly minded to make friends with this being called “man,” so, taking the +form of an old field labourer, he entered the service of a farmer. Under his +care all the crops flourished exceedingly, but the master proved to be wasteful +and ungrateful, and Rübezahl soon left him, and went to be shepherd to his next +neighbour. He tended the flock so diligently, and knew so well where to lead +the sheep to the sweetest pastures, and where among the hills to look for any +who strayed away, that they too prospered under his care, and not one was lost +or torn by wolves; but this new master was a hard man, and begrudged him his +well-earned wages. So he ran away and went to serve the judge. Here he upheld +the law with might and main, and was a terror to thieves and evildoers; but the +judge was a bad man, who took bribes, and despised the law. Rübezahl would not +be the tool of an unjust man, and so he told his master, who thereupon ordered +him to be thrown into prison. Of course that did not trouble the gnome at all, +he simply got out through the keyhole, and went away down to his underground +palace, very much disappointed by his first experience of mankind. But, as time +went on, he forgot the disagreeable things that had happened to him, and +thought he would take another look at the upper world. +</p> + +<p> +So he stole into the valley, keeping himself carefully hidden in copse or +hedgerow, and very soon met with an adventure; for, peeping through a screen of +leaves, he saw before him a green lawn where stood a charming maiden, fresh as +the spring, and beautiful to look upon. Around her upon the grass lay her young +companions, as if they had thrown themselves down to rest after some merry +game. Beyond them flowed a little brook, into which a waterfall leapt from a +high rock, filling the air with its pleasant sound, and making a coolness even +in the sultry noontide. The sight of the maiden so pleased the gnome that, for +the first time, he wished himself a mortal; and, longing for a better view of +the gay company, he changed himself into a raven and perched upon an oaktree +which overhung the brook. But he soon found that this was not at all a good +plan. He could only see with a raven’s eyes, and feel as a raven feels; and a +nest of field-mice at the foot of the tree interested him far more than the +sport of the maidens. When he understood this he flew down again in a great +hurry into the thicket, and took the form of a handsome young man—that was the +best way—and he fell in love with the girl then and there. The fair maiden was +the daughter of the king of the country, and she often wandered in the forest +with her play fellows gathering the wild flowers and fruits, till the midday +heat drove the merry band to the shady lawn by the brook to rest, or to bathe +in the cool waters. On this particular morning the fancy took them to wander +off again into the wood. This was Master Rübezahl’s opportunity. Stepping out +of his hiding-place he stood in the midst of the little lawn, weaving his magic +spells, till slowly all about him changed, and when the maidens returned at +noon to their favourite resting-place they stood lost in amazement, and almost +fancied that they must be dreaming. The red rocks had become white marble and +alabaster; the stream that murmured and struggled before in its rocky bed, +flowed in silence now in its smooth channel, from which a clear fountain leapt, +to fall again in showers of diamond drops, now on this side now on that, as the +wandering breeze scattered it. +</p> + +<p> +Daisies and forget-me-nots fringed its brink, while tall hedges of roses and +jasmine ringed it round, making the sweetest and daintiest bower imaginable. To +the right and left of the waterfall opened out a wonderful grotto, its walls +and arches glittering with many-coloured rock-crystals, while in every niche +were spread out strange fruits and sweetmeats, the very sight of which made the +princess long to taste them. She hesitated a while, however, scarcely able to +believe her eyes, and not knowing if she should enter the enchanted spot or fly +from it. But at length curiosity prevailed, and she and her companions explored +to their heart’s content, and tasted and examined everything, running hither +and thither in high glee, and calling merrily to each other. +</p> + +<p> +At last, when they were quite weary, the princess cried out suddenly that +nothing would content her but to bathe in the marble pool, which certainly did +look very inviting; and they all went gaily to this new amusement. The princess +was ready first, but scarcely had she slipped over the rim of the pool when +down—down—down she sank, and vanished in its depths before her frightened +playmates could seize her by so much as a lock of her floating golden hair! +</p> + +<p> +Loudly did they weep and wail, running about the brink of the pool, which +looked so shallow and so clear, but which had swallowed up their princess +before their eyes. They even sprang into the water and tried to dive after her, +but in vain; they only floated like corks in the enchanted pool, and could not +keep under water for a second. +</p> + +<p> +They saw at last that there was nothing for it but to carry to the king the sad +tidings of his beloved daughter’s disappearance. And what great weeping and +lamentation there was in the palace when the dreadful news was told! The king +tore his robes, dashed his golden crown from his head, and hid his face in his +purple mantle for grief and anguish at the loss of the princess. After the +first outburst of wailing, however, he took heart and hurried off to see for +himself the scene of this strange adventure, thinking, as people will in +sorrow, that there might be some mistake after all. But when he reached the +spot, behold, all was changed again! The glittering grotto described to him by +the maidens had completely vanished, and so had the marble bath, the bower of +jasmine; instead, all was a tangle of flowers, as it had been of old. The king +was so much perplexed that he threatened the princess’s playfellows with all +sorts of punishments if they would not confess something about her +disappearance; but as they only repeated the same story he presently put down +the whole affair to the work of some sprite or goblin, and tried to console +himself for his loss by ordering a grand hunt; for kings cannot bear to be +troubled about anything long. +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile the princess was not at all unhappy in the palace of her elfish +lover. +</p> + +<p> +When the water-nymphs, who were hiding in readiness, had caught her and dragged +her out of the sight of her terrified maidens, she herself had not had time to +be frightened. They swam with her quickly by strange underground ways to a +palace so splendid that her father’s seemed but a poor cottage in comparison +with it, and when she recovered from her astonishment she found herself seated +upon a couch, wrapped in a wonderful robe of satin fastened with a silken +girdle, while beside her knelt a young man who whispered the sweetest speeches +imaginable in her ear. The gnome, for he it was, told her all about himself and +his great underground kingdom, and presently led her through the many rooms and +halls of the palace, and showed her the rare and wonderful things displayed in +them till she was fairly dazzled at the sight of so much splendour. On three +sides of the castle lay a lovely garden with masses of gay, sweet flowers, and +velvet lawns all cool and shady, which pleased the eye of the princess. The +fruit trees were hung with golden and rosy apples, and nightingales sang in +every bush, as the gnome and the princess wandered in the leafy alleys, +sometimes gazing at the moon, sometimes pausing to gather the rarest flowers +for her adornment. And all the time he was thinking to himself that never, +during the hundreds of years he had lived, had he seen so charming a maiden. +But the princess felt no such happiness; in spite of all the magic delights +around her she was sad, though she tried to seem content for fear of +displeasing the gnome. However, he soon perceived her melancholy, and in a +thousand ways strove to dispel the cloud, but in vain. At last he said to +himself: “Men are sociable creatures, like bees or ants. Doubtless this lovely +mortal is pining for company. Who is there I can find for her to talk to?” +</p> + +<p> +Thereupon he hastened into the nearest field and dug up a dozen or so of +different roots—carrots, turnips, and radishes—and laying them carefully in an +elegant basket brought them to the princess, who sat pensive in the shade of +the rose-bower. +</p> + +<p> +“Loveliest daughter of earth,” said the gnome, “banish all sorrow; no more +shall you be lonely in my dwelling. In this basket is all you need to make this +spot delightful to you. Take this little many-coloured wand, and with a touch +give to each root the form you desire to see.” +</p> + +<p> +With this he left her, and the princess, without an instant’s delay, opened the +basket, and touching a turnip, cried eagerly: “Brunhilda, my dear Brunhilda! +come to me quickly!” And sure enough there was Brunhilda, joyfully hugging and +kissing her beloved princess, and chattering as gaily as in the old days. +</p> + +<p> +This sudden appearance was so delightful that the princess could hardly believe +her own eyes, and was quite beside herself with the joy of having her dear +playfellow with her once more. Hand in hand they wandered about the enchanted +garden, and gathered the golden apples from the trees, and when they were tired +of this amusement the princess led her friend through all the wonderful rooms +of the palace, until at last they came to the one in which were kept all the +marvellous dresses and ornaments the gnome had given to his hoped-for bride. +There they found so much to amuse them that the hours passed like minutes. +Veils, girdles, and necklaces were tried on and admired, the imitation +Brunhilda knew so well how to behave herself, and showed so much taste that +nobody would ever have suspected that she was nothing but a turnip after all. +The gnome, who had secretly been keeping an eye upon them, was very pleased +with himself for having so well understood the heart of a woman; and the +princess seemed to him even more charming than before. She did not forget to +touch the rest of the roots with her magic wand, and soon had all her maidens +about her, and even, as she had two tiny radishes to spare, her favourite cat, +and her little dog whose name was Beni. +</p> + +<p> +And now all went cheerfully in the castle. The princess gave to each of the +maidens her task, and never was mistress better served. For a whole week she +enjoyed the delight of her pleasant company undisturbed. They all sang, they +danced, they played from morning to night; only the princess noticed that day +by day the fresh young faces of her maidens grew pale and wan, and the mirror +in the great marble hall showed her that she alone still kept her rosy bloom, +while Brunhilda and the rest faded visibly. They assured her that all was well +with them; but, nevertheless, they continued to waste away, and day by day it +became harder to them to take part in the games of the princess, till at last, +one fine morning, when the princess started from bed and hastened out to join +her gay playfellows, she shuddered and started back at the sight of a group of +shrivelled crones, with bent backs and trembling limbs, who supported their +tottering steps with staves and crutches, and coughed dismally. A little nearer +to the hearth lay the once frolicsome Beni, with all four feet stretched +stiffly out, while the sleek cat seemed too weak to raise his head from his +velvet cushion. +</p> + +<p> +The horrified princess fled to the door to escape from the sight of this +mournful company, and called loudly for the gnome, who appeared at once, humbly +anxious to do her bidding. +</p> + +<p> +“Malicious Sprite,” she cried, “why do you begrudge me my playmates—the +greatest delight of my lonely hours? Isn’t this solitary life in such a desert +bad enough without your turning the castle into a hospital for the aged? Give +my maidens back their youth and health this very minute, or I will never love +you!” +</p> + +<p> +“Sweetest and fairest of damsels,” cried the gnome, “do not be angry; +everything that is in my power I will do—but do not ask the impossible. So long +as the sap was fresh in the roots the magic staff could keep them in the forms +you desired, but as the sap dried up they withered away. But never trouble +yourself about that, dearest one, a basket of fresh turnips will soon set +matters right, and you can speedily call up again every form you wish to see. +The great green patch in the garden will provide you with a more lively +company.” +</p> + +<p> +So saying the gnome took himself off. And the princess with her magic wand +touched the wrinkled old women, and left them the withered roots they really +were, to be thrown upon the rubbish heap; and with light feet skipped off +across to the meadow to take possession of the freshly filled basket. But to +her surprise she could not find it anywhere. Up and down the garden she +searched, spying into every corner, but not a sign of it was to be found. By +the trellis of grape vines she met the gnome, who was so much embarrassed at +the sight of her that she became aware of his confusion while he was still +quite a long way off. +</p> + +<p> +“You are trying to tease me,” she cried, as soon as she saw him. “Where have +you hidden the basket? I have been looking for it at least an hour.” +</p> + +<p> +“Dear queen of my heart,” answered he, “I pray you to forgive my carelessness. +I promised more than I could perform. I have sought all over the land for the +roots you desire; but they are gathered in, and lie drying in musty cellars, +and the fields are bare and desolate, for below in the valley winter reigns, +only here in your presence spring is held fast, and wherever your foot is set +the gay flowers bloom. Have patience for a little, and then without fail you +shall have your puppets to play with.” +</p> + +<p> +Almost before the gnome had finished, the disappointed princess turned away, +and marched off to her own apartments, without deigning to answer him. +</p> + +<p> +The gnome, however, set off above ground as speedily as possible, and +disguising himself as a farmer, bought an ass in the nearest market-town, and +brought it back loaded with sacks of turnip, carrot, and radish seed. With this +he sowed a great field, and sent a vast army of his goblins to watch and tend +it, and to bring up the fiery rivers from the heart of the earth near enough to +warm and encourage the sprouting seeds. Thus fostered they grew and flourished +marvellously, and promised a goodly crop. +</p> + +<p> +The princess wandered about the field day by day, no other plants or fruits in +all her wonderful garden pleased her as much as these roots; but still her eyes +were full of discontent. And, best of all, she loved to while away the hours in +a shady fir-wood, seated upon the bank of a little stream, into which she would +cast the flowers she had gathered and watch them float away. +</p> + +<p> +The gnome tried hard by every means in his power to please the princess and win +her love, but little did he guess the real reason of his lack of success. He +imagined that she was too young and inexperienced to care for him; but that was +a mistake, for the truth was that another image already filled her heart. The +young Prince Ratibor, whose lands joined her father’s, had won the heart of the +princess; and the lovers had been looking forward to the coming of their +wedding-day when the bride’s mysterious disappearance took place. The sad news +drove Ratibor distracted, and as the days went on, and nothing could be heard +of the princess, he forsook his castle and the society of men, and spent his +days in the wild forests, roaming about and crying her name aloud to the trees +and rocks. Meanwhile, the maiden, in her gorgeous prison, sighed in secret over +her grief, not wishing to arouse the gnome’s suspicions. In her own mind she +was wondering if by any means she might escape from her captivity, and at last +she hit upon a plan. +</p> + +<p> +By this time spring once more reigned in the valley, and the gnome sent the +fires back to their places in the deeps of the earth, for the roots which they +had kept warm through all the cruel winter had now come to their full size. +Day by day the princess pulled up some of them, and made experiments with them, +conjuring up now this longed-for person, and now that, just for the pleasure of +seeing them as they appeared; but she really had another purpose in view. +</p> + +<p> +One day she changed a tiny turnip into a bee, and sent him off to bring her +some news of her lover. +</p> + +<p> +“Fly, dear little bee, towards the east,” said she, “to my beloved Ratibor, and +softly hum into his ear that I love him only, but that I am a captive in the +gnome’s palace under the mountains. Do not forget a single word of my greeting, +and bring me back a message from my beloved.” +</p> + +<p> +So the bee spread his shining wings and flew away to do as he was bidden; but +before he was out of sight a greedy swallow made a snatch at him, and to the +great grief of the princess her messenger was eaten up then and there. +</p> + +<p> +After that, by the power of the wonderful wand she summoned a cricket, and +taught him this greeting: +</p> + +<p> +“Hop, little cricket, to Ratibor, and chirp in his ear that I love him only, +but that I am held captive by the gnome in his palace under the mountains.” +</p> + +<p> +So the cricket hopped off gaily, determined to do his best to deliver his +message; but, alas! a long-legged stork who was prancing along the same road +caught him in her cruel beak, and before he could say a word he had disappeared +down her throat. +</p> + +<p> +These two unlucky ventures did not prevent the princess from trying once more. +</p> + +<p> +This time she changed the turnip into a magpie. +</p> + +<p> +“Flutter from tree to tree, chattering bird,” said she, “till you come to +Ratibor, my love. Tell him that I am a captive, and bid him come with horses +and men, the third day from this, to the hill that rises from the Thorny +Valley.” +</p> + +<p> +The magpie listened, hopped awhile from branch to branch, and then darted away, +the princess watching him anxiously as far as she could see. +</p> + +<p> +Now Prince Ratibor was still spending his life in wandering about the woods, +and not even the beauty of the spring could soothe his grief. +</p> + +<p> +One day, as he sat in the shade of an oak tree, dreaming of his lost princess, +and sometimes crying her name aloud, he seemed to hear another voice reply to +his, and, starting up, he gazed around him, but he could see no one, and he had +just made up his mind that he must be mistaken, when the same voice called +again, and, looking up sharply, he saw a magpie which hopped to and fro among +the twigs. Then Ratibor heard with surprise that the bird was indeed calling +him by name. +</p> + +<p> +“Poor chatterpie,” said he; “who taught you to say that name, which belongs to +an unlucky mortal who wishes the earth would open and swallow up him and his +memory for ever?” +</p> + +<p> +Thereupon he caught up a great stone, and would have hurled it at the magpie, +if it had not at that moment uttered the name of the princess. +</p> + +<p> +This was so unexpected that the prince’s arm fell helplessly to his side at the +sound, and he stood motionless. +</p> + +<p> +But the magpie in the tree, who, like all the rest of his family, was not happy +unless he could be for ever chattering, began to repeat the message the +princess had taught him; and as soon as he understood it, Prince Ratibor’s +heart was filled with joy. All his gloom and misery vanished in a moment, and +he anxiously questioned the welcome messenger as to the fate of the princess. +</p> + +<p> +But the magpie knew no more than the lesson he had learnt, so he soon fluttered +away; while the prince hurried back to his castle to gather together a troop of +horsemen, full of courage for whatever might befall. +</p> + +<p> +The princess meanwhile was craftily pursuing her plan of escape. She left off +treating the gnome with coldness and indifference; indeed, there was a look in +her eyes which encouraged him to hope that she might some day return his love, +and the idea pleased him mightily. The next day, as soon as the sun rose, she +made her appearance decked as a bride, in the wonderful robes and jewels which +the fond gnome had prepared for her. Her golden hair was braided and crowned +with myrtle blossoms, and her flowing veil sparkled with gems. In these +magnificent garments she went to meet the gnome upon the great terrace. +</p> + +<p> +“Loveliest of maidens,” he stammered, bowing low before her, “let me gaze into +your dear eyes, and read in them that you will no longer refuse my love, but +will make me the happiest being the sun shines upon.” +</p> + +<p> +So saying he would have drawn aside her veil; but the princess only held it +more closely about her. +</p> + +<p> +“Your constancy has overcome me,” she said; “I can no longer oppose your +wishes. But believe my words, and suffer this veil still to hide my blushes and +tears.” +</p> + +<p> +“Why tears, beloved one?” cried the gnome anxiously; “every tear of yours falls +upon my heart like a drop of molten gold. Greatly as I desire your love, I do +not ask a sacrifice.” +</p> + +<p> +“Ah!” cried the false princess, “why do you misunderstand my tears? My heart +answers to your tenderness, and yet I am fearful. A wife cannot always charm, +and though YOU will never alter, the beauty of mortals is as a flower that +fades. How can I be sure that you will always be as loving and charming as you +are now?” +</p> + +<p> +“Ask some proof, sweetheart,” said he. “Put my obedience and my patience to +some test by which you can judge of my unalterable love.” +</p> + +<p> +“Be it so,” answered the crafty maiden. “Then give me just one proof of your +goodness. Go! count the turnips in yonder meadow. My wedding feast must not +lack guests. They shall provide me with bride-maidens too. But beware lest you +deceive me, and do not miss a single one. That shall be the test of your truth +towards me.” +</p> + +<p> +Unwilling as the gnome was to lose sight of his beautiful bride for a moment, +he obeyed her commands without delay, and hurried off to begin his task. He +skipped along among the turnips as nimbly as a grasshopper, and had soon +counted them all; but, to be quite certain that he had made no mistake, he +thought he would just run over them again. This time, to his great annoyance, +the number was different; so he reckoned them for the third time, but now the +number was not the same as either of the previous ones! And this was hardly to +be wondered at, as his mind was full of the princess’s pretty looks and words. +</p> + +<p> +As for the maiden, no sooner was her deluded lover fairly out of sight than she +began to prepare for flight. She had a fine fresh turnip hidden close at hand, +which she changed into a spirited horse, all saddled and bridled, and, +springing upon its back, she galloped away over hill and dale till she reached +the Thorny Valley, and flung herself into the arms of her beloved Prince +Ratibor. +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile the toiling gnome went through his task over and over again till his +back ached and his head swam, and he could no longer put two and two together; +but as he felt tolerably certain of the exact number of turnips in the field, +big and little together, he hurried back eager to prove to his beloved one what +a delightful and submissive husband he would be. He felt very well satisfied +with himself as he crossed the mossy lawn to the place where he had left her; +but, alas! she was no longer there. +</p> + +<p> +He searched every thicket and path, he looked behind every tree, and gazed into +every pond, but without success; then he hastened into the palace and rushed +from room to room, peering into every hole and corner and calling her by name; +but only echo answered in the marble halls—there was neither voice nor +footstep. +</p> + +<p> +Then he began to perceive that something was amiss, and, throwing off the +mortal form that encumbered him, he flew out of the palace, and soared high +into the air, and saw the fugitive princess in the far distance just as the +swift horse carried her across the boundary of his dominions. +</p> + +<p> +Furiously did the enraged gnome fling two great clouds together, and hurl a +thunderbolt after the flying maiden, splintering the rocky barriers which had +stood a thousand years. But his fury was vain, the thunderclouds melted away +into a soft mist, and the gnome, after flying about for a while in despair, +bewailing to the four winds his unhappy fate, went sorrowfully back to the +palace, and stole once more through every room, with many sighs and +lamentations. He passed through the gardens which for him had lost their charm, +and the sight of the princess’s footprints on the golden sand of the pathway +renewed his grief. All was lonely, empty, sorrowful; and the forsaken gnome +resolved that he would have no more dealings with such false creatures as he +had found men to be. +</p> + +<p> +Thereupon he stamped three times upon the earth, and the magic palace, with all +its treasures, vanished away into the nothingness out of which he had called +it; and the gnome fled once more to the depths of his underground kingdom. +</p> + +<p> +While all this was happening, Prince Ratibor was hurrying away with his prize +to a place of safety. With great pomp and triumph he restored the lovely +princess to her father, and was then and there married to her, and took her +back with him to his own castle. +</p> + +<p> +But long after she was dead, and her children too, the villagers would tell the +tale of her imprisonment underground, as they sat carving wood in the winter +nights. +</p> + +<p> +[Volksmärchen der Deutschen.] +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap29"></a> +Story Of The King Who Would Be Stronger Than Fate</h2> + +<p> +Once upon a time, far away in the east country, there lived a king who loved +hunting so much that, when once there was a deer in sight, he was careless of +his own safety. Indeed, he often became quite separated from his nobles and +attendants, and in fact was particularly fond of lonely adventures. Another of +his favourite amusements was to give out that he was not well, and could not be +seen; and then, with the knowledge only of his faithful Grand Wazeer, to +disguise himself as a pedlar, load a donkey with cheap wares, and travel about. +In this way he found out what the common people said about him, and how his +judges and governors fulfilled their duties. +</p> + +<p> +One day his queen presented him with a baby daughter as beautiful as the dawn, +and the king himself was so happy and delighted that, for a whole week, he +forgot to hunt, and spent the time in public and private rejoicing. +</p> + +<p> +Not long afterwards, however, he went out after some deer which were to be +found in a far corner of his forests. In the course of the beat his dogs +disturbed a beautiful snow-white stag, and directly he saw it the king +determined that he would have it at any cost. So he put the spurs to his horse, +and followed it as hard as he could gallop. Of course all his attendants +followed at the best speed that they could manage; but the king was so +splendidly mounted, and the stag was so swift, that, at the end of an hour, the +king found that only his favourite hound and himself were in the chase; all the +rest were far, far behind and out of sight. +</p> + +<p> +Nothing daunted, however, he went on and on, till he perceived that he was +entering a valley with great rocky mountains on all sides, and that his horse +was getting very tired and trembled at every stride. Worse than all evening was +already drawing on, and the sun would soon set. In vain had he sent arrow after +arrow at the beautiful stag. Every shot fell short, or went wide of the mark; +and at last, just as darkness was setting in, he lost sight altogether of the +beast. By this time his horse could hardly move from fatigue, his hound +staggered panting along beside him, he was far away amongst mountains where he +had never been before, and had quite missed his way, and not a human creature +or dwelling was in sight. +</p> + +<p> +All this was very discouraging, but the king would not have minded if he had +not lost that beautiful stag. That troubled him a good deal, but he never +worried over what he could not help, so he got down from his horse, slipped his +arm through the bridle, and led the animal along the rough path in hopes of +discovering some shepherd’s hut, or, at least, a cave or shelter under some +rock, where he might pass the night. +</p> + +<p> +Presently he heard the sound of rushing water, and made towards it. He toiled +over a steep rocky shoulder of a hill, and there, just below him, was a stream +dashing down a precipitous glen, and, almost beneath his feet, twinkling and +flickering from the level of the torrent, was a dim light as of a lamp. Towards +this light the king with his horse and hound made his way, sliding and +stumbling down a steep, stony path. At the bottom the king found a narrow +grassy ledge by the brink of the stream, across which the light from a rude +lantern in the mount of a cave shed a broad beam of uncertain light. At the +edge of the stream sat an old hermit with a long white beard, who neither spoke +nor moved as the king approached, but sat throwing into the stream dry leaves +which lay scattered about the ground near him. +</p> + +<p> +“Peace be upon you,” said the king, giving the usual country salutation. +</p> + +<p> +“And upon you peace,” answered the hermit; but still he never looked up, nor +stopped what he was doing. +</p> + +<p> +For a minute or two the king stood watching him. He noticed that the hermit +threw two leaves in at a time, and watched them attentively. Sometimes both +were carried rapidly down by the stream; sometimes only one leaf was carried +off, and the other, after whirling slowly round and round on the edge of the +current, would come circling back on an eddy to the hermit’s feet. At other +times both leaves were held in the backward eddy, and failed to reach the main +current of the noisy stream. +</p> + +<p> +“What are you doing?” asked the king at last, and the hermit replied that he +was reading the fates of men; every one’s fate, he said, was settled from the +beginning, and, whatever it were, there was no escape from it. The king +laughed. +</p> + +<p> +“I care little,” he said, “what my fate may be; but I should be curious to know +the fate of my little daughter.” +</p> + +<p> +“I cannot say,” answered the hermit. +</p> + +<p> +“Do you not know, then?” demanded the king. +</p> + +<p> +“I might know,” returned the hermit, “but it is not always wisdom to know +much.” +</p> + +<p> +But the king was not content with this reply, and began to press the old man to +say what he knew, which for a long time he would not do. At last, however, the +king urged him so greatly that he said: +</p> + +<p> +“The king’s daughter will marry the son of a poor slave-girl called Puruna, who +belongs to the king of the land of the north. There is no escaping from Fate.” +</p> + +<p> +The king was wild with anger at hearing these words, but he was also very +tired; so he only laughed, and answered that he hoped there would be a way out +of THAT fate anyhow. Then he asked if the hermit could shelter him and his +beasts for the night, and the hermit said “Yes”; so, very soon the king had +watered and tethered his horse, and, after a supper of bread and parched peas, +lay down in the cave, with the hound at his feet, and tried to go to sleep. But +instead of sleeping he only lay awake and thought of the hermit’s prophecy; and +the more he thought of it the angrier he felt, until he gnashed his teeth and +declared that it should never, never come true. +</p> + +<p> +Morning came, and the king got up, pale and sulky, and, after learning from the +hermit which path to take, was soon mounted and found his way home without much +difficulty. Directly he reached his palace he wrote a letter to the king of the +land of the north, begging him, as a favour, to sell him his slave girl Puruna +and her son, and saying that, if he consented, he would send a messenger to +receive them at the river which divided the kingdoms. +</p> + +<p> +For five days he awaited the reply, and hardly slept or ate, but was as cross +as could be all the time. On the fifth day his messenger returned with a letter +to say that the king of the land of the north would not sell, but he would +give, the king the slave girl and her son. The king was overjoyed. He sent for +his Grand Wazeer and told him that he was going on one of his lonely +expeditions, and that the Wazeer must invent some excuse to account for his +absence. Next he disguised himself as an ordinary messenger, mounted a swift +camel, and sped away to the place where the slave girl was to be handed over to +him. When he got there he gave the messengers who brought her a letter of +thanks and a handsome present for their master and rewards for themselves; and +then without delay he took the poor woman and her tiny baby-boy up on to his +camel and rode off to a wild desert. +</p> + +<p> +After riding for a day and a night, almost without stopping, he came to a great +cave where he made the woman dismount, and, taking her and the baby into the +cave, he drew his sword and with one blow chopped her head off. But although +his anger made him cruel enough for anything so dreadful, the king felt that he +could not turn his great sword on the helpless baby, who he was sure must soon +die in this solitary place without its mother; so he left it in the cave where +it was, and, mounting his camel, rode home as fast as he could. +</p> + +<p> +Now, in a small village in his kingdom there lived an old widow who had no +children or relations of any kind. She made her living mostly by selling the +milk of a flock of goats; but she was very, very poor, and not very strong, and +often used to wonder how she would live if she got too weak or ill to attend to +her goats. Every morning she drove the goats out into the desert to graze on +the shrubs and bushes which grew there, and every evening they came home of +themselves to be milked and to be shut up safely for the night. +</p> + +<p> +One evening the old woman was astonished to find that her very best nanny-goat +returned without a drop of milk. She thought that some naughty boy or girl was +playing a trick upon her and had caught the goat on its way home and stolen all +the milk. But when evening after evening the goat remained almost dry she +determined to find out who the thief was. So the next day she followed the +goats at a distance and watched them while they grazed. At length, in the +afternoon, the old woman noticed this particular nanny-goat stealing off by +herself away from the herd and she at once went after her. On and on the goat +walked for some way, and then disappeared into a cave in the rocks. The old +woman followed the goat into the cave and then, what should she see but the +animal giving her milk to a little boy-baby, whilst on the ground near by lay +the sad remains of the baby’s dead mother! Wondering and frightened, the old +woman thought at last that this little baby might be a son to her in her old +age, and that he would grow up and in time to come be her comfort and support. +So she carried home the baby to her hut, and next day she took a spade to the +cave and dug a grave where she buried the poor mother. +</p> + +<p> +Years passed by, and the baby grew up into a find handsome lad, as daring as he +was beautiful, and as industrious as he was brave. One day, when the boy, whom +the old woman had named Nur Mahomed, was about seventeen years old, he was +coming from his day’s work in the fields, when he saw a strange donkey eating +the cabbages in the garden which surround their little cottage. Seizing a big +stick, he began to beat the intruder and to drive him out of his garden. A +neighbour passing by called out to him—“Hi! I say! why are you beating the +pedlar’s donkey like that?” +</p> + +<p> +“The pedlar should keep him from eating my cabbages,” said Nur Mahomed; “if he +comes this evening here again I’ll cut off his tail for him!” +</p> + +<p> +Whereupon he went off indoors, whistling cheerfully. It happened that this +neighbour was one of those people who make mischief by talking too much; so, +meeting the pedlar in the “serai,” or inn, that evening, he told him what had +occurred, and added: “Yes; and the young spitfire said that if beating the +donkey would not do, he would beat you also, and cut your nose off for a +thief!” +</p> + +<p> +A few days later, the pedlar having moved on, two men appeared in the village +inquiring who it was who had threatened to ill-treat and to murder an innocent +pedlar. They declared that the pedlar, in fear of his life, had complained to +the king; and that they had been sent to bring the lawless person who had said +these things before the king himself. Of course they soon found out about the +donkey eating Nur Mahomed’s cabbages, and about the young man’s hot words; but +although the lad assured them that he had never said anything about murdering +anyone, they replied they were ordered to arrest him, and bring him to take his +trial before the king. So, in spite of his protests, and the wails of his +mother, he was carried off, and in due time brought before the king. Of course +Nur Mahomed never guessed that the supposed pedlar happened to have been the +king himself, although nobody knew it. +</p> + +<p> +But as he was very angry at what he had been told, he declared that he was +going to make an example of this young man, and intended to teach him that even +poor travelling pedlars could get justice in HIS country, and be protected from +such lawlessness. However, just as he was going to pronounce some very heavy +sentence, there was a stir in the court, and up came Nur Mahomed’s old mother, +weeping and lamenting, and begging to be heard. The king ordered her to speak, +and she began to plead for the boy, declaring how good he was, and how he was +the support of her old age, and if he were put in prison she would die. The +king asked her who she was. She replied that she was his mother. +</p> + +<p> +“His mother?” said the king; “you are too old, surely, to have so young a son!” +</p> + +<p> +Then the old woman, in her fright and distress, confessed the whole story of +how she found the baby, and how she rescued and brought him up, and ended by +beseeching the king for mercy. +</p> + +<p> +It is easy to guess how, as the story came out, the king looked blacker and +blacker, and more and more grim, until at last he was half fainting with rage +and astonishment. This, then, was the baby he had left to die, after cruelly +murdering his mother! Surely fate might have spared him this! He wished he had +sufficient excuse to put the boy to death, for the old hermit’s prophecy came +back to him as strongly as ever; and yet the young man had done nothing bad +enough to deserve such a punishment. Everyone would call him a tyrant if he +were to give such an order—in fact, he dared not try it! +</p> + +<p> +At length he collected himself enough to say:—“If this young man will enlist in +my army I will let him off. We have need of such as him, and a little +discipline will do him good.” Still the old woman pleaded that she could not +live without her son, and was nearly as terrified at the idea of his becoming a +soldier as she was at the thought of his being put in prison. But at length the +king—determined to get the youth into his clutches—pacified her by promising +her a pension large enough to keep her in comfort; and Nur Mahomed, to his own +great delight, was duly enrolled in the king’s army. +</p> + +<p> +As a soldier Nur Mahomed seemed to be in luck. He was rather surprised, but +much pleased, to find that he was always one of those chosen when any difficult +or dangerous enterprise was afoot; and, although he had the narrowest escapes +on some occasions, still, the very desperateness of the situations in which he +found himself gave him special chances of displaying his courage. And as he was +also modest and generous, he became a favourite with his officers and his +comrades. +</p> + +<p> +Thus it was not very surprising that, before very long, he became enrolled +amongst the picked men of the king’s bodyguard. The fact is, that the king had +hoped to have got him killed in some fight or another; but, seeing that, on the +contrary, he throve on hard knocks, he was now determined to try more direct +and desperate methods. +</p> + +<p> +One day, soon after Nur Mahomed had entered the bodyguard, he was selected to +be one of the soldiers told off to escort the king through the city. The +procession was marching on quite smoothly, when a man, armed with a dagger, +rushed out of an alley straight towards the king. Nur Mahomed, who was the +nearest of the guards, threw himself in the way, and received the stab that had +been apparently intended for the king. Luckily the blow was a hurried one, and +the dagger glanced on is breastbone, so that, although he received a severe +wound, his youth and strength quickly got the better of it. The king was, of +course, obliged to take some notice of this brave deed, and as a reward made +him one of his own attendants. +</p> + +<p> +After this the strange adventures the young man passed through were endless. +Officers of the bodyguard were often sent on all sorts of secret and difficult +errands, and such errands had a curious way of becoming necessary when Nur +Mahomed was on duty. Once, while he was taking a journey, a foot-bridge gave +way under him; once he was attacked by armed robbers; a rock rolled down upon +him in a mountain pass; a heavy stone coping fell from a roof at his feet in a +narrow city alley. Altogether, Nur Mahomed began to think that, somewhere or +other, he had made an enemy; but he was light-hearted, and the thought did not +much trouble him. He escaped somehow every time, and felt amused rather than +anxious about the next adventure. +</p> + +<p> +It was the custom of that city that the officer for the day of the palace +guards should receive all his food direct from the king’s kitchen. One day, +when Nur Mahomed’s turn came to be on duty, he was just sitting down to a +delicious stew that had been sent in from the palace, when one of those gaunt, +hungry dogs, which, in eastern countries, run about the streets, poked his nose +in at the open guard-room door, and looked at Nur Mahomed with mouth watering +and nostrils working. The kind-hearted young man picked out a lump of meat, +went to the door, and threw it outside to him. The dog pounced upon it, and +gulped it down greedily, and was just turning to go, when it staggered, fell, +rolled over, and died. Nur Mahomed, who had been lazily watching him, stood +still for a moment, then he came back whistling softly. He gathered up the rest +of his dinner and carefully wrapped it up to carry away and bury somewhere; and +then he sent back the empty plates. +</p> + +<p> +How furious the king was when, at the next morning’s durbar, Nur Mahomed +appeared before him fresh, alert and smiling as usual. He was determined, +however, to try once more, and bidding the young man come into his presence +that evening, gave orders that he was to carry a secret despatch to the +governor of a distant province. “Make your preparations at once,” added he, +“and be ready to start in the morning. I myself will deliver you the papers at +the last moment.” +</p> + +<p> +Now this province was four or five days’ journey from the palace, and the +governor of it was the most faithful servant the king had. He could be silent +as the grave, and prided himself on his obedience. Whilst he was an old and +tried servant of the king’s, his wife had been almost a mother to the young +princess ever since the queen had died some years before. It happened that, a +little before this time, the princess had been sent away for her health to +another remote province; and whilst she was there her old friend, the +governor’s wife, had begged her to come and stay with them as soon as she +could. +</p> + +<p> +The princess accepted gladly, and was actually staying in the governor’s house +at the very time when the king made up his mind to send Nur Mahomed there with +the mysterious despatch. +</p> + +<p> +According to orders Nur Mahomed presented himself early the next morning at the +king’s private apartments. His best horse was saddled, food placed in is +saddle-bag, and with some money tied up in his waist-band, he was ready to +start. The king handed over to him a sealed packet, desiring him to give it +himself only into the hands of the governor, and to no one else. Nur Mahomed +hid it carefully in his turban, swung himself into the saddle, and five minutes +later rode out of the city gates, and set out on his long journey. +</p> + +<p> +The weather was very hot; but Nur Mahomed thought that the sooner his precious +letter was delivered the better; so that, by dint of riding most of each night +and resting only in the hottest part of the day, he found himself, by noon on +the third day, approaching the town which was his final destination. +</p> + +<p> +Not a soul was to be seen anywhere; and Nur Mahomed, stiff, dry, thirsty, and +tired, looked longingly over the wall into the gardens, and marked the +fountains, the green grass, the shady apricot orchards, and giant mulberry +trees, and wished he were there. +</p> + +<p> +At length he reached the castle gates, and was at once admitted, as he was in +the uniform of the king’s bodyguard. The governor was resting, the soldier +said, and could not see him until the evening. So Nur Mahomed handed over his +horse to an attendant, and wandered down into the lovely gardens he had seen +from the road, and sat down in the shade to rest himself. He flung himself on +his back and watched the birds twittering and chattering in the trees above +him. Through the branches he could see great patches of sky where the kites +wheeled and circled incessantly, with shrill whistling cried. Bees buzzed over +the flowers with a soothing sound, and in a few minutes Nur Mahomed was fast +asleep. +</p> + +<p> +Every day, through the heat of the afternoon, the governor, and his wife also, +used to lie down for two or three hours in their own rooms, and so, for the +matter of that, did most people in the palace. But the princess, like many +other girls, was restless, and preferred to wander about the garden, rather +than rest on a pile of soft cushions. What a torment her stout old attendants +and servants sometime thought her when she insisted on staying awake, and +making them chatter or do something, when they could hardly keep their eyes +open! Sometimes, however, the princess would pretend to go to sleep, and then, +after all her women had gladly followed her example, she would get up and go +out by herself, her veil hanging loosely about her. If she was discovered her +old hostess scolded her severely; but the princess only laughed, and did the +same thing next time. +</p> + +<p> +This very afternoon the princess had left all her women asleep, and, after +trying in vain to amuse herself indoors, she had slipped out into the great +garden, and rambled about in all her favourite nooks and corners, feeling quite +safe as there was not a creature to be seen. Suddenly, on turning a corner, she +stopped in surprise, for before her lay a man fast asleep! In her hurry she had +almost tripped over him. But there he was, a young man, tanned and dusty with +travel, in the uniform of an officer of the king’s guard. One of the few faults +of this lovely princess was a devouring curiosity, and she lived such an idle +life that she had plenty of time to be curious. Out of one of the folds of this +young man’s turban there peeped the corner of a letter! She wondered what the +letter was—whom it was for! She drew her veil a little closer, and stole across +on tip-toe and caught hold of the corner of the letter. Then she pulled it a +little, and just a little more! A great big seal came into view, which she saw +to be her father’s, and at the sight of it she paused for a minute half ashamed +of what she was doing. But the pleasure of taking a letter which was not meant +for her was more than she could resist, and in another moment it was in her +hand. All at once she remembered that it would be death to this poor officer if +he lost the letter, and that at all hazards she must put it back again. But +this was not so easy; and, moreover, the letter in her hand burnt her with +longing to read it, and see what was inside. She examined the seal. It was +sticky with being exposed to the hot sun, and with a very little effort it +parted from the paper. The letter was open and she read it! And this was what +was written: +</p> + +<p> +“Behead the messenger who brings this letter secretly and at once. Ask no +questions.” +</p> + +<p> +The girl grew pale. What a shame! she thought. SHE would not let a handsome +young fellow like that be beheaded; but how to prevent it was not quite clear +at the moment. Some plan must be invented, and she wished to lock herself in +where no one could interrupt her, as might easily happen in the garden. So she +crept softly to her room, and took a piece of paper and wrote upon it: “Marry +the messenger who brings this letter to the princess openly at once. Ask no +questions.” And even contrived to work the seals off the original letter and to +fix them to this, so that no one could tell, unless they examined it closely, +that it had ever been opened. Then she slipped back, shaking with fear and +excitement, to where the young officer still lay asleep, thrust the letter into +the fold so his turban, and hurried back to her room. It was done! +</p> + +<p> +Late in the afternoon Nur Mahomed woke, and, making sure that the precious +despatch was still safe, went off to get ready for his audience with the +governor. As soon as he was ushered into his presence he took the letter from +his turban and placed it in the governor’s hands according to orders. When he +had read it the governor was certainly a little astonished; but he was told in +the letter to “ask no questions,” and he knew how to obey orders. He sent for +his wife and told her to get the princess ready to be married at once. +</p> + +<p> +“Nonsense!” said his wife, “what in the world do you mean?” +</p> + +<p> +“These are the king’s commands,” he answered; “go and do as I bid you. The +letter says ‘at once,’ and ‘ask no questions.’ The marriage, therefore, must +take place this evening.” +</p> + +<p> +In vain did his wife urge every objection; the more she argued, the more +determined was her husband. “I know how to obey orders,” he said, “and these +are as plain as the nose on my face!” So the princess was summoned, and, +somewhat to their surprise, she seemed to take the news very calmly; next Nur +Mahomed was informed, and he was greatly startled, but of course he could but +be delighted at the great and unexpected honour which he thought the king had +done him. Then all the castle was turned upside down; and when the news spread +in the town, THAT was turned upside down too. Everybody ran everywhere, and +tried to do everything at once; and, in the middle of it all, the old governor +went about with his hair standing on end, muttering something about “obeying +orders.” +</p> + +<p> +And so the marriage was celebrated, and there was a great feast in the castle, +and another in the soldiers’ barracks, and illuminations all over the town and +in the beautiful gardens. And all the people declared that such a wonderful +sight had never been seen, and talked about it to the ends of their lives. +</p> + +<p> +The next day the governor despatched the princess and her bridegroom to the +king, with a troop of horsemen, splendidly dressed, and he sent a mounted +messenger on before them, with a letter giving the account of the marriage to +the king. +</p> + +<p> +When the king got the governor’s letter, he grew so red in the face that +everyone thought he was going to have apoplexy. They were all very anxious to +know what had happened, but he rushed off and locked himself into a room, where +he ramped and raved until he was tired. Then, after awhile, he began to think +he had better make the best of it, especially as the old governor had been +clever enough to send him back his letter, and the king was pretty sure that +this was in the princess’s handwriting. He was fond of his daughter, and though +she had behaved badly, he did not wish to cut HER head off, and he did not want +people to know the truth because it would make him look foolish. In fact, the +more he considered the matter, the more he felt that he would be wise to put a +good face on it, and to let people suppose that he had really brought about the +marriage of his own free will. +</p> + +<p> +So, when the young couple arrived, the king received them with all state, and +gave his son-in-law a province to govern. Nur Mahomed soon proved himself as +able and honourable a governor as he was a brave soldier; and, when the old +king died, he became king in his place, and reigned long and happily. +</p> + +<p> +Nur Mahomed’s old mother lived for a long time in her “son’s” palace, and died +in peace. The princess, his wife, although she had got her husband by a trick, +found that she could not trick HIM, and so she never tried, but busied herself +in teaching her children and scolding her maids. As for the old hermit, no +trace of him was ever discovered; but the cave is there, and the leaves lie +thick in front of it unto this day. +</p> + +<p> +[Told the writer by an Indian.] +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap30"></a> +Story of Wali Dâd the Simple-Hearted</h2> + +<p> +Once upon a time there lived a poor old man whose name was Wali Dâd Gunjay, or +Wali Dâd the Bald. He had no relations, but lived all by himself in a little +mud hut some distance from any town, and made his living by cutting grass in +the jungle, and selling it as fodder for horses. He only earned by this five +halfpence a day; but he was a simple old man, and needed so little out of it, +that he saved up one halfpenny daily, and spent the rest upon such food and +clothing as he required. +</p> + +<p> +In this way he lived for many years until, one night, he thought that he would +count the money he had hidden away in the great earthen pot under the floor of +his hut. So he set to work, and with much trouble he pulled the bag out on to +the floor, and sat gazing in astonishment at the heap of coins which tumbled +out of it. What should he do with them all? he wondered. But he never thought +of spending the money on himself, because he was content to pass the rest of +his days as he had been doing for ever so long, and he really had no desire for +any greater comfort or luxury. +</p> + +<p> +At last he threw all the money into an old sack, which he pushed under his +bead, and then, rolled in his ragged old blanket, he went off to sleep. +</p> + +<p> +Early next morning he staggered off with his sack of money to the shop of a +jeweller, whom he knew in the town, and bargained with him for a beautiful +little gold bracelet. With this carefully wrapped up in his cotton waistband he +went to the house of a rich friend, who was a travelling merchant, and used to +wander about with his camels and merchandise through many countries. Wali Dâd +was lucky enough to find him at home, so he sat down, and after a little talk +he asked the merchant who was the most virtuous and beautiful lady he had ever +met with. The merchant replied that the princess of Khaistan was renowned +everywhere as well for the beauty of her person as for the kindness and +generosity of her disposition. +</p> + +<p> +“Then,” said Wali Dâd, “next time you go that way, give her this little +bracelet, with the respectful compliments of one who admires virtue far more +than he desires wealth.” +</p> + +<p> +With that he pulled the bracelet from his waistband, and handed it to his +friend. The merchant was naturally much astonished, but said nothing, and made +no objection to carrying out his friend’s plan. +</p> + +<p> +Time passed by, and at length the merchant arrived in the course of his travels +at the capital of Khaistan. As soon as he had opportunity he presented himself +at the palace, and sent in the bracelet, neatly packed in a little perfumed box +provided by himself, giving at the same time the message entrusted to him by +Wali Dâd. +</p> + +<p> +The princess could not think who could have bestowed this present on her, but +she bade her servant to tell the merchant that if he would return, after he had +finished his business in the city, she would give him her reply. In a few days, +therefore, the merchant came back, and received from the princess a return +present in the shape of a camel-load or rich silks, besides a present of money +for himself. With these he set out on his journey. +</p> + +<p> +Some months later he got home again from his journeyings, and proceeded to take +Wali Dâd the princess’s present. Great was the perplexity of the good man to +find a camel-load of silks tumbled at his door! What was he to do with these +costly things? But, presently, after much thought, he begged the merchant to +consider whether he did not know of some young prince to whom such treasures +might be useful. +</p> + +<p> +“Of course,” cried the merchant, greatly amused; “from Delhi to Baghdad, and +from Constantinople to Lucknow, I know them all; and there lives none worthier +than the gallant and wealthy young prince of Nekabad.” +</p> + +<p> +“Very well, then, take the silks to him, with the blessing of an old man,” said +Wali Dâd, much relieved to be rid of them. +</p> + +<p> +So, the next time that the merchant journeyed that way he carried the silks +with him, and in due course arrived at Nekabad, and sought an audience of the +prince. When he was shown into his presence he produced the beautiful gift of +silks that Wali Dâd had sent, and begged the young man to accept them as a +humble tribute to his worth and greatness. The prince was much touched by the +generosity of the giver, and ordered, as a return present, twelve of the finest +breed of horses for which his country was famous to be delivered over to the +merchant, to whom also, before he took his leave, he gave a munificent reward +for his services. +</p> + +<p> +As before, the merchant at last arrived at home; and next day, he set out for +Wali Dâd’s house with the twelve horses. When the old man saw them coming in +the distance he said to himself: “Here’s luck! a troop of horses coming! They +are sure to want quantities of grass, and I shall sell all I have without +having to drag it to market.” Thereupon he rushed off and cut grass as fast he +could. When he got back, with as much grass as he could possibly carry, he was +greatly discomfited to find that the horses were all for himself. At first he +could not think what to do with them, but, after a little, a brilliant idea +struck him! He gave two to the merchant, and begged him to take the rest to the +princess of Khaistan, who was clearly the fittest person to possess such +beautiful animals. +</p> + +<p> +The merchant departed, laughing. But, true to his old friend’s request, he took +the horses with him on his next journey, and eventually presented them safely +to the princess. This time the princess sent for the merchant, and questioned +him about the giver. Now, the merchant was usually a most honest man, but he +did not quite like to describe Wali Dâd in his true light as an old man whose +income was five halfpence a day, and who had hardly clothes to cover him. So he +told her that his friend had heard stories of her beauty and goodness, and had +longed to lay the best he had at her feet. The princess then took her father +into her confidence, and begged him to advise her what courtesy she might +return to one who persisted in making her such presents. +</p> + +<p> +“Well,” said the king, “you cannot refuse them; so the best thing you can do is +to send this unknown friend at once a present so magnificent that he is not +likely to be able to send you anything better, and so will be ashamed to send +anything at all!” Then he ordered that, in place of each of the ten horses, two +mules laden with silver should be returned by her. +</p> + +<p> +Thus, in a few hours, the merchant found himself in charge of a splendid +caravan; and he had to hire a number of armed men to defend it on the road +against the robbers, and he was glad indeed to find himself back again in Wali +Dâd’s hut. +</p> + +<p> +“Well, now,” cried Wali Dâd, as he viewed all the wealth laid at his door, “I +can well repay that kind prince for his magnificent present of horses; but to +be sure you have been put to great expenses! Still, if you will accept six +mules and their loads, and will take the rest straight to Nekabad, I shall +thank you heartily.” +</p> + +<p> +The merchant felt handsomely repaid for his trouble, and wondered greatly how +the matter would turn out. So he made no difficulty about it; and as soon as he +could get things ready, he set out for Nekabad with this new and princely gift. +</p> + +<p> +This time the prince, too, was embarrassed, and questioned the merchant +closely. The merchant felt that his credit was at stake, and whilst inwardly +determining that he would not carry the joke any further, could not help +describing Wali Dâd in such glowing terms that the old man would never have +known himself had he heard them. The prince, like the king of Khaistan, +determined that he would send in return a gift that would be truly royal, and +which would perhaps prevent the unknown giver sending him anything more. So he +made up a caravan on twenty splendid horses caparisoned in gold embroidered +cloths, with fine morocco saddles and silver bridles and stirrups, also twenty +camels of the best breed, which had the speed of race-horses, and could swing +along at a trot all day without getting tired; and, lastly, twenty elephants, +with magnificent silver howdahs and coverings of silk embroidered with pearls. +To take care of these animals the merchant hired a little army of men; and the +troop made a great show as they travelled along. +</p> + +<p> +When Wali Dâd from a distance saw the cloud of dust which the caravan made, and +the glitter of its appointments, he said to himself: “By Allah! here’s a grand +crowd coming! Elephants, too! Grass will be selling well to-day!” And with that +he hurried off to the jungle and cut grass as fast as he could. As soon as he +got back he found the caravan had stopped at his door, and the merchant was +waiting, a little anxiously, to tell him the news and to congratulate him upon +his riches. +</p> + +<p> +“Riches!” cried Wali Dâd, “what has an old man like me with one foot in the +grave to do with riches? That beautiful young princess, now! She’d be the one +to enjoy all these fine things! Do you take for yourself two horses, two +camels, and two elephants, with all their trappings, and present the rest to +her.” +</p> + +<p> +The merchant at first objected to these remarks, and pointed out to Wali Dâd +that he was beginning to feel these embassies a little awkward. Of course he +was himself richly repaid, so far as expenses went; but still he did not like +going so often, and he was getting nervous. At length, however he consented to +go once more, but he promised himself never to embark on another such +enterprise. +</p> + +<p> +So, after a few days’ rest, the caravan started off once more for Khaistan. +</p> + +<p> +The moment the king of Khaistan saw the gorgeous train of men and beasts +entering his palace courtyard, he was so amazed that he hurried down in person +to inquire about it, and became dumb when he heard that these also were a +present from the princely Wali Dâd, and were for the princess, his daughter. He +went hastily off to her apartments, and said to her: “I tell you what it is, my +dear, this man wants to marry you; that is the meaning of all these presents! +There is nothing for it but that we go and pay him a visit in person. He must +be a man of immense wealth, and as he is so devoted to you, perhaps you might +do worse than marry him!” +</p> + +<p> +The princess agreed with all that her father said, and orders were issued for +vast numbers of elephants and camels, and gorgeous tents and flags, and litters +for the ladies, and horses for the men, to be prepared without delay, as the +king and princess were going to pay a visit to the great and munificent prince +Wali Dâd. The merchant, the king declared, was to guide the party. +</p> + +<p> +The feelings of the poor merchant in this sore dilemma can hardly be imagined. +Willingly would he have run away; but he was treated with so much hospitality +as Wali Dâd’s representative, that he hardly got an instant’s real peace, and +never any opportunity of slipping away. In fact, after a few days, despair +possessed him to such a degree that he made up his mind that all that happened +was fate, and that escape was impossible; but he hoped devoutly some turn of +fortune would reveal to him a way out of the difficulties which he had, with +the best intentions, drawn upon himself. +</p> + +<p> +On the seventh day they all started, amidst thunderous salutes from the +ramparts of the city, and much dust, and cheering, and blaring of trumpets. +</p> + +<p> +Day after day they moved on, and every day the poor merchant felt more ill and +miserable. He wondered what kind of death the king would invent for him, and +went through almost as much torture, as he lay awake nearly the whole of every +night thinking over the situation, as he would have suffered if the king’s +executioners were already setting to work upon his neck. +</p> + +<p> +At last they were only one day’s march from Wali Dâd’s little mud home. Here a +great encampment was made, and the merchant was sent on to tell Wali Dâd that +the King and Princess of Khaistan had arrived and were seeking an interview. +When the merchant arrived he found the poor old man eating his evening meal of +onions and dry bread, and when he told him of all that had happened he had not +the heart to proceed to load him with the reproaches which rose to his tongue. +For Wali Dâd was overwhelmed with grief and shame for himself, for his friend, +and for the name and honour of the princess; and he wept and plucked at his +beard, and groaned most piteously. With tears he begged the merchant to detain +them for one day by any kind of excuse he could think of, and to come in the +morning to discuss what they should do. +</p> + +<p> +As soon as the merchant was gone Wali Dâd made up his mind that there was only +one honourable way out of the shame and distress that he had created by his +foolishness, and that was—to kill himself. So, without stopping to ask any +one’s advice, he went off in the middle of the night to a place where the river +wound along at the base of steep rocky cliffs of great height, and determined +to throw himself down and put an end to his life. When he got to the place he +drew back a few paces, took a little run, and at the very edge of that dreadful +black gulf he stopped short! He COULD not do it! +</p> + +<p> +From below, unseen in the blackness of the deep night shadows, the water roared +and boiled round the jagged rocks—he could picture the place as he knew it, +only ten times more pitiless and forbidding in the visionless darkness; the +wind soughed through the gorge with fearsome sighs, and rustlings and +whisperings, and the bushes and grasses that grew in the ledges of the cliffs +seemed to him like living creatures that danced and beckoned, shadowy and +indistinct. An owl laughed “Hoo! hoo!” almost in his face, as he peered over +the edge of the gulf, and the old man threw himself back in a perspiration of +horror. He was afraid! He drew back shuddering, and covering his face in his +hands he wept aloud. +</p> + +<p> +Presently he was aware of a gentle radiance that shed itself before him. Surely +morning was not already coming to hasten and reveal his disgrace! He took his +hands from before his face, and saw before him two lovely beings whom his +instinct told him were not mortal, but were Peris from Paradise. +</p> + +<p> +“Why do you weep, old man?” said one, in a voice as clear and musical as that +of the bulbul. +</p> + +<p> +“I weep for shame,” replied he. +</p> + +<p> +“What do you here?” questioned the other. +</p> + +<p> +“I came here to die,” said Wali Dâd. And as they questioned him, he confessed +all his story. +</p> + +<p> +Then the first stepped forward and laid a hand upon his shoulder, and Wali Dâd +began to feel that something strange—what, he did not know—was happening to +him. His old cotton rags of clothes were changed to beautiful linen and +embroidered cloth; on his hard, bare feet were warm, soft shoes, and on his +head a great jewelled turban. Round his neck there lay a heavy golden chain, +and the little old bent sickle, which he cut grass with, and which hung in his +waistband, had turned into a gorgeous scimetar, whose ivory hilt gleamed in the +pale light like snow in moonlight. As he stood wondering, like a man in a +dream, the other peri waved her hand and bade him turn and see; and, lo! before +him a noble gateway stood open. And up an avenue of giant place trees the peris +led him, dumb with amazement. At the end of the avenue, on the very spot where +his hut had stood, a gorgeous palace appeared, ablaze with myriads of lights. +Its great porticoes and verandahs were occupied by hurrying servants, and +guards paced to and fro and saluted him respectfully as he drew near, along +mossy walks and through sweeping grassy lawns where fountains were playing and +flowers scented the air. Wali Dâd stood stunned and helpless. +</p> + +<p> +“Fear not,” said one of the peris; “go to your house, and learn that God +rewards the simple-hearted.” +</p> + +<p> +With these words they both disappeared and left him. He walked on, thinking +still that he must be dreaming. Very soon he retired to rest in a splendid +room, far grander than anything he had ever dreamed of. +</p> + +<p> +When morning dawned he woke, and found that the palace, and himself, and his +servants were all real, and that he was not dreaming after all! +</p> + +<p> +If he was dumbfounded, the merchant, who was ushered into his presence soon +after sunrise, was much more so. He told Wali Dâd that he had not slept all +night, and by the first streak of daylight had started to seek out his friend. +And what a search he had had! A great stretch of wild jungle country had, in +the night, been changed into parks and gardens; and if it had not been for some +of Wali Dâd’s new servants, who found him and brought him to the palace, he +would have fled away under the impression that his trouble had sent him crazy, +and that all he saw was only imagination. +</p> + +<p> +Then Wali Dâd told the merchant all that had happened. By his advice he sent an +invitation to the king and princess of Khaistan to come and be his guests, +together with all their retinue and servants, down to the very humblest in the +camp. +</p> + +<p> +For three nights and days a great feast was held in honour of the royal guests. +Every evening the king and his nobles were served on golden plates and from +golden cups; and the smaller people on silver plates and from silver cups; and +each evening each guest was requested to keep the places and cups that they had +used as a remembrance of the occasion. Never had anything so splendid been +seen. Besides the great dinners, there were sports and hunting, and dances, and +amusements of all sorts. +</p> + +<p> +On the fourth day the king of Khaistan took his host aside, and asked him +whether it was true, as he had suspected, that he wished to marry his daughter. +But Wali Dâd, after thanking him very much for the compliment, said that he had +never dreamed of so great an honour, and that he was far too old and ugly for +so fair a lady; but he begged the king to stay with him until he could send for +the Prince of Nekabad, who was a most excellent, brave, and honourable young +man, and would surely be delighted to try to win the hand of the beautiful +princess. +</p> + +<p> +To this the king agreed, and Wali Dâd sent the merchant to Nekabad, with a +number of attendants, and with such handsome presents that the prince came at +once, fell head over ears in love with the princess, and married her at Wali +Dâd’s palace amidst a fresh outburst of rejoicings. +</p> + +<p> +And now the King of Khaistan and the Prince and Princess of Nekabad, each went +back to their own country; and Wali Dâd lived to a good old age, befriending +all who were in trouble and preserving, in his prosperity, the simple-hearted +and generous nature that he had when he was only Wali Dâd Gunjay, the grass +cutter. +</p> + +<p> +[Told the author by an Indian.] +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap31"></a> +Tale of a Tortoise and of a Mischievous Monkey</h2> + +<p> +Once upon a time there was a country where the rivers were larger, and the +forests deeper, than anywhere else. Hardly any men came there, and the wild +creatures had it all to themselves, and used to play all sorts of strange games +with each other. The great trees, chained one to the other by thick flowering +plants with bright scarlet or yellow blossoms, were famous hiding-places for +the monkeys, who could wait unseen, till a puma or an elephant passed by, and +then jump on their backs and go for a ride, swinging themselves up by the +creepers when they had had enough. Near the rivers huge tortoises were to be +found, and though to our eyes a tortoise seems a dull, slow thing, it is +wonderful to think how clever they were, and how often they outwitted many of +their livelier friends. +</p> + +<p> +There was one tortoise in particular that always managed to get the better of +everybody, and many were the tales told in the forest of his great deeds. They +began when he was quite young, and tired of staying at home with his father and +mother. He left them one day, and walked off in search of adventures. In a wide +open space surrounded by trees he met with an elephant, who was having his +supper before taking his evening bath in the river which ran close by. “Let us +see which of us two is strongest,” said the young tortoise, marching up to the +elephant. “Very well,” replied the elephant, much amused at the impertinence of +the little creature; “when would you like the trial to be?” +</p> + +<p> +“In an hour’s time; I have some business to do first,” answered the tortoise. +And he hastened away as fast as his short legs would carry him. +</p> + +<p> +In a pool of the river a whale was resting, blowing water into the air and +making a lovely fountain. The tortoise, however, was too young and too busy to +admire such things, and he called to the whale to stop, as he wanted to speak +to him. “Would you like to try which of us is the stronger?” said he. The whale +looked at him, sent up another fountain, and answered: “Oh, yes; certainly. +When do you wish to begin? I am quite ready.” +</p> + +<p> +“Then give me one of your longest bones, and I will fasten it to my leg. When I +give the signal, you must pull, and we will see which can pull the hardest.” +</p> + +<p> +“Very good,” replied the whale; and he took out one of his bones and passed it +to the tortoise. +</p> + +<p> +The tortoise picked up the end of the bone in his mouth and went back to the +elephant. “I will fasten this to your leg,” said he, “in the same way as it is +fastened to mine, and we must both pull as hard as we can. We shall soon see +which is the stronger.” So he wound it carefully round the elephant’s leg, and +tied it in a firm knot. “Now!” cried he, plunging into a thick bush behind him. +</p> + +<p> +The whale tugged at one end, and the elephant tugged at the other, and neither +had any idea that he had not the tortoise for his foe. When the whale pulled +hardest the elephant was dragged into the water; and when the elephant pulled +the hardest the whale was hauled on to the land. They were very evenly matched, +and the battle was a hard one. +</p> + +<p> +At last they were quite tired, and the tortoise, who was watching, saw that +they could play no more. So he crept from his hiding-place, and dipping himself +in the river, he went to the elephant and said: “I see that you really are +stronger than I thought. Suppose we give it up for to-day?” Then he dried +himself on some moss and went to the whale and said: “I see that you really are +stronger than I thought. Suppose we give it up for to-day?” +</p> + +<p> +The two adversaries were only too glad to be allowed to rest, and believed to +the end of their days that, after all, the tortoise was stronger than either of +them. +</p> + +<p> +A day or two later the young tortoise was taking a stroll, when he met a fox, +and stopped to speak to him. “Let us try,” said he in a careless manner, “which +of us can lie buried in the ground during seven years.” +</p> + +<p> +“I shall be delighted,” answered the fox, “only I would rather that you began.” +</p> + +<p> +“It is all the same to me,” replied the tortoise; “if you come round this way +to-morrow you will see that I have fulfilled my part of the bargain.” +</p> + +<p> +So he looked about for a suitable place, and found a convenient hole at the +foot of an orange tree. He crept into it, and the next morning the fox heaped +up the earth round him, and promised to feed him every day with fresh fruit. +The fox so far kept his word that each morning when the sun rose he appeared to +ask how the tortoise was getting on. “Oh, very well; but I wish you would give +me some fruit,” replied he. +</p> + +<p> +“Alas! the fruit is not ripe enough yet for you to eat,” answered the fox, who +hoped that the tortoise would die of hunger long before the seven years were +over. +</p> + +<p> +“Oh dear, oh dear! I am so hungry!” cried the tortoise. +</p> + +<p> +“I am sure you must be; but it will be all right to-morrow,” said the fox, +trotting off, not knowing that the oranges dropped down the hollow trunk, +straight into the tortoise’s hole, and that he had as many as he could possibly +eat. +</p> + +<p> +So the seven years went by; and when the tortoise came out of his hole he was +as fat as ever. +</p> + +<p> +Now it was the fox’s turn, and he chose his hole, and the tortoise heaped the +earth round, promising to return every day or two with a nice young bird for +his dinner. “Well, how are you getting on?” he would ask cheerfully when he +paid his visits. +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, all right; only I wish you had brought a bird with you,” answered the fox. +</p> + +<p> +“I have been so unlucky, I have never been able to catch one,” replied the +tortoise. “However, I shall be more fortunate to-morrow, I am sure.” +</p> + +<p> +But not many to-morrows after, when the tortoise arrived with his usual +question: “Well, how are you getting on?” he received no answer, for the fox +was lying in his hole quite still, dead of hunger. +</p> + +<p> +By this time the tortoise was grown up, and was looked up to throughout the +forest as a person to be feared for his strength and wisdom. But he was not +considered a very swift runner, until an adventure with a deer added to his +fame. +</p> + +<p> +One day, when he was basking in the sun, a stag passed by, and stopped for a +little conversation. “Would you care to see which of us can run fastest?” asked +the tortoise, after some talk. The stag thought the question so silly that he +only shrugged his shoulders. “Of course, the victor would have the right to +kill the other,” went on the tortoise. “Oh, on that condition I agree,” +answered the deer; “but I am afraid you are a dead man.” +</p> + +<p> +“It is no use trying to frighten me,” replied the tortoise. “But I should like +three days for training; then I shall be ready to start when the sun strikes on +the big tree at the edge of the great clearing.” +</p> + +<p> +The first thing the tortoise did was to call his brothers and his cousins +together, and he posted them carefully under ferns all along the line of the +great clearing, making a sort of ladder which stretched for many miles. This +done to his satisfaction, he went back to the starting place. +</p> + +<p> +The stag was quite punctual, and as soon as the sun’s rays struck the trunk of +the tree the stag started off, and was soon far out of the sight of the +tortoise. Every now and then he would turn his head as he ran, and call out: +“How are you getting on?” and the tortoise who happened to be nearest at that +moment would answer: “All right, I am close up to you.” +</p> + +<p> +Full of astonishment, the stag would redouble his efforts, but it was no use. +Each time he asked: “Are you there?” the answer would come: “Yes, of course, +where else should I be?” And the stag ran, and ran, and ran, till he could run +no more, and dropped down dead on the grass. +</p> + +<p> +And the tortoise, when he thinks about it, laughs still. +</p> + +<p> +But the tortoise was not the only creature of whose tricks stories were told in +the forest. There was a famous monkey who was just as clever and more +mischievous, because he was so much quicker on his feet and with his hands. It +was quite impossible to catch him and give him the thrashing he so often +deserved, for he just swung himself up into a tree and laughed at the angry +victim who was sitting below. Sometimes, however, the inhabitants of the forest +were so foolish as to provoke him, and then they got the worst of it. This was +what happened to the barber, whom the monkey visited one morning, saying that +he wished to be shaved. The barber bowed politely to his customer, and begging +him to be seated, tied a large cloth round his neck, and rubbed his chin with +soap; but instead of cutting off his beard, the barber made a snip at the end +of his tail. It was only a very little bit and the monkey started up more in +rage than in pain. “Give me back the end of my tail,” he roared, “or I will +take one of your razors.” The barber refused to give back the missing piece, so +the monkey caught up a razor from the table and ran away with it, and no one in +the forest could be shaved for days, as there was not another to be got for +miles and miles. +</p> + +<p> +As he was making his way to his own particular palm-tree, where the cocoanuts +grew, which were so useful for pelting passers-by, he met a woman who was +scaling a fish with a bit of wood, for in this side of the forest a few people +lived in huts near the river. +</p> + +<p> +“That must be hard work,” said the monkey, stopping to look; “try my knife—you +will get on quicker.” And he handed her the razor as he spoke. A few days later +he came back and rapped at the door of the hut. “I have called for my razor,” +he said, when the woman appeared. +</p> + +<p> +“I have lost it,” answered she. +</p> + +<p> +“If you don’t give it to me at once I will take your sardine,” replied the +monkey, who did not believe her. The woman protested she had not got the knife, +so he took the sardine and ran off. +</p> + +<p> +A little further along he saw a baker who was standing at the door, eating one +of his loaves. “That must be rather dry,” said the monkey, “try my fish”; and +the man did not need twice telling. A few days later the monkey stopped again +at the baker’s hut. “I’ve called for that fish,” he said. +</p> + +<p> +“That fish? But I have eaten it!” exclaimed the baker in dismay. +</p> + +<p> +“If you have eaten it I shall take this barrel of meal in exchange,” replied +the monkey; and he walked off with the barrel under his arm. +</p> + +<p> +As he went he saw a woman with a group of little girls round her, teaching them +how to dress hair. “Here is something to make cakes for the children,” he said, +putting down his barrel, which by this time he found rather heavy. The children +were delighted, and ran directly to find some flat stones to bake their cakes +on, and when they had made and eaten them, they thought they had never tasted +anything so nice. Indeed, when they saw the monkey approaching not long after, +they rushed to meet him, hoping that he was bringing them some more presents. +But he took no notice of their questions, he only said to their mother: “I’ve +called for my barrel of meal.” +</p> + +<p> +“Why, you gave it to me to make cakes of!” cried the mother. +</p> + +<p> +“If I can’t get my barrel of meal, I shall take one of your children,” answered +the monkey. “I am in want of somebody who can bake my bread when I am tired of +fruit, and who knows how to make cocoanut cakes.” +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, leave me my child, and I will find you another barrel of meal,” wept the +mother. +</p> + +<p> +“I don’t WANT another barrel, I want THAT one,” answered the monkey sternly. +And as the woman stood wringing her hands, he caught up the little girl that he +thought the prettiest and took her to his home in the palm tree. +</p> + +<p> +She never went back to the hut, but on the whole she was not much to be pitied, +for monkeys are nearly as good as children to play with, and they taught her +how to swing, and to climb, and to fly from tree to tree, and everything else +they knew, which was a great deal. +</p> + +<p> +Now the monkey’s tiresome tricks had made him many enemies in the forest, but +no one hated him so much as the puma. The cause of their quarrel was known only +to themselves, but everybody was aware of the fact, and took care to be out of +the way when there was any chance of these two meeting. Often and often the +puma had laid traps for the monkey, which he felt sure his foe could not +escape; and the monkey would pretend that he saw nothing, and rejoice the +hidden puma’s heart by seeming to walk straight into the snare, when, lo! a +loud laugh would be heard, and the monkey’s grinning face would peer out of a +mass of creepers and disappear before his foe could reach him. +</p> + +<p> +This state of things had gone on for quite a long while, when at last there +came a season such as the oldest parrot in the forest could never remember. +Instead of two or three hundred inches of rain falling, which they were all +accustomed to, month after month passed without a cloud, and the rivers and +springs dried up, till there was only one small pool left for everyone to drink +from. There was not an animal for miles round that did not grieve over this +shocking condition of affairs, not one at least except the puma. His only +thought for years had been how to get the monkey into his power, and this time +he imagined his chance had really arrived. He would hide himself in a thicket, +and when the monkey came down to drink—and come he must—the puma would spring +out and seize him. Yes, on this occasion there could be no escape! +</p> + +<p> +And no more there would have been if the puma had had greater patience; but in +his excitement he moved a little too soon. The monkey, who was stooping to +drink, heard a rustling, and turning caught the gleam of two yellow, murderous +eyes. With a mighty spring he grasped a creeper which was hanging above him, +and landed himself on the branch of a tree; feeling the breath of the puma on +his feet as the animal bounded from is cover. Never had the monkey been so near +death, and it was some time before he recovered enough courage to venture on +the ground again. +</p> + +<p> +Up there in the shelter of the trees, he began to turn over in his head plans +for escaping the snares of the puma. And at length chance helped him. Peeping +down to the earth, he saw a man coming along the path carrying on his head a +large gourd filled with honey. +</p> + +<p> +He waited till the man was just underneath the tree, then he hung from a bough, +and caught the gourd while the man looked up wondering, for he was no +tree-climber. Then the monkey rubbed the honey all over him, and a quantity of +leaves from a creeper that was hanging close by; he stuck them all close +together into the honey, so that he looked like a walking bush. This finished, +he ran to the pool to see the result, and, quite pleased with himself, set out +in search of adventures. +</p> + +<p> +Soon the report went through the forest that a new animal had appeared from no +one knew where, and that when somebody had asked his name, the strange creature +had answered that it was Jack-in-the-Green. Thanks to this, the monkey was +allowed to drink at the pool as often as he liked, for neither beast nor bird +had the faintest notion who he was. And if they made any inquiries the only +answer they got was that the water of which he had drunk deeply had turned his +hair into leaves, so that they all knew what would happen in case they became +too greedy. +</p> + +<p> +By-and-by the great rains began again. The rivers and streams filled up, and +there was no need for him to go back to the pool, near the home of his enemy, +the puma, as there was a large number of places for him to choose from. So one +night, when everything was still and silent, and even the chattering parrots +were asleep on one leg, the monkey stole down softly from his perch, and washed +off the honey and the leaves, and came out from his bath in his own proper +skin. On his way to breakfast he met a rabbit, and stopped for a little talk. +</p> + +<p> +“I am feeling rather dull,” he remarked; “I think it would do me good to hunt a +while. What do you say?” +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, I am quite willing,” answered the rabbit, proud of being spoken to by such +a large creature. “But the question is, what shall we hunt?” +</p> + +<p> +“There is no credit in going after an elephant or a tiger,” replied the monkey +stroking his chin, “they are so big they could not possibly get out of your +way. It shows much more skill to be able to catch a small thing that can hide +itself in a moment behind a leaf. I’ll tell you what! Suppose I hunt +butterflies, and you, serpents.” +</p> + +<p> +The rabbit, who was young and without experience, was delighted with this idea, +and they both set out on their various ways. +</p> + +<p> +The monkey quietly climbed up the nearest tree, and ate fruit most of the day, +but the rabbit tired himself to death poking his nose into every heap of dried +leaves he saw, hoping to find a serpent among them. Luckily for himself the +serpents were all away for the afternoon, at a meeting of their own, for there +is nothing a serpent likes so well for dinner as a nice plump rabbit. But, as +it was, the dried leaves were all empty, and the rabbit at last fell asleep +where he was. Then the monkey, who had been watching him, fell down and pulled +his ears, to the rage of the rabbit, who vowed vengeance. +</p> + +<p> +It was not easy to catch the monkey off his guard, and the rabbit waited long +before an opportunity arrived. But one day Jack-in-the-Green was sitting on a +stone, wondering what he should do next, when the rabbit crept softly behind +him, and gave his tail a sharp pull. The monkey gave a shriek of pain, and +darted up into a tree, but when he saw that it was only the rabbit who had +dared to insult him so, he chattered so fast in his anger, and looked so +fierce, that the rabbit fled into the nearest hole, and stayed there for +several days, trembling with fright. +</p> + +<p> +Soon after this adventure the monkey went away into another part of the +country, right on the outskirts of the forest, where there was a beautiful +garden full of oranges hanging ripe from the trees. This garden was a favourite +place for birds of all kinds, each hoping to secure an orange for dinner, and +in order to frighten the birds away and keep a little fruit for himself, the +master had fastened a waxen figure on one of the boughs. +</p> + +<p> +Now the monkey was as fond of oranges as any of the birds, and when he saw a +man standing in the tree where the largest and sweetest oranges grew, he spoke +to him at once. “You man,” he said rudely, “throw me down that big orange up +there, or I will throw a stone at you.” The wax figure took no notice of this +request, so the monkey, who was easily made angry, picked up a stone, and flung +it with all his force. But instead of falling to the ground again, the stone +stuck to the soft wax. +</p> + +<p> +At this moment a breeze shook the tree, and the orange on which the monkey had +set his heart dropped from the bough. He picked it up and ate it every bit, +including the rind, and it was so good he thought he should like another. So he +called again to the wax figure to throw him an orange, and as the figure did +not move, he hurled another stone, which stuck to the wax as the first had +done. Seeing that the man was quite indifferent to stones, the monkey grew more +angry still, and climbing the tree hastily, gave the figure a violent kick. But +like the two stones his leg remained stuck to the wax, and he was held fast. +“Let me go at once, or I will give you another kick,” he cried, suiting the +action to the word, and this time also his foot remained in the grasp of the +man. Not knowing what he did, the monkey hit out, first with one hand and then +with the other, and when he found that he was literally bound hand and foot, he +became so mad with anger and terror that in his struggles he fell to the +ground, dragging the figure after him. This freed his hands and feet, but +besides the shock of the fall, they had tumbled into a bed of thorns, and he +limped away broken and bruised, and groaning loudly; for when monkeys ARE hurt, +they take pains that everybody shall know it. +</p> + +<p> +It was a long time before Jack was well enough to go about again; but when he +did, he had an encounter with his old enemy the puma. And this was how it came +about. +</p> + +<p> +One day the puma invited his friend the stag to go with him and see a comrade, +who was famous for the good milk he got from his cows. The stag loved milk, and +gladly accepted the invitation, and when the sun began to get a little low the +two started on their walk. On the way they arrived on the banks of a river, and +as there were no bridges in those days it was necessary to swim across it. The +stag was not fond of swimming, and began to say that he was tired, and thought +that after all it was not worth going so far to get milk, and that he would +return home. But the puma easily saw through these excuses, and laughed at him. +</p> + +<p> +“The river is not deep at all,” he said; “why, you will never be off your feet. +Come, pluck up your courage and follow me.” +</p> + +<p> +The stag was afraid of the river; still, he was much more afraid of being +laughed at, and he plunged in after the puma; but in an instant the current had +swept him away, and if it had not borne him by accident to a shallow place on +the opposite side, where he managed to scramble up the bank, he would certainly +have been drowned. As it was, he scrambled out, shaking with terror, and found +the puma waiting for him. “You had a narrow escape that time,” said the puma. +</p> + +<p> +After resting for a few minutes, to let the stag recover from his fright, they +went on their way till they came to a grove of bananas. +</p> + +<p> +“They look very good,” observed the puma with a longing glance, “and I am sure +you must be hungry, friend stag? Suppose you were to climb the tree and get +some. You shall eat the green ones, they are the best and sweetest; and you can +throw the yellow ones down to me. I dare say they will do quite well!” The stag +did as he was bid, though, not being used to climbing, it gave him a deal of +trouble and sore knees, and besides, his horns were continually getting +entangled in the creepers. What was worse, when once he had tasted the bananas, +he found them not at all to his liking, so he threw them all down, green and +yellow alike, and let the puma take his choice. And what a dinner he made! When +he had QUITE done, they set forth once more. +</p> + +<p> +The path lay through a field of maize, where several men were working. As they +came up to them, the puma whispered: “Go on in front, friend stag, and just say +‘Bad luck to all workers!’” The stag obeyed, but the men were hot and tired, +and did not think this a good joke. So they set their dogs at him, and he was +obliged to run away as fast as he could. +</p> + +<p> +“I hope your industry will be rewarded as it deserves,” said the puma as he +passed along; and the men were pleased, and offered him some of their maize to +eat. +</p> + +<p> +By-and-by the puma saw a small snake with a beautiful shining skin, lying +coiled up at the foot of a tree. “What a lovely bracelet that would make for +your daughter, friend stag! said he. The stag stooped and picked up the snake, +which bit him, and he turned angrily to the puma. “Why did you not tell me it +would bite?” he asked. +</p> + +<p> +“Is it my fault if you are an idiot?” replied the puma. +</p> + +<p> +At last they reached their journey’s end, but by this time it was late, and the +puma’s comrade was ready for bed, so they slung their hammocks in convenient +places, and went to sleep. But in the middle of the night the puma rose softly +and stole out of the door to the sheep-fold, where he killed and ate the +fattest sheep he could find, and taking a bowl full of its blood, he sprinkled +the sleeping stag with it. This done, he returned to bed. +</p> + +<p> +In the morning the shepherd went as usual to let the sheep out of the fold, and +found one of them missing. He thought directly of the puma, and ran to accuse +him of having eaten the sheep. “I, my good man? What had put it into your head +to think of such a thing? Have I got any blood about me? If anyone has eaten a +sheep it must be my friend the stag.” Then the shepherd went to examine the +sleeping stag, and of course he saw the blood. “Ah! I will teach you how to +steal!” cried he, and he hit the stag such a blow on his skull that he died in +a moment. The noise awakened the comrade above, and he came downstairs. The +puma greeted him with joy, and begged he might have some of the famous milk as +soon as possible, for he was very thirsty. A large bucket was set before the +puma directly. He drank it to the last drop, and then took leave. +</p> + +<p> +On his way home he met the monkey. “Are you fond of milk?” asked he. “I know a +place where you get it very nice. I will show you it if you like.” The monkey +knew that the puma was not so good-natured for nothing, but he felt quite able +to take care of himself, so he said he should have much pleasure in +accompanying his friend. +</p> + +<p> +They soon reached the same river, and, as before, the puma remarked: “Friend +monkey, you will find it very shallow; there is no cause for fear. Jump in and +I will follow.” +</p> + +<p> +“Do you think you have the stag to deal with?” asked the monkey, laughing. “I +should prefer to follow; if not I shall go no further. The puma understood that +it was useless trying to make the monkey do as he wished, so he chose a shallow +place and began to swim across. The monkey waited till the puma had got to the +middle, then he gave a great spring and jumped on his back, knowing quite well +that the puma would be afraid to shake him off, lest he should be swept away +into deep water. So in this manner they reached the bank. +</p> + +<p> +The banana grove was not far distant, and here the puma thought he would pay +the monkey out for forcing him to carry him over the river. “Friend monkey, +look what fine bananas,” cried he. “You are fond of climbing; suppose you run +up and throw me down a few. You can eat the green ones, which are the nicest, +and I will be content with the yellow.” +</p> + +<p> +“Very well,” answered the monkey, swinging himself up; but he ate all the +yellow ones himself, and only threw down the green ones that were left. The +puma was furious and cried out: “I will punch your head for that.” But the +monkey only answered: “If you are gong to talk such nonsense I won’t walk with +you.” And the puma was silent. +</p> + +<p> +In a few minutes more they arrived at the field were the men were reaping the +maize, and the puma remarked as he had done before: “Friend monkey, if you wish +to please these men, just say as you go by: ‘Bad luck to all workers.’ +</p> + +<p> +“Very well,” replied the monkey; but, instead, he nodded and smiled, and said: +“I hope your industry may be rewarded as it deserves.” The men thanked him +heartily, let him pass on, and the puma followed behind him. +</p> + +<p> +Further along the path they saw the shining snake lying on the moss. “What a +lovely necklace for your daughter,” exclaimed the puma. “Pick it up and take it +with you.” +</p> + +<p> +“You are very kind, but I will leave it for you,” answered the monkey, and +nothing more was said about the snake. +</p> + +<p> +Not long after this they reached the comrade’s house, and found him just ready +to go to bed. So, without stopping to talk, the guests slung their hammocks, +the monkey taking care to place his so high that no one could get at him. +Besides, he thought it would be more prudent not to fall asleep, so he only lay +still and snored loudly. When it was quite dark and no sound was to be heard, +the puma crept out to the sheep-fold, killed the sheep, and carried back a bowl +full of its blood with which to sprinkle the monkey. But the monkey, who had +been watching out of the corner of his eye, waited until the puma drew near, +and with a violent kick upset the bowl all over the puma himself. +</p> + +<p> +When the puma saw what had happened, he turned in a great hurry to leave the +house, but before he could do so, he saw the shepherd coming, and hastily lay +down again. +</p> + +<p> +“This is the second time I have lost a sheep,” the man said to the monkey; “it +will be the worse for the thief when I catch him, I can tell you.” The monkey +did not answer, but silently pointed to the puma who was pretending to be +asleep. The shepherd stooped and saw the blood, and cried out: “Ah! so it is +you, is it? then take that!” and with his stick he gave the puma such a blow on +the head that he died then and there. +</p> + +<p> +Then the monkey got up and went to the dairy, and drank all the milk he could +find. Afterwards he returned home and married, and that is the last we heard of +him. +</p> + +<p> +[Adapted from Folk-lore Bresilien.] +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap32"></a> +The Knights of the Fish</h2> + +<p> +Once upon a time there lived an old cobbler who worked hard at his trade from +morning till night, and scarcely gave himself a moment to eat. But, industrious +as he was, he could hardly buy bread and cheese for himself and his wife, and +they grew thinner and thinner daily. +</p> + +<p> +For a long while whey pretended to each other that they had no appetite, and +that a few blackberries from the hedges were a great deal nicer than a good +strong bowl of soup. But at length there came a day when the cobbler could bear +it no longer, and he threw away his last, and borrowing a rod from a neighbour +he went out to fish. +</p> + +<p> +Now the cobbler was as patient about fishing as he had been about cobbling. +From dawn to dark he stood on the banks of the little stream, without hooking +anything better than an eel, or a few old shoes, that even he, clever though he +was, felt were not worth mending. At length his patience began to give way, and +as he undressed one night he said to himself: “Well, I will give it one more +chance; and if I don’t catch a fish to-morrow, I will go and hang myself.” +</p> + +<p> +He had not cast his line for ten minutes the next morning before he drew from +the river the most beautiful fish he had ever seen in his life. But he nearly +fell into the water from surprise, when the fish began to speak to him, in a +small, squeaky voice: +</p> + +<p> +“Take me back to your hut and cook me; then cut me up, and sprinkle me over +with pepper and salt. Give two of the pieces to your wife, and bury two more in +the garden.” +</p> + +<p> +The cobbler did not know what to make of these strange words; but he was wiser +than many people, and when he did not understand, he thought it was well to +obey. His children wanted to eat all the fish themselves, and begged their +father to tell them what to do with the pieces he had put aside; but the +cobbler only laughed, and told them it was no business of theirs. And when they +were safe in bed he stole out and buried the two pieces in the garden. +</p> + +<p> +By and by two babies, exactly alike, lay in a cradle, and in the garden were +two tall plants, with two brilliant shields on the top. +</p> + +<p> +Years passed away, and the babies were almost men. They were tired of living +quietly at home, being mistaken for each other by everybody they saw, and +determined to set off in different directions, to seek adventures. +</p> + +<p> +So, one fine morning, the two brothers left the hut, and walked together to the +place where the great road divided. There they embraced and parted, promising +that if anything remarkable had happened to either, he would return to the +cross roads and wait till his brother came. +</p> + +<p> +The youth who took the path that ran eastwards arrived presently at a large +city, where he found everybody standing at the doors, wringing their hands and +weeping bitterly. +</p> + +<p> +“What is the matter?” asked he, pausing and looking round. And a man replied, +in a faltering voice, that each year a beautiful girl was chosen by lot to be +offered up to a dreadful fiery dragon, who had a mother even worse than +himself, and this year the lot had fallen on their peerless princess. +</p> + +<p> +“But where IS the princess?” said the young man once more, and again the man +answered him: “She is standing under a tree, a mile away, waiting for the +dragon.” +</p> + +<p> +This time the Knight of the Fish did not stop to hear more, but ran off as fast +as he could, and found the princess bathed in tears, and trembling from head to +foot. +</p> + +<p> +She turned as she heard the sound of his sword, and removed her handkerchief +from his eyes. +</p> + +<p> +“Fly,” she cried; “fly while you have yet time, before that monster sees you.” +</p> + +<p> +She said it, and she mean it; yet, when he had turned his back, she felt more +forsaken than before. But in reality it was not more than a few minutes before +he came back, galloping furiously on a horse he had borrowed, and carrying a +huge mirror across its neck. +</p> + +<p> +“I am in time, then,” he cried, dismounting very carefully, and placing the +mirror against the trunk of a tree. +</p> + +<p> +“Give me your veil,” he said hastily to the princess. And when she had unwound +it from her head he covered the mirror with it. +</p> + +<p> +“The moment the dragon comes near you, you must tear off the veil,” cried he; +“and be sure you hide behind the mirror. Have no fear; I shall be at hand.” +</p> + +<p> +He and his horse had scarcely found shelter amongst some rocks, when the flap +of the dragon’s wings could be plainly heard. He tossed his head with delight +at the sight of her, and approached slowly to the place where she stood, a +little in front of the mirror. Then, still looking the monster steadily in the +face, she passed one hand behind her back and snatched off the veil, stepping +swiftly behind the tree as she did so. +</p> + +<p> +The princess had not known, when she obeyed the orders of the Knight of the +Fish, what she expected to happen. Would the dragon with snaky locks be turned +to stone, she wondered, like the dragon in an old story her nurse had told her; +or would some fiery spark dart from the heart of the mirror, and strike him +dead? Neither of these things occurred, but, instead, the dragon stopped short +with surprise and rage when he saw a monster before him as big and strong as +himself. He shook his mane with rage and fury; the enemy in front did exactly +the same. He lashed his tail, and rolled his red eyes, and the dragon opposite +was no whit behind him. Opening his mouth to its very widest, he gave an awful +roar; but the other dragon only roared back. This was too much, and with +another roar which made the princess shake in her shoes, he flung himself upon +his foe. In an instant the mirror lay at his feet broken into a thousand +pieces, but as every piece reflected part of himself, the dragon thought that +he too had been smashed into atoms. +</p> + +<p> +It was the moment for which the Knight of the Fish had watched and waited, and +before the dragon could find out that he was not hurt at all, the young man’s +lance was down his throat, and he was rolling, dead, on the grass. +</p> + +<p> +Oh! what shouts of joy rang through the great city, when the youth came riding +back with the princess sitting behind him, and dragging the horrible monster by +a cord. Everybody cried out that the king must give the victor the hand of the +princess; and so he did, and no one had ever seen such balls and feasts and +sports before. And when they were all over the young couple went to the palace +prepared for them, which was so large that it was three miles round. +</p> + +<p> +The first wet day after their marriage the bridegroom begged the bride to show +him all the rooms in the palace, and it was so big and took so long that the +sun was shining brightly again before they stepped on to the roof to see the +view. +</p> + +<p> +“What castle is that out there,” asked the knight; “it seems to be made of +black marble?” +</p> + +<p> +“It is called the castle of Albatroz,” answered the princess. “It is enchanted, +and no one that has tried to enter it has ever come back.” +</p> + +<p> +Her husband said nothing, and began to talk of something else; but the next +morning he ordered his horse, took his spear, called his bloodhound, and set +off for the castle. +</p> + +<p> +It needed a brave man to approach it, for it made your hair stand on end merely +to look at it; it was as dark as the night of a storm, and as silent as the +grave. But the Knight of the Fish knew no fear, and had never turned his back +on an enemy; so he drew out his horn, and blew a blast. +</p> + +<p> +The sound awoke all the sleeping echoes in the castle, and was repeated now +loudly, now softly; now near, and now far. But nobody stirred for all that. +</p> + +<p> +“Is there anyone inside?” cried the young man in his loudest voice; “anyone who +will give a knight hospitality? Neither governor, nor squire, not even a page?” +</p> + +<p> +“Not even a page!” answered the echoes. But the young man did not heed them, +and only struck a furious blow at the gate. +</p> + +<p> +Then a small grating opened, and there appeared the tip of a huge nose, which +belonged to the ugliest old woman that ever was seen. +</p> + +<p> +“What do you want?” said she. +</p> + +<p> +“To enter,” he answered shortly. “Can I rest here this night? Yes or No?” +</p> + +<p> +“No, No, No!” repeated the echoes. +</p> + +<p> +Between the fierce sun and his anger at being kept waiting, the Knight of the +Fish had grown so hot that he lifted his visor, and when the old woman saw how +handsome he was, she began fumbling with the lock of the gate. +</p> + +<p> +“Come in, come in,” said she, “so fine a gentleman will do us no harm.” +</p> + +<p> +“Harm!” repeated the echoes, but again the young man paid no heed. +</p> + +<p> +“Let us go in, ancient dame,” but she interrupted him. +</p> + +<p> +“You must call me the Lady Berberisca,” she answered, sharply; “and this is my +castle, to which I bid you welcome. You shall live here with me and be my +husband.” But at these words the knight let his spear fall, so surprised was +he. +</p> + +<p> +“I marry YOU? why you must be a hundred at least!” cried he. “You are mad! All +I desire is to inspect the castle and then go.” As he spoke he heard the voices +give a mocking laugh; but the old woman took no notice, and only bade the +knight follow her. +</p> + +<p> +Old though she was, it seemed impossible to tire her. There was no room, +however small, she did not lead him into, and each room was full of curious +things he had never seen before. +</p> + +<p> +At length they came to a stone staircase, which was so dark that you could not +see your hand if you held it up before your face. +</p> + +<p> +“I have kept my most precious treasure till the last,” said the old woman; “but +let me go first, for the stairs are steep, and you might easily break your +leg.” So on she went, now and then calling back to the young man in the +darkness. But he did not know that she had slipped aside into a recess, till +suddenly he put his foot on a trap door which gave way under him, and he fell +down, down, as many good knights had done before him, and his voice joined the +echoes of theirs. +</p> + +<p> +“So you would not marry me!” chuckled the old witch. “Ha! ha! Ha! ha!” +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile his brother had wandered far and wide, and at last he wandered back +to the same great city where the other young knight had met with so many +adventures. He noticed, with amazement, that as he walked through the streets +the guards drew themselves up in line, and saluted him, and the drummers played +the royal march; but he was still more bewildered when several servants in +livery ran up to him and told him that the princess was sure something terrible +had befallen him, and had made herself ill with weeping. At last it occurred to +him that once more he had been taken for his brother. “I had better say +nothing,” thought he; “perhaps I shall be able to help him after all.” +</p> + +<p> +So he suffered himself to be borne in triumph to the palace, where the princess +threw herself into his arms. +</p> + +<p> +“And so you did go to the castle?” she asked. +</p> + +<p> +“Yes, of course I did,” answered he. +</p> + +<p> +“And what did you see there?” +</p> + +<p> +“I am forbidden to tell you anything about it, until I have returned there once +more,” replied he. +</p> + +<p> +“Must you really go back to that dreadful place?” she asked wistfully. “You are +the only man who has ever come back from it.” +</p> + +<p> +“I must,” was all he answered. And the princess, who was a wise woman, only +said: “Well, go to bed now, for I am sure you must be very tired.” +</p> + +<p> +But the knight shook his head. “I have sworn never to lie in a bed as long as +my work in the castle remains standing.” And the princess again sighed, and was +silent. +</p> + +<p> +Early next day the young man started for the castle, feeling sure that some +terrible thing must have happened to his brother. +</p> + +<p> +At the blast of his horn the long nose of the old woman appeared at the +grating, but the moment she caught sight of his face, she nearly fainted from +fright, as she thought it was the ghost of the youth whose bones were lying in +the dungeon of the castle. +</p> + +<p> +“Lady of all the ages,” cried the new comer, “did you not give hospitality to a +young knight but a short time ago?” +</p> + +<p> +“A short time ago!” wailed the voices. +</p> + +<p> +“And how have you ill-treated him?” he went on. +</p> + +<p> +“Ill-treated him!” answered the voices. The woman did not stop to hear more; +she turned to fly; but the knight’s sword entered her body. +</p> + +<p> +“Where is my brother, cruel hag?” asked he sternly. +</p> + +<p> +“I will tell you,” said she; “but as I feel that I am going to die I shall keep +that piece of news to myself, till you have brought me to life again.” +</p> + +<p> +The young man laughed scornfully. “How do you propose that I should work that +miracle?” +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, it is quite easy. Go into the garden and gather the flowers of the +everlasting plant and some of dragon’s blood. Crush them together and boil them +in a large tub of water, and then put me into it.” +</p> + +<p> +The knight did as the old witch bade him, and, sure enough, she came out quite +whole, but uglier than ever. She then told the young man what had become of his +brother, and he went down into the dungeon, and brought up his body and the +bodies of the other victims who lay there, and when they were all washed in the +magic water their strength was restored to them. +</p> + +<p> +And, besides these, he found in another cavern the bodies of the girls who had +been sacrificed to the dragon, and brought them back to life also. +</p> + +<p> +As to the old witch, in the end she died of rage at seeing her prey escape her; +and at the moment she drew her last breath the castle of Albatroz fell into +ruins with a great noise. +</p> + +<p> +[From Cuentos, Oraciones, Adivinas recogidos por Fernan Caballaro.] +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div style='display:block; margin-top:4em'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BROWN FAIRY BOOK ***</div> +<div style='text-align:left'> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +Updated editions will replace the previous one—the old editions will +be renamed. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright +law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, +so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United +States without permission and without paying copyright +royalties. 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