summaryrefslogtreecommitdiff
path: root/540-h/540-h.htm
blob: 24c9e65b0dbac2eafa1758b1521a8378f2e3a9c0 (plain) 
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271
272
273
274
275
276
277
278
279
280
281
282
283
284
285
286
287
288
289
290
291
292
293
294
295
296
297
298
299
300
301
302
303
304
305
306
307
308
309
310
311
312
313
314
315
316
317
318
319
320
321
322
323
324
325
326
327
328
329
330
331
332
333
334
335
336
337
338
339
340
341
342
343
344
345
346
347
348
349
350
351
352
353
354
355
356
357
358
359
360
361
362
363
364
365
366
367
368
369
370
371
372
373
374
375
376
377
378
379
380
381
382
383
384
385
386
387
388
389
390
391
392
393
394
395
396
397
398
399
400
401
402
403
404
405
406
407
408
409
410
411
412
413
414
415
416
417
418
419
420
421
422
423
424
425
426
427
428
429
430
431
432
433
434
435
436
437
438
439
440
441
442
443
444
445
446
447
448
449
450
451
452
453
454
455
456
457
458
459
460
461
462
463
464
465
466
467
468
469
470
471
472
473
474
475
476
477
478
479
480
481
482
483
484
485
486
487
488
489
490
491
492
493
494
495
496
497
498
499
500
501
502
503
504
505
506
507
508
509
510
511
512
513
514
515
516
517
518
519
520
521
522
523
524
525
526
527
528
529
530
531
532
533
534
535
536
537
538
539
540
541
542
543
544
545
546
547
548
549
550
551
552
553
554
555
556
557
558
559
560
561
562
563
564
565
566
567
568
569
570
571
572
573
574
575
576
577
578
579
580
581
582
583
584
585
586
587
588
589
590
591
592
593
594
595
596
597
598
599
600
601
602
603
604
605
606
607
608
609
610
611
612
613
614
615
616
617
618
619
620
621
622
623
624
625
626
627
628
629
630
631
632
633
634
635
636
637
638
639
640
641
642
643
644
645
646
647
648
649
650
651
652
653
654
655
656
657
658
659
660
661
662
663
664
665
666
667
668
669
670
671
672
673
674
675
676
677
678
679
680
681
682
683
684
685
686
687
688
689
690
691
692
693
694
695
696
697
698
699
700
701
702
703
704
705
706
707
708
709
710
711
712
713
714
715
716
717
718
719
720
721
722
723
724
725
726
727
728
729
730
731
732
733
734
735
736
737
738
739
740
741
742
743
744
745
746
747
748
749
750
751
752
753
754
755
756
757
758
759
760
761
762
763
764
765
766
767
768
769
770
771
772
773
774
775
776
777
778
779
780
781
782
783
784
785
786
787
788
789
790
791
792
793
794
795
796
797
798
799
800
801
802
803
804
805
806
807
808
809
810
811
812
813
814
815
816
817
818
819
820
821
822
823
824
825
826
827
828
829
830
831
832
833
834
835
836
837
838
839
840
841
842
843
844
845
846
847
848
849
850
851
852
853
854
855
856
857
858
859
860
861
862
863
864
865
866
867
868
869
870
871
872
873
874
875
876
877
878
879
880
881
882
883
884
885
886
887
888
889
890
891
892
893
894
895
896
897
898
899
900
901
902
903
904
905
906
907
908
909
910
911
912
913
914
915
916
917
918
919
920
921
922
923
924
925
926
927
928
929
930
931
932
933
934
935
936
937
938
939
940
941
942
943
944
945
946
947
948
949
950
951
952
953
954
955
956
957
958
959
960
961
962
963
964
965
966
967
968
969
970
971
972
973
974
975
976
977
978
979
980
981
982
983
984
985
986
987
988
989
990
991
992
993
994
995
996
997
998
999
1000
1001
1002
1003
1004
1005
1006
1007
1008
1009
1010
1011
1012
1013
1014
1015
1016
1017
1018
1019
1020
1021
1022
1023
1024
1025
1026
1027
1028
1029
1030
1031
1032
1033
1034
1035
1036
1037
1038
1039
1040
1041
1042
1043
1044
1045
1046
1047
1048
1049
1050
1051
1052
1053
1054
1055
1056
1057
1058
1059
1060
1061
1062
1063
1064
1065
1066
1067
1068
1069
1070
1071
1072
1073
1074
1075
1076
1077
1078
1079
1080
1081
1082
1083
1084
1085
1086
1087
1088
1089
1090
1091
1092
1093
1094
1095
1096
1097
1098
1099
1100
1101
1102
1103
1104
1105
1106
1107
1108
1109
1110
1111
1112
1113
1114
1115
1116
1117
1118
1119
1120
1121
1122
1123
1124
1125
1126
1127
1128
1129
1130
1131
1132
1133
1134
1135
1136
1137
1138
1139
1140
1141
1142
1143
1144
1145
1146
1147
1148
1149
1150
1151
1152
1153
1154
1155
1156
1157
1158
1159
1160
1161
1162
1163
1164
1165
1166
1167
1168
1169
1170
1171
1172
1173
1174
1175
1176
1177
1178
1179
1180
1181
1182
1183
1184
1185
1186
1187
1188
1189
1190
1191
1192
1193
1194
1195
1196
1197
1198
1199
1200
1201
1202
1203
1204
1205
1206
1207
1208
1209
1210
1211
1212
1213
1214
1215
1216
1217
1218
1219
1220
1221
1222
1223
1224
1225
1226
1227
1228
1229
1230
1231
1232
1233
1234
1235
1236
1237
1238
1239
1240
1241
1242
1243
1244
1245
1246
1247
1248
1249
1250
1251
1252
1253
1254
1255
1256
1257
1258
1259
1260
1261
1262
1263
1264
1265
1266
1267
1268
1269
1270
1271
1272
1273
1274
1275
1276
1277
1278
1279
1280
1281
1282
1283
1284
1285
1286
1287
1288
1289
1290
1291
1292
1293
1294
1295
1296
1297
1298
1299
1300
1301
1302
1303
1304
1305
1306
1307
1308
1309
1310
1311
1312
1313
1314
1315
1316
1317
1318
1319
1320
1321
1322
1323
1324
1325
1326
1327
1328
1329
1330
1331
1332
1333
1334
1335
1336
1337
1338
1339
1340
1341
1342
1343
1344
1345
1346
1347
1348
1349
1350
1351
1352
1353
1354
1355
1356
1357
1358
1359
1360
1361
1362
1363
1364
1365
1366
1367
1368
1369
1370
1371
1372
1373
1374
1375
1376
1377
1378
1379
1380
1381
1382
1383
1384
1385
1386
1387
1388
1389
1390
1391
1392
1393
1394
1395
1396
1397
1398
1399
1400
1401
1402
1403
1404
1405
1406
1407
1408
1409
1410
1411
1412
1413
1414
1415
1416
1417
1418
1419
1420
1421
1422
1423
1424
1425
1426
1427
1428
1429
1430
1431
1432
1433
1434
1435
1436
1437
1438
1439
1440
1441
1442
1443
1444
1445
1446
1447
1448
1449
1450
1451
1452
1453
1454
1455
1456
1457
1458
1459
1460
1461
1462
1463
1464
1465
1466
1467
1468
1469
1470
1471
1472
1473
1474
1475
1476
1477
1478
1479
1480
1481
1482
1483
1484
1485
1486
1487
1488
1489
1490
1491
1492
1493
1494
1495
1496
1497
1498
1499
1500
1501
1502
1503
1504
1505
1506
1507
1508
1509
1510
1511
1512
1513
1514
1515
1516
1517
1518
1519
1520
1521
1522
1523
1524
1525
1526
1527
1528
1529
1530
1531
1532
1533
1534
1535
1536
1537
1538
1539
1540
1541
1542
1543
1544
1545
1546
1547
1548
1549
1550
1551
1552
1553
1554
1555
1556
1557
1558
1559
1560
1561
1562
1563
1564
1565
1566
1567
1568
1569
1570
1571
1572
1573
1574
1575
1576
1577
1578
1579
1580
1581
1582
1583
1584
1585
1586
1587
1588
1589
1590
1591
1592
1593
1594
1595
1596
1597
1598
1599
1600
1601
1602
1603
1604
1605
1606
1607
1608
1609
1610
1611
1612
1613
1614
1615
1616
1617
1618
1619
1620
1621
1622
1623
1624
1625
1626
1627
1628
1629
1630
1631
1632
1633
1634
1635
1636
1637
1638
1639
1640
1641
1642
1643
1644
1645
1646
1647
1648
1649
1650
1651
1652
1653
1654
1655
1656
1657
1658
1659
1660
1661
1662
1663
1664
1665
1666
1667
1668
1669
1670
1671
1672
1673
1674
1675
1676
1677
1678
1679
1680
1681
1682
1683
1684
1685
1686
1687
1688
1689
1690
1691
1692
1693
1694
1695
1696
1697
1698
1699
1700
1701
1702
1703
1704
1705
1706
1707
1708
1709
1710
1711
1712
1713
1714
1715
1716
1717
1718
1719
1720
1721
1722
1723
1724
1725
1726
1727
1728
1729
1730
1731
1732
1733
1734
1735
1736
1737
1738
1739
1740
1741
1742
1743
1744
1745
1746
1747
1748
1749
1750
1751
1752
1753
1754
1755
1756
1757
1758
1759
1760
1761
1762
1763
1764
1765
1766
1767
1768
1769
1770
1771
1772
1773
1774
1775
1776
1777
1778
1779
1780
1781
1782
1783
1784
1785
1786
1787
1788
1789
1790
1791
1792
1793
1794
1795
1796
1797
1798
1799
1800
1801
1802
1803
1804
1805
1806
1807
1808
1809
1810
1811
1812
1813
1814
1815
1816
1817
1818
1819
1820
1821
1822
1823
1824
1825
1826
1827
1828
1829
1830
1831
1832
1833
1834
1835
1836
1837
1838
1839
1840
1841
1842
1843
1844
1845
1846
1847
1848
1849
1850
1851
1852
1853
1854
1855
1856
1857
1858
1859
1860
1861
1862
1863
1864
1865
1866
1867
1868
1869
1870
1871
1872
1873
1874
1875
1876
1877
1878
1879
1880
1881
1882
1883
1884
1885
1886
1887
1888
1889
1890
1891
1892
1893
1894
1895
1896
1897
1898
1899
1900
1901
1902
1903
1904
1905
1906
1907
1908
1909
1910
1911
1912
1913
1914
1915
1916
1917
1918
1919
1920
1921
1922
1923
1924
1925
1926
1927
1928
1929
1930
1931
1932
1933
1934
1935
1936
1937
1938
1939
1940
1941
1942
1943
1944
1945
1946
1947
1948
1949
1950
1951
1952
1953
1954
1955
1956
1957
1958
1959
1960
1961
1962
1963
1964
1965
1966
1967
1968
1969
1970
1971
1972
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
2027
2028
2029
2030
2031
2032
2033
2034
2035
2036
2037
2038
2039
2040
2041
2042
2043
2044
2045
2046
2047
2048
2049
2050
2051
2052
2053
2054
2055
2056
2057
2058
2059
2060
2061
2062
2063
2064
2065
2066
2067
2068
2069
2070
2071
2072
2073
2074
2075
2076
2077
2078
2079
2080
2081
2082
2083
2084
2085
2086
2087
2088
2089
2090
2091
2092
2093
2094
2095
2096
2097
2098
2099
2100
2101
2102
2103
2104
2105
2106
2107
2108
2109
2110
2111
2112
2113
2114
2115
2116
2117
2118
2119
2120
2121
2122
2123
2124
2125
2126
2127
2128
2129
2130
2131
2132
2133
2134
2135
2136
2137
2138
2139
2140
2141
2142
2143
2144
2145
2146
2147
2148
2149
2150
2151
2152
2153
2154
2155
2156
2157
2158
2159
2160
2161
2162
2163
2164
2165
2166
2167
2168
2169
2170
2171
2172
2173
2174
2175
2176
2177
2178
2179
2180
2181
2182
2183
2184
2185
2186
2187
2188
2189
2190
2191
2192
2193
2194
2195
2196
2197
2198
2199
2200
2201
2202
2203
2204
2205
2206
2207
2208
2209
2210
2211
2212
2213
2214
2215
2216
2217
2218
2219
2220
2221
2222
2223
2224
2225
2226
2227
2228
2229
2230
2231
2232
2233
2234
2235
2236
2237
2238
2239
2240
2241
2242
2243
2244
2245
2246
2247
2248
2249
2250
2251
2252
2253
2254
2255
2256
2257
2258
2259
2260
2261
2262
2263
2264
2265
2266
2267
2268
2269
2270
2271
2272
2273
2274
2275
2276
2277
2278
2279
2280
2281
2282
2283
2284
2285
2286
2287
2288
2289
2290
2291
2292
2293
2294
2295
2296
2297
2298
2299
2300
2301
2302
2303
2304
2305
2306
2307
2308
2309
2310
2311
2312
2313
2314
2315
2316
2317
2318
2319
2320
2321
2322
2323
2324
2325
2326
2327
2328
2329
2330
2331
2332
2333
2334
2335
2336
2337
2338
2339
2340
2341
2342
2343
2344
2345
2346
2347
2348
2349
2350
2351
2352
2353
2354
2355
2356
2357
2358
2359
2360
2361
2362
2363
2364
2365
2366
2367
2368
2369
2370
2371
2372
2373
2374
2375
2376
2377
2378
2379
2380
2381
2382
2383
2384
2385
2386
2387
2388
2389
2390
2391
2392
2393
2394
2395
2396
2397
2398
2399
2400
2401
2402
2403
2404
2405
2406
2407
2408
2409
2410
2411
2412
2413
2414
2415
2416
2417
2418
2419
2420
2421
2422
2423
2424
2425
2426
2427
2428
2429
2430
2431
2432
2433
2434
2435
2436
2437
2438
2439
2440
2441
2442
2443
2444
2445
2446
2447
2448
2449
2450
2451
2452
2453
2454
2455
2456
2457
2458
2459
2460
2461
2462
2463
2464
2465
2466
2467
2468
2469
2470
2471
2472
2473
2474
2475
2476
2477
2478
2479
2480
2481
2482
2483
2484
2485
2486
2487
2488
2489
2490
2491
2492
2493
2494
2495
2496
2497
2498
2499
2500
2501
2502
2503
2504
2505
2506
2507
2508
2509
2510
2511
2512
2513
2514
2515
2516
2517
2518
2519
2520
2521
2522
2523
2524
2525
2526
2527
2528
2529
2530
2531
2532
2533
2534
2535
2536
2537
2538
2539
2540
2541
2542
2543
2544
2545
2546
2547
2548
2549
2550
2551
2552
2553
2554
2555
2556
2557
2558
2559
2560
2561
2562
2563
2564
2565
2566
2567
2568
2569
2570
2571
2572
2573
2574
2575
2576
2577
2578
2579
2580
2581
2582
2583
2584
2585
2586
2587
2588
2589
2590
2591
2592
2593
2594
2595
2596
2597
2598
2599
2600
2601
2602
2603
2604
2605
2606
2607
2608
2609
2610
2611
2612
2613
2614
2615
2616
2617
2618
2619
2620
2621
2622
2623
2624
2625
2626
2627
2628
2629
2630
2631
2632
2633
2634
2635
2636
2637
2638
2639
2640
2641
2642
2643
2644
2645
2646
2647
2648
2649
2650
2651
2652
2653
2654
2655
2656
2657
2658
2659
2660
2661
2662
2663
2664
2665
2666
2667
2668
2669
2670
2671
2672
2673
2674
2675
2676
2677
2678
2679
2680
2681
2682
2683
2684
2685
2686
2687
2688
2689
2690
2691
2692
2693
2694
2695
2696
2697
2698
2699
2700
2701
2702
2703
2704
2705
2706
2707
2708
2709
2710
2711
2712
2713
2714
2715
2716
2717
2718
2719
2720
2721
2722
2723
2724
2725
2726
2727
2728
2729
2730
2731
2732
2733
2734
2735
2736
2737
2738
2739
2740
2741
2742
2743
2744
2745
2746
2747
2748
2749
2750
2751
2752
2753
2754
2755
2756
2757
2758
2759
2760
2761
2762
2763
2764
2765
2766
2767
2768
2769
2770
2771
2772
2773
2774
2775
2776
2777
2778
2779
2780
2781
2782
2783
2784
2785
2786
2787
2788
2789
2790
2791
2792
2793
2794
2795
2796
2797
2798
2799
2800
2801
2802
2803
2804
2805
2806
2807
2808
2809
2810
2811
2812
2813
2814
2815
2816
2817
2818
2819
2820
2821
2822
2823
2824
2825
2826
2827
2828
2829
2830
2831
2832
2833
2834
2835
2836
2837
2838
2839
2840
2841
2842
2843
2844
2845
2846
2847
2848
2849
2850
2851
2852
2853
2854
2855
2856
2857
2858
2859
2860
2861
2862
2863
2864
2865
2866
2867
2868
2869
2870
2871
2872
2873
2874
2875
2876
2877
2878
2879
2880
2881
2882
2883
2884
2885
2886
2887
2888
2889
2890
2891
2892
2893
2894
2895
2896
2897
2898
2899
2900
2901
2902
2903
2904
2905
2906
2907
2908
2909
2910
2911
2912
2913
2914
2915
2916
2917
2918
2919
2920
2921
2922
2923
2924
2925
2926
2927
2928
2929
2930
2931
2932
2933
2934
2935
2936
2937
2938
2939
2940
2941
2942
2943
2944
2945
2946
2947
2948
2949
2950
2951
2952
2953
2954
2955
2956
2957
2958
2959
2960
2961
2962
2963
2964
2965
2966
2967
2968
2969
2970
2971
2972
2973
2974
2975
2976
2977
2978
2979
2980
2981
2982
2983
2984
2985
2986
2987
2988
2989
2990
2991
2992
2993
2994
2995
2996
2997
2998
2999
3000
3001
3002
3003
3004
3005
3006
3007
3008
3009
3010
3011
3012
3013
3014
3015
3016
3017
3018
3019
3020
3021
3022
3023
3024
3025
3026
3027
3028
3029
3030
3031
3032
3033
3034
3035
3036
3037
3038
3039
3040
3041
3042
3043
3044
3045
3046
3047
3048
3049
3050
3051
3052
3053
3054
3055
3056
3057
3058
3059
3060
3061
3062
3063
3064
3065
3066
3067
3068
3069
3070
3071
3072
3073
3074
3075
3076
3077
3078
3079
3080
3081
3082
3083
3084
3085
3086
3087
3088
3089
3090
3091
3092
3093
3094
3095
3096
3097
3098
3099
3100
3101
3102
3103
3104
3105
3106
3107
3108
3109
3110
3111
3112
3113
3114
3115
3116
3117
3118
3119
3120
3121
3122
3123
3124
3125
3126
3127
3128
3129
3130
3131
3132
3133
3134
3135
3136
3137
3138
3139
3140
3141
3142
3143
3144
3145
3146
3147
3148
3149
3150
3151
3152
3153
3154
3155
3156
3157
3158
3159
3160
3161
3162
3163
3164
3165
3166
3167
3168
3169
3170
3171
3172
3173
3174
3175
3176
3177
3178
3179
3180
3181
3182
3183
3184
3185
3186
3187
3188
3189
3190
3191
3192
3193
3194
3195
3196
3197
3198
3199
3200
3201
3202
3203
3204
3205
3206
3207
3208
3209
3210
3211
3212
3213
3214
3215
3216
3217
3218
3219
3220
3221
3222
3223
3224
3225
3226
3227
3228
3229
3230
3231
3232
3233
3234
3235
3236
3237
3238
3239
3240
3241
3242
3243
3244
3245
3246
3247
3248
3249
3250
3251
3252
3253
3254
3255
3256
3257
3258
3259
3260
3261
3262
3263
3264
3265
3266
3267
3268
3269
3270
3271
3272
3273
3274
3275
3276
3277
3278
3279
3280
3281
3282
3283
3284
3285
3286
3287
3288
3289
3290
3291
3292
3293
3294
3295
3296
3297
3298
3299
3300
3301
3302
3303
3304
3305
3306
3307
3308
3309
3310
3311
3312
3313
3314
3315
3316
3317
3318
3319
3320
3321
3322
3323
3324
3325
3326
3327
3328
3329
3330
3331
3332
3333
3334
3335
3336
3337
3338
3339
3340
3341
3342
3343
3344
3345
3346
3347
3348
3349
3350
3351
3352
3353
3354
3355
3356
3357
3358
3359
3360
3361
3362
3363
3364
3365
3366
3367
3368
3369
3370
3371
3372
3373
3374
3375
3376
3377
3378
3379
3380
3381
3382
3383
3384
3385
3386
3387
3388
3389
3390
3391
3392
3393
3394
3395
3396
3397
3398
3399
3400
3401
3402
3403
3404
3405
3406
3407
3408
3409
3410
3411
3412
3413
3414
3415
3416
3417
3418
3419
3420
3421
3422
3423
3424
3425
3426
3427
3428
3429
3430
3431
3432
3433
3434
3435
3436
3437
3438
3439
3440
3441
3442
3443
3444
3445
3446
3447
3448
3449
3450
3451
3452
3453
3454
3455
3456
3457
3458
3459
3460
3461
3462
3463
3464
3465
3466
3467
3468
3469
3470
3471
3472
3473
3474
3475
3476
3477
3478
3479
3480
3481
3482
3483
3484
3485
3486
3487
3488
3489
3490
3491
3492
3493
3494
3495
3496
3497
3498
3499
3500
3501
3502
3503
3504
3505
3506
3507
3508
3509
3510
3511
3512
3513
3514
3515
3516
3517
3518
3519
3520
3521
3522
3523
3524
3525
3526
3527
3528
3529
3530
3531
3532
3533
3534
3535
3536
3537
3538
3539
3540
3541
3542
3543
3544
3545
3546
3547
3548
3549
3550
3551
3552
3553
3554
3555
3556
3557
3558
3559
3560
3561
3562
3563
3564
3565
3566
3567
3568
3569
3570
3571
3572
3573
3574
3575
3576
3577
3578
3579
3580
3581
3582
3583
3584
3585
3586
3587
3588
3589
3590
3591
3592
3593
3594
3595
3596
3597
3598
3599
3600
3601
3602
3603
3604
3605
3606
3607
3608
3609
3610
3611
3612
3613
3614
3615
3616
3617
3618
3619
3620
3621
3622
3623
3624
3625
3626
3627
3628
3629
3630
3631
3632
3633
3634
3635
3636
3637
3638
3639
3640
3641
3642
3643
3644
3645
3646
3647
3648
3649
3650
3651
3652
3653
3654
3655
3656
3657
3658
3659
3660
3661
3662
3663
3664
3665
3666
3667
3668
3669
3670
3671
3672
3673
3674
3675
3676
3677
3678
3679
3680
3681
3682
3683
3684
3685
3686
3687
3688
3689
3690
3691
3692
3693
3694
3695
3696
3697
3698
3699
3700
3701
3702
3703
3704
3705
3706
3707
3708
3709
3710
3711
3712
3713
3714
3715
3716
3717
3718
3719
3720
3721
3722
3723
3724
3725
3726
3727
3728
3729
3730
3731
3732
3733
3734
3735
3736
3737
3738
3739
3740
3741
3742
3743
3744
3745
3746
3747
3748
3749
3750
3751
3752
3753
3754
3755
3756
3757
3758
3759
3760
3761
3762
3763
3764
3765
3766
3767
3768
3769
3770
3771
3772
3773
3774
3775
3776
3777
3778
3779
3780
3781
3782
3783
3784
3785
3786
3787
3788
3789
3790
3791
3792
3793
3794
3795
3796
3797
3798
3799
3800
3801
3802
3803
3804
3805
3806
3807
3808
3809
3810
3811
3812
3813
3814
3815
3816
3817
3818
3819
3820
3821
3822
3823
3824
3825
3826
3827
3828
3829
3830
3831
3832
3833
3834
3835
3836
3837
3838
3839
3840
3841
3842
3843
3844
3845
3846
3847
3848
3849
3850
3851
3852
3853
3854
3855
3856
3857
3858
3859
3860
3861
3862
3863
3864
3865
3866
3867
3868
3869
3870
3871
3872
3873
3874
3875
3876
3877
3878
3879
3880
3881
3882
3883
3884
3885
3886
3887
3888
3889
3890
3891
3892
3893
3894
3895
3896
3897
3898
3899
3900
3901
3902
3903
3904
3905
3906
3907
3908
3909
3910
3911
3912
3913
3914
3915
3916
3917
3918
3919
3920
3921
3922
3923
3924
3925
3926
3927
3928
3929
3930
3931
3932
3933
3934
3935
3936
3937
3938
3939
3940
3941
3942
3943
3944
3945
3946
3947
3948
3949
3950
3951
3952
3953
3954
3955
3956
3957
3958
3959
3960
3961
3962
3963
3964
3965
3966
3967
3968
3969
3970
3971
3972
3973
3974
3975
3976
3977
3978
3979
3980
3981
3982
3983
3984
3985
3986
3987
3988
3989
3990
3991
3992
3993
3994
3995
3996
3997
3998
3999
4000
4001
4002
4003
4004
4005
4006
4007
4008
4009
4010
4011
4012
4013
4014
4015
4016
4017
4018
4019
4020
4021
4022
4023
4024
4025
4026
4027
4028
4029
4030
4031
4032
4033
4034
4035
4036
4037
4038
4039
4040
4041
4042
4043
4044
4045
4046
4047
4048
4049
4050
4051
4052
4053
4054
4055
4056
4057
4058
4059
4060
4061
4062
4063
4064
4065
4066
4067
4068
4069
4070
4071
4072
4073
4074
4075
4076
4077
4078
4079
4080
4081
4082
4083
4084
4085
4086
4087
4088
4089
4090
4091
4092
4093
4094
4095
4096
4097
4098
4099
4100
4101
4102
4103
4104
4105
4106
4107
4108
4109
4110
4111
4112
4113
4114
4115
4116
4117
4118
4119
4120
4121
4122
4123
4124
4125
4126
4127
4128
4129
4130
4131
4132
4133
4134
4135
4136
4137
4138
4139
4140
4141
4142
4143
4144
4145
4146
4147
4148
4149
4150
4151
4152
4153
4154
4155
4156
4157
4158
4159
4160
4161
4162
4163
4164
4165
4166
4167
4168
4169
4170
4171
4172
4173
4174
4175
4176
4177
4178
4179
4180
4181
4182
4183
4184
4185
4186
4187
4188
4189
4190
4191
4192
4193
4194
4195
4196
4197
4198
4199
4200
4201
4202
4203
4204
4205
4206
4207
4208
4209
4210
4211
4212
4213
4214
4215
4216
4217
4218
4219
4220
4221
4222
4223
4224
4225
4226
4227
4228
4229
4230
4231
4232
4233
4234
4235
4236
4237
4238
4239
4240
4241
4242
4243
4244
4245
4246
4247
4248
4249
4250
4251
4252
4253
4254
4255
4256
4257
4258
4259
4260
4261
4262
4263
4264
4265
4266
4267
4268
4269
4270
4271
4272
4273
4274
4275
4276
4277
4278
4279
4280
4281
4282
4283
4284
4285
4286
4287
4288
4289
4290
4291
4292
4293
4294
4295
4296
4297
4298
4299
4300
4301
4302
4303
4304
4305
4306
4307
4308
4309
4310
4311
4312
4313
4314
4315
4316
4317
4318
4319
4320
4321
4322
4323
4324
4325
4326
4327
4328
4329
4330
4331
4332
4333
4334
4335
4336
4337
4338
4339
4340
4341
4342
4343
4344
4345
4346
4347
4348
4349
4350
4351
4352
4353
4354
4355
4356
4357
4358
4359
4360
4361
4362
4363
4364
4365
4366
4367
4368
4369
4370
4371
4372
4373
4374
4375
4376
4377
4378
4379
4380
4381
4382
4383
4384
4385
4386
4387
4388
4389
4390
4391
4392
4393
4394
4395
4396
4397
4398
4399
4400
4401
4402
4403
4404
4405
4406
4407
4408
4409
4410
4411
4412
4413
4414
4415
4416
4417
4418
4419
4420
4421
4422
4423
4424
4425
4426
4427
4428
4429
4430
4431
4432
4433
4434
4435
4436
4437
4438
4439
4440
4441
4442
4443
4444
4445
4446
4447
4448
4449
4450
4451
4452
4453
4454
4455
4456
4457
4458
4459
4460
4461
4462
4463
4464
4465
4466
4467
4468
4469
4470
4471
4472
4473
4474
4475
4476
4477
4478
4479
4480
4481
4482
4483
4484
4485
4486
4487
4488
4489
4490
4491
4492
4493
4494
4495
4496
4497
4498
4499
4500
4501
4502
4503
4504
4505
4506
4507
4508
4509
4510
4511
4512
4513
4514
4515
4516
4517
4518
4519
4520
4521
4522
4523
4524
4525
4526
4527
4528
4529
4530
4531
4532
4533
4534
4535
4536
4537
4538
4539
4540
4541
4542
4543
4544
4545
4546
4547
4548
4549
4550
4551
4552
4553
4554
4555
4556
4557
4558
4559
4560
4561
4562
4563
4564
4565
4566
4567
4568
4569
4570
4571
4572
4573
4574
4575
4576
4577
4578
4579
4580
4581
4582
4583
4584
4585
4586
4587
4588
4589
4590
4591
4592
4593
4594
4595
4596
4597
4598
4599
4600
4601
4602
4603
4604
4605
4606
4607
4608
4609
4610
4611
4612
4613
4614
4615
4616
4617
4618
4619
4620
4621
4622
4623
4624
4625
4626
4627
4628
4629
4630
4631
4632
4633
4634
4635
4636
4637
4638
4639
4640
4641
4642
4643
4644
4645
4646
4647
4648
4649
4650
4651
4652
4653
4654
4655
4656
4657
4658
4659
4660
4661
4662
4663
4664
4665
4666
4667
4668
4669
4670
4671
4672
4673
4674
4675
4676
4677
4678
4679
4680
4681
4682
4683
4684
4685
4686
4687
4688
4689
4690
4691
4692
4693
4694
4695
4696
4697
4698
4699
4700
4701
4702
4703
4704
4705
4706
4707
4708
4709
4710
4711
4712
4713
4714
4715
4716
4717
4718
4719
4720
4721
4722
4723
4724
4725
4726
4727
4728
4729
4730
4731
4732
4733
4734
4735
4736
4737
4738
4739
4740
4741
4742
4743
4744
4745
4746
4747
4748
4749
4750
4751
4752
4753
4754
4755
4756
4757
4758
4759
4760
4761
4762
4763
4764
4765
4766
4767
4768
4769
4770
4771
4772
4773
4774
4775
4776
4777
4778
4779
4780
4781
4782
4783
4784
4785
4786
4787
4788
4789
4790
4791
4792
4793
4794
4795
4796
4797
4798
4799
4800
4801
4802
4803
4804
4805
4806
4807
4808
4809
4810
4811
4812
4813
4814
4815
4816
4817
4818
4819
4820
4821
4822
4823
4824
4825
4826
4827
4828
4829
4830
4831
4832
4833
4834
4835
4836
4837
4838
4839
4840
4841
4842
4843
4844
4845
4846
4847
4848
4849
4850
4851
4852
4853
4854
4855
4856
4857
4858
4859
4860
4861
4862
4863
4864
4865
4866
4867
4868
4869
4870
4871
4872
4873
4874
4875
4876
4877
4878
4879
4880
4881
4882
4883
4884
4885
4886
4887
4888
4889
4890
4891
4892
4893
4894
4895
4896
4897
4898
4899
4900
4901
4902
4903
4904
4905
4906
4907
4908
4909
4910
4911
4912
4913
4914
4915
4916
4917
4918
4919
4920
4921
4922
4923
4924
4925
4926
4927
4928
4929
4930
4931
4932
4933
4934
4935
4936
4937
4938
4939
4940
4941
4942
4943
4944
4945
4946
4947
4948
4949
4950
4951
4952
4953
4954
4955
4956
4957
4958
4959
4960
4961
4962
4963
4964
4965
4966
4967
4968
4969
4970
4971
4972
4973
4974
4975
4976
4977
4978
4979
4980
4981
4982
4983
4984
4985
4986
4987
4988
4989
4990
4991
4992
4993
4994
4995
4996
4997
4998
4999
5000
5001
5002
5003
5004
5005
5006
5007
5008
5009
5010
5011
5012
5013
5014
5015
5016
5017
5018
5019
5020
5021
5022
5023
5024
5025
5026
5027
5028
5029
5030
5031
5032
5033
5034
5035
5036
5037
5038
5039
5040
5041
5042
5043
5044
5045
5046
5047
5048
5049
5050
5051
5052
5053
5054
5055
5056
5057
5058
5059
5060
5061
5062
5063
5064
5065
5066
5067
5068
5069
5070
5071
5072
5073
5074
5075
5076
5077
5078
5079
5080
5081
5082
5083
5084
5085
5086
5087
5088
5089
5090
5091
5092
5093
5094
5095
5096
5097
5098
5099
5100
5101
5102
5103
5104
5105
5106
5107
5108
5109
5110
5111
5112
5113
5114
5115
5116
5117
5118
5119
5120
5121
5122
5123
5124
5125
5126
5127
5128
5129
5130
5131
5132
5133
5134
5135
5136
5137
5138
5139
5140
5141
5142
5143
5144
5145
5146
5147
5148
5149
5150
5151
5152
5153
5154
5155
5156
5157
5158
5159
5160
5161
5162
5163
5164
5165
5166
5167
5168
5169
5170
5171
5172
5173
5174
5175
5176
5177
5178
5179
5180
5181
5182
5183
5184
5185
5186
5187
5188
5189
5190
5191
5192
5193
5194
5195
5196
5197
5198
5199
5200
5201
5202
5203
5204
5205
5206
5207
5208
5209
5210
5211
5212
5213
5214
5215
5216
5217
5218
5219
5220
5221
5222
5223
5224
5225
5226
5227
5228
5229
5230
5231
5232
5233
5234
5235
5236
5237
5238
5239
5240
5241
5242
5243
5244
5245
5246
5247
5248
5249
5250
5251
5252
5253
5254
5255
5256
5257
5258
5259
5260
5261
5262
5263
5264
5265
5266
5267
5268
5269
5270
5271
5272
5273
5274
5275
5276
5277
5278
5279
5280
5281
5282
5283
5284
5285
5286
5287
5288
5289
5290
5291
5292
5293
5294
5295
5296
5297
5298
5299
5300
5301
5302
5303
5304
5305
5306
5307
5308
5309
5310
5311
5312
5313
5314
5315
5316
5317
5318
5319
5320
5321
5322
5323
5324
5325
5326
5327
5328
5329
5330
5331
5332
5333
5334
5335
5336
5337
5338
5339
5340
5341
5342
5343
5344
5345
5346
5347
5348
5349
5350
5351
5352
5353
5354
5355
5356
5357
5358
5359
5360
5361
5362
5363
5364
5365
5366
5367
5368
5369
5370
5371
5372
5373
5374
5375
5376
5377
5378
5379
5380
5381
5382
5383
5384
5385
5386
5387
5388
5389
5390
5391
5392
5393
5394
5395
5396
5397
5398
5399
5400
5401
5402
5403
5404
5405
5406
5407
5408
5409
5410
5411
5412
5413
5414
5415
5416
5417
5418
5419
5420
5421
5422
5423
5424
5425
5426
5427
5428
5429
5430
5431
5432
5433
5434
5435
5436
5437
5438
5439
5440
5441
5442
5443
5444
5445
5446
5447
5448
5449
5450
5451
5452
5453
5454
5455
5456
5457
5458
5459
5460
5461
5462
5463
5464
5465
5466
5467
5468
5469
5470
5471
5472
5473
5474
5475
5476
5477
5478
5479
5480
5481
5482
5483
5484
5485
5486
5487
5488
5489
5490
5491
5492
5493
5494
5495
5496
5497
5498
5499
5500
5501
5502
5503
5504
5505
5506
5507
5508
5509
5510
5511
5512
5513
5514
5515
5516
5517
5518
5519
5520
5521
5522
5523
5524
5525
5526
5527
5528
5529
5530
5531
5532
5533
5534
5535
5536
5537
5538
5539
5540
5541
5542
5543
5544
5545
5546
5547
5548
5549
5550
5551
5552
5553
5554
5555
5556
5557
5558
5559
5560
5561
5562
5563
5564
5565
5566
5567
5568
5569
5570
5571
5572
5573
5574
5575
5576
5577
5578
5579
5580
5581
5582
5583
5584
5585
5586
5587
5588
5589
5590
5591
5592
5593
5594
5595
5596
5597
5598
5599
5600
5601
5602
5603
5604
5605
5606
5607
5608
5609
5610
5611
5612
5613
5614
5615
5616
5617
5618
5619
5620
5621
5622
5623
5624
5625
5626
5627
5628
5629
5630
5631
5632
5633
5634
5635
5636
5637
5638
5639
5640
5641
5642
5643
5644
5645
5646
5647
5648
5649
5650
5651
5652
5653
5654
5655
5656
5657
5658
5659
5660
5661
5662
5663
5664
5665
5666
5667
5668
5669
5670
5671
5672
5673
5674
5675
5676
5677
5678
5679
5680
5681
5682
5683
5684
5685
5686
5687
5688
5689
5690
5691
5692
5693
5694
5695
5696
5697
5698
5699
5700
5701
5702
5703
5704
5705
5706
5707
5708
5709
5710
5711
5712
5713
5714
5715
5716
5717
5718
5719
5720
5721
5722
5723
5724
5725
5726
5727
5728
5729
5730
5731
5732
5733
5734
5735
5736
5737
5738
5739
5740
5741
5742
5743
5744
5745
5746
5747
5748
5749
5750
5751
5752
5753
5754
5755
5756
5757
5758
5759
5760
5761
5762
5763
5764
5765
5766
5767
5768
5769
5770
5771
5772
5773
5774
5775
5776
5777
5778
5779
5780
5781
5782
5783
5784
5785
5786
5787
5788
5789
5790
5791
5792
5793
5794
5795
5796
5797
5798
5799
5800
5801
5802
5803
5804
5805
5806
5807
5808
5809
5810
5811
5812
5813
5814
5815
5816
5817
5818
5819
5820
5821
5822
5823
5824
5825
5826
5827
5828
5829
5830
5831
5832
5833
5834
5835
5836
5837
5838
5839
5840
5841
5842
5843
5844
5845
5846
5847
5848
5849
5850
5851
5852
5853
5854
5855
5856
5857
5858
5859
5860
5861
5862
5863
5864
5865
5866
5867
5868
5869
5870
5871
5872
5873
5874
5875
5876
5877
5878
5879
5880
5881
5882
5883
5884
5885
5886
5887
5888
5889
5890
5891
5892
5893
5894
5895
5896
5897
5898
5899
5900
5901
5902
5903
5904
5905
5906
5907
5908
5909
5910
5911
5912
5913
5914
5915
5916
5917
5918
5919
5920
5921
5922
5923
5924
5925
5926
5927
5928
5929
5930
5931
5932
5933
5934
5935
5936
5937
5938
5939
5940
5941
5942
5943
5944
5945
5946
5947
5948
5949
5950
5951
5952
5953
5954
5955
5956
5957
5958
5959
5960
5961
5962
5963
5964
5965
5966
5967
5968
5969
5970
5971
5972
5973
5974
5975
5976
5977
5978
5979
5980
5981
5982
5983
5984
5985
5986
5987
5988
5989
5990
5991
5992
5993
5994
5995
5996
5997
5998
5999
6000
6001
6002
6003
6004
6005
6006
6007
6008
6009
6010
6011
6012
6013
6014
6015
6016
6017
6018
6019
6020
6021
6022
6023
6024
6025
6026
6027
6028
6029
6030
6031
6032
6033
6034
6035
6036
6037
6038
6039
6040
6041
6042
6043
6044
6045
6046
6047
6048
6049
6050
6051
6052
6053
6054
6055
6056
6057
6058
6059
6060
6061
6062
6063
6064
6065
6066
6067
6068
6069
6070
6071
6072
6073
6074
6075
6076
6077
6078
6079
6080
6081
6082
6083
6084
6085
6086
6087
6088
6089
6090
6091
6092
6093
6094
6095
6096
6097
6098
6099
6100
6101
6102
6103
6104
6105
6106
6107
6108
6109
6110
6111
6112
6113
6114
6115
6116
6117
6118
6119
6120
6121
6122
6123
6124
6125
6126
6127
6128
6129
6130
6131
6132
6133
6134
6135
6136
6137
6138
6139
6140
6141
6142
6143
6144
6145
6146
6147
6148
6149
6150
6151
6152
6153
6154
6155
6156
6157
6158
6159
6160
6161
6162
6163
6164
6165
6166
6167
6168
6169
6170
6171
6172
6173
6174
6175
6176
6177
6178
6179
6180
6181
6182
6183
6184
6185
6186
6187
6188
6189
6190
6191
6192
6193
6194
6195
6196
6197
6198
6199
6200
6201
6202
6203
6204
6205
6206
6207
6208
6209
6210
6211
6212
6213
6214
6215
6216
6217
6218
6219
6220
6221
6222
6223
6224
6225
6226
6227
6228
6229
6230
6231
6232
6233
6234
6235
6236
6237
6238
6239
6240
6241
6242
6243
6244
6245
6246
6247
6248
6249
6250
6251
6252
6253
6254
6255
6256
6257
6258
6259
6260
6261
6262
6263
6264
6265
6266
6267
6268
6269
6270
6271
6272
6273
6274
6275
6276
6277
6278
6279
6280
6281
6282
6283
6284
6285
6286
6287
6288
6289
6290
6291
6292
6293
6294
6295
6296
6297
6298
6299
6300
6301
6302
6303
6304
6305
6306
6307
6308
6309
6310
6311
6312
6313
6314
6315
6316
6317
6318
6319
6320
6321
6322
6323
6324
6325
6326
6327
6328
6329
6330
6331
6332
6333
6334
6335
6336
6337
6338
6339
6340
6341
6342
6343
6344
6345
6346
6347
6348
6349
6350
6351
6352
6353
6354
6355
6356
6357
6358
6359
6360
6361
6362
6363
6364
6365
6366
6367
6368
6369
6370
6371
6372
6373
6374
6375
6376
6377
6378
6379
6380
6381
6382
6383
6384
6385
6386
6387
6388
6389
6390
6391
6392
6393
6394
6395
6396
6397
6398
6399
6400
6401
6402
6403
6404
6405
6406
6407
6408
6409
6410
6411
6412
6413
6414
6415
6416
6417
6418
6419
6420
6421
6422
6423
6424
6425
6426
6427
6428
6429
6430
6431
6432
6433
6434
6435
6436
6437
6438
6439
6440
6441
6442
6443
6444
6445
6446
6447
6448
6449
6450
6451
6452
6453
6454
6455
6456
6457
6458
6459
6460
6461
6462
6463
6464
6465
6466
6467
6468
6469
6470
6471
6472
6473
6474
6475
6476
6477
6478
6479
6480
6481
6482
6483
6484
6485
6486
6487
6488
6489
6490
6491
6492
6493
6494
6495
6496
6497
6498
6499
6500
6501
6502
6503
6504
6505
6506
6507
6508
6509
6510
6511
6512
6513
6514
6515
6516
6517
6518
6519
6520
6521
6522
6523
6524
6525
6526
6527
6528
6529
6530
6531
6532
6533
6534
6535
6536
6537
6538
6539
6540
6541
6542
6543
6544
6545
6546
6547
6548
6549
6550
6551
6552
6553
6554
6555
6556
6557
6558
6559
6560
6561
6562
6563
6564
6565
6566
6567
6568
6569
6570
6571
6572
6573
6574
6575
6576
6577
6578
6579
6580
6581
6582
6583
6584
6585
6586
6587
6588
6589
6590
6591
6592
6593
6594
6595
6596
6597
6598
6599
6600
6601
6602
6603
6604
6605
6606
6607
6608
6609
6610
6611
6612
6613
6614
6615
6616
6617
6618
6619
6620
6621
6622
6623
6624
6625
6626
6627
6628
6629
6630
6631
6632
6633
6634
6635
6636
6637
6638
6639
6640
6641
6642
6643
6644
6645
6646
6647
6648
6649
6650
6651
6652
6653
6654
6655
6656
6657
6658
6659
6660
6661
6662
6663
6664
6665
6666
6667
6668
6669
6670
6671
6672
6673
6674
6675
6676
6677
6678
6679
6680
6681
6682
6683
6684
6685
6686
6687
6688
6689
6690
6691
6692
6693
6694
6695
6696
6697
6698
6699
6700
6701
6702
6703
6704
6705
6706
6707
6708
6709
6710
6711
6712
6713
6714
6715
6716
6717
6718
6719
6720
6721
6722
6723
6724
6725
6726
6727
6728
6729
6730
6731
6732
6733
6734
6735
6736
6737
6738
6739
6740
6741
6742
6743
6744
6745
6746
6747
6748
6749
6750
6751
6752
6753
6754
6755
6756
6757
6758
6759
6760
6761
6762
6763
6764
6765
6766
6767
6768
6769
6770
6771
6772
6773
6774
6775
6776
6777
6778
6779
6780
6781
6782
6783
6784
6785
6786
6787
6788
6789
6790
6791
6792
6793
6794
6795
6796
6797
6798
6799
6800
6801
6802
6803
6804
6805
6806
6807
6808
6809
6810
6811
6812
6813
6814
6815
6816
6817
6818
6819
6820
6821
6822
6823
6824
6825
6826
6827
6828
6829
6830
6831
6832
6833
6834
6835
6836
6837
6838
6839
6840
6841
6842
6843
6844
6845
6846
6847
6848
6849
6850
6851
6852
6853
6854
6855
6856
6857
6858
6859
6860
6861
6862
6863
6864
6865
6866
6867
6868
6869
6870
6871
6872
6873
6874
6875
6876
6877
6878
6879
6880
6881
6882
6883
6884
6885
6886
6887
6888
6889
6890
6891
6892
6893
6894
6895
6896
6897
6898
6899
6900
6901
6902
6903
6904
6905
6906
6907
6908
6909
6910
6911
6912
6913
6914
6915
6916
6917
6918
6919
6920
6921
6922
6923
6924
6925
6926
6927
6928
6929
6930
6931
6932
6933
6934
6935
6936
6937
6938
6939
6940
6941
6942
6943
6944
6945
6946
6947
6948
6949
6950
6951
6952
6953
6954
6955
6956
6957
6958
6959
6960
6961
6962
6963
6964
6965
6966
6967
6968
6969
6970
6971
6972
6973
6974
6975
6976
6977
6978
6979
6980
6981
6982
6983
6984
6985
6986
6987
6988
6989
6990
6991
6992
6993
6994
6995
6996
6997
6998
6999
7000
7001
7002
7003
7004
7005
7006
7007
7008
7009
7010
7011
7012
7013
7014
7015
7016
7017
7018
7019
7020
7021
7022
7023
7024
7025
7026
7027
7028
7029
7030
7031
7032
7033
7034
7035
7036
7037
7038
7039
7040
7041
7042
7043
7044
7045
7046
7047
7048
7049
7050
7051
7052
7053
7054
7055
7056
7057
7058
7059
7060
7061
7062
7063
7064
7065
7066
7067
7068
7069
7070
7071
7072
7073
7074
7075
7076
7077
7078
7079
7080
7081
7082
7083
7084
7085
7086
7087
7088
7089
7090
7091
7092
7093
7094
7095
7096
7097
7098
7099
7100
7101
7102
7103
7104
7105
7106
7107
7108
7109
7110
7111
7112
7113
7114
7115
7116
7117
7118
7119
7120
7121
7122
7123
7124
7125
7126
7127
7128
7129
7130
7131
7132
7133
7134
7135
7136
7137
7138
7139
7140
7141
7142
7143
7144
7145
7146
7147
7148
7149
7150
7151
7152
7153
7154
7155
7156
7157
7158
7159
7160
7161
7162
7163
7164
7165
7166
7167
7168
7169
7170
7171
7172
7173
7174
7175
7176
7177
7178
7179
7180
7181
7182
7183
7184
7185
7186
7187
7188
7189
7190
7191
7192
7193
7194
7195
7196
7197
7198
7199
7200
7201
7202
7203
7204
7205
7206
7207
7208
7209
7210
7211
7212
7213
7214
7215
7216
7217
7218
7219
7220
7221
7222
7223
7224
7225
7226
7227
7228
7229
7230
7231
7232
7233
7234
7235
7236
7237
7238
7239
7240
7241
7242
7243
7244
7245
7246
7247
7248
7249
7250
7251
7252
7253
7254
7255
7256
7257
7258
7259
7260
7261
7262
7263
7264
7265
7266
7267
7268
7269
7270
7271
7272
7273
7274
7275
7276
7277
7278
7279
7280
7281
7282
7283
7284
7285
7286
7287
7288
7289
7290
7291
7292
7293
7294
7295
7296
7297
7298
7299
7300
7301
7302
7303
7304
7305
7306
7307
7308
7309
7310
7311
7312
7313
7314
7315
7316
7317
7318
7319
7320
7321
7322
7323
7324
7325
7326
7327
7328
7329
7330
7331
7332
7333
7334
7335
7336
7337
7338
7339
7340
7341
7342
7343
7344
7345
7346
7347
7348
7349
7350
7351
7352
7353
7354
7355
7356
7357
7358
7359
7360
7361
7362
7363
7364
7365
7366
7367
7368
7369
7370
7371
7372
7373
7374
7375
7376
7377
7378
7379
7380
7381
7382
7383
7384
7385
7386
7387
7388
7389
7390
7391
7392
7393
7394
7395
7396
7397
7398
7399
7400
7401
7402
7403
7404
7405
7406
7407
7408
7409
7410
7411
7412
7413
7414
7415
7416
7417
7418
7419
7420
7421
7422
7423
7424
7425
7426
7427
7428
7429
7430
7431
7432
7433
7434
7435
7436
7437
7438
7439
7440
7441
7442
7443
7444
7445
7446
7447
7448
7449
7450
7451
7452
7453
7454
7455
7456
7457
7458
7459
7460
7461
7462
7463
7464
7465
7466
7467
7468
7469
7470
7471
7472
7473
7474
7475
7476
7477
7478
7479
7480
7481
7482
7483
7484
7485
7486
7487
7488
7489
7490
7491
7492
7493
7494
7495
7496
7497
7498
7499
7500
7501
7502
7503
7504
7505
7506
7507
7508
7509
7510
7511
7512
7513
7514
7515
7516
7517
7518
7519
7520
7521
7522
7523
7524
7525
7526
7527
7528
7529
7530
7531
7532
7533
7534
7535
7536
7537
7538
7539
7540
7541
7542
7543
7544
7545
7546
7547
7548
7549
7550
7551
7552
7553
7554
7555
7556
7557
7558
7559
7560
7561
7562
7563
7564
7565
7566
7567
7568
7569
7570
7571
7572
7573
7574
7575
7576
7577
7578
7579
7580
7581
7582
7583
7584
7585
7586
7587
7588
7589
7590
7591
7592
7593
7594
7595
7596
7597
7598
7599
7600
7601
7602
7603
7604
7605
7606
7607
7608
7609
7610
7611
7612
7613
7614
7615
7616
7617
7618
7619
7620
7621
7622
7623
7624
7625
7626
7627
7628
7629
7630
7631
7632
7633
7634
7635
7636
7637
7638
7639
7640
7641
7642
7643
7644
7645
7646
7647
7648
7649
7650
7651
7652
7653
7654
7655
7656
7657
7658
7659
7660
7661
7662
7663
7664
7665
7666
7667
7668
7669
7670
7671
7672
7673
7674
7675
7676
7677
7678
7679
7680
7681
7682
7683
7684
7685
7686
7687
7688
7689
7690
7691
7692
7693
7694
7695
7696
7697
7698
7699
7700
7701
7702
7703
7704
7705
7706
7707
7708
7709
7710
7711
7712
7713
7714
7715
7716
7717
7718
7719
7720
7721
7722
7723
7724
7725
7726
7727
7728
7729
7730
7731
7732
7733
7734
7735
7736
7737
7738
7739
7740
7741
7742
7743
7744
7745
7746
7747
7748
7749
7750
7751
7752
7753
7754
7755
7756
7757
7758
7759
7760
7761
7762
7763
7764
7765
7766
7767
7768
7769
7770
7771
7772
7773
7774
7775
7776
7777
7778
7779
7780
7781
7782
7783
7784
7785
7786
7787
7788
7789
7790
7791
7792
7793
7794
7795
7796
7797
7798
7799
7800
7801
7802
7803
7804
7805
7806
7807
7808
7809
7810
7811
7812
7813
7814
7815
7816
7817
7818
7819
7820
7821
7822
7823
7824
7825
7826
7827
7828
7829
7830
7831
7832
7833
7834
7835
7836
7837
7838
7839
7840
7841
7842
7843
7844
7845
7846
7847
7848
7849
7850
7851
7852
7853
7854
7855
7856
7857
7858
7859
7860
7861
7862
7863
7864
7865
7866
7867
7868
7869
7870
7871
7872
7873
7874
7875
7876
7877
7878
7879
7880
7881
7882
7883
7884
7885
7886
7887
7888
7889
7890
7891
7892
7893
7894
7895
7896
7897
7898
7899
7900
7901
7902
7903
7904
7905
7906
7907
7908
7909
7910
7911
7912
7913
7914
7915
7916
7917
7918
7919
7920
7921
7922
7923
7924
7925
7926
7927
7928
7929
7930
7931
7932
7933
7934
7935
7936
7937
7938
7939
7940
7941
7942
7943
7944
7945
7946
7947
7948
7949
7950
7951
7952
7953
7954
7955
7956
7957
7958
7959
7960
7961
7962
7963
7964
7965
7966
7967
7968
7969
7970
7971
7972
7973
7974
7975
7976
7977
7978
7979
7980
7981
7982
7983
7984
7985
7986
7987
7988
7989
7990
7991
7992
7993
7994
7995
7996
7997
7998
7999
8000
8001
8002
8003
8004
8005
8006
8007
8008
8009
8010
8011
8012
8013
8014
8015
8016
8017
8018
8019
8020
8021
8022
8023
8024
8025
8026
8027
8028
8029
8030
8031
8032
8033
8034
8035
8036
8037
8038
8039
8040
8041
8042
8043
8044
8045
8046
8047
8048
8049
8050
8051
8052
8053
8054
8055
8056
8057
8058
8059
8060
8061
8062
8063
8064
8065
8066
8067
8068
8069
8070
8071
8072
8073
8074
8075
8076
8077
8078
8079
8080
8081
8082
8083
8084
8085
8086
8087
8088
8089
8090
8091
8092
8093
8094
8095
8096
8097
8098
8099
8100
8101
8102
8103
8104
8105
8106
8107
8108
8109
8110
8111
8112
8113
8114
8115
8116
8117
8118
8119
8120
8121
8122
8123
8124
8125
8126
8127
8128
8129
8130
8131
8132
8133
8134
8135
8136
8137
8138
8139
8140
8141
8142
8143
8144
8145
8146
8147
8148
8149
8150
8151
8152
8153
8154
8155
8156
8157
8158
8159
8160
8161
8162
8163
8164
8165
8166
8167
8168
8169
8170
8171
8172
8173
8174
8175
8176
8177
8178
8179
8180
8181
8182
8183
8184
8185
8186
8187
8188
8189
8190
8191
8192
8193
8194
8195
8196
8197
8198
8199
8200
8201
8202
8203
8204
8205
8206
8207
8208
8209
8210
8211
8212
8213
8214
8215
8216
8217
8218
8219
8220
8221
8222
8223
8224
8225
8226
8227
8228
8229
8230
8231
8232
8233
8234
8235
8236
8237
8238
8239
8240
8241
8242
8243
8244
8245
8246
8247
8248
8249
8250
8251
8252
8253
8254
8255
8256
8257
8258
8259
8260
8261
8262
8263
8264
8265
8266
8267
8268
8269
8270
8271
8272
8273
8274
8275
8276
8277
8278
8279
8280
8281
8282
8283
8284
8285
8286
8287
8288
8289
8290
8291
8292
8293
8294
8295
8296
8297
8298
8299
8300
8301
8302
8303
8304
8305
8306
8307
8308
8309
8310
8311
8312
8313
8314
8315
8316
8317
8318
8319
8320
8321
8322
8323
8324
8325
8326
8327
8328
8329
8330
8331
8332
8333
8334
8335
8336
8337
8338
8339
8340
8341
8342
8343
8344
8345
8346
8347
8348
8349
8350
8351
8352
8353
8354
8355
8356
8357
8358
8359
8360
8361
8362
8363
8364
8365
8366
8367
8368
8369
8370
8371
8372
8373
8374
8375
8376
8377
8378
8379
8380
8381
8382
8383
8384
8385
8386
8387
8388
8389
8390
8391
8392
8393
8394
8395
8396
8397
8398
8399
8400
8401
8402
8403
8404
8405
8406
8407
8408
8409
8410
8411
8412
8413
8414
8415
8416
8417
8418
8419
8420
8421
8422
8423
8424
8425
8426
8427
8428
8429
8430
8431
8432
8433
8434
8435
8436
8437
8438
8439
8440
8441
8442
8443
8444
8445
8446
8447
8448
8449
8450
8451
8452
8453
8454
8455
8456
8457
8458
8459
8460
8461
8462
8463
8464
8465
8466
8467
8468
8469
8470
8471
8472
8473
8474
8475
8476
8477
8478
8479
8480
8481
8482
8483
8484
8485
8486
8487
8488
8489
8490
8491
8492
8493
8494
8495
8496
8497
8498
8499
8500
8501
8502
8503
8504
8505
8506
8507
8508
8509
8510
8511
8512
8513
8514
8515
8516
8517
8518
8519
8520
8521
8522
8523
8524
8525
8526
8527
8528
8529
8530
8531
8532
8533
8534
8535
8536
8537
8538
8539
8540
8541
8542
8543
8544
8545
8546
8547
8548
8549
8550
8551
8552
8553
8554
8555
8556
8557
8558
8559
8560
8561
8562
8563
8564
8565
8566
8567
8568
8569
8570
8571
8572
8573
8574
8575
8576
8577
8578
8579
8580
8581
8582
8583
8584
8585
8586
8587
8588
8589
8590
8591
8592
8593
8594
8595
8596
8597
8598
8599
8600
8601
8602
8603
8604
8605
8606
8607
8608
8609
8610
8611
8612
8613
8614
8615
8616
8617
8618
8619
8620
8621
8622
8623
8624
8625
8626
8627
8628
8629
8630
8631
8632
8633
8634
8635
8636
8637
8638
8639
8640
8641
8642
8643
8644
8645
8646
8647
8648
8649
8650
8651
8652
8653
8654
8655
8656
8657
8658
8659
8660
8661
8662
8663
8664
8665
8666
8667
8668
8669
8670
8671
8672
8673
8674
8675
8676
8677
8678
8679
8680
8681
8682
8683
8684
8685
8686
8687
8688
8689
8690
8691
8692
8693
8694
8695
8696
8697
8698
8699
8700
8701
8702
8703
8704
8705
8706
8707
8708
8709
8710
8711
8712
8713
8714
8715
8716
8717
8718
8719
8720
8721
8722
8723
8724
8725
8726
8727
8728
8729
8730
8731
8732
8733
8734
8735
8736
8737
8738
8739
8740
8741
8742
8743
8744
8745
8746
8747
8748
8749
8750
8751
8752
8753
8754
8755
8756
8757
8758
8759
8760
8761
8762
8763
8764
8765
8766
8767
8768
8769
8770
8771
8772
8773
8774
8775
8776
8777
8778
8779
8780
8781
8782
8783
8784
8785
8786
8787
8788
8789
8790
8791
8792
8793
8794
8795
8796
8797
8798
8799
8800
8801
8802
8803
8804
8805
8806
8807
8808
8809
8810
8811
8812
8813
8814
8815
8816
8817
8818
8819
8820
8821
8822
8823
8824
8825
8826
8827
8828
8829
8830
8831
8832
8833
8834
8835
8836
8837
8838
8839
8840
8841
8842
8843
8844
8845
8846
8847
8848
8849
8850
8851
8852
8853
8854
8855
8856
8857
8858
8859
8860
8861
8862
8863
8864
8865
8866
8867
8868
8869
8870
8871
8872
8873
8874
8875
8876
8877
8878
8879
8880
8881
8882
8883
8884
8885
8886
8887
8888
8889
8890
8891
8892
8893
8894
8895
8896
8897
8898
8899
8900
8901
8902
8903
8904
8905
8906
8907
8908
8909
8910
8911
8912
8913
8914
8915
8916
8917
8918
8919
8920
8921
8922
8923
8924
8925
8926
8927
8928
8929
8930
8931
8932
8933
8934
8935
8936
8937
8938
8939
8940
8941
8942
8943
8944
8945
8946
8947
8948
8949
8950
8951
8952
8953
8954
8955
8956
8957
8958
8959
8960
8961
8962
8963
8964
8965
8966
8967
8968
8969
8970
8971
8972
8973
8974
8975
8976
8977
8978
8979
8980
8981
8982
8983
8984
8985
8986
8987
8988
8989
8990
8991
8992
8993
8994
8995
8996
8997
8998
8999
9000
9001
9002
9003
9004
9005
9006
9007
9008
9009
9010
9011
9012
9013
9014
9015
9016
9017
9018
9019
9020
9021
9022
9023
9024
9025
9026
9027
9028
9029
9030
9031
9032
9033
9034
9035
9036
9037
9038
9039
9040
9041
9042
9043
9044
9045
9046
9047
9048
9049
9050
9051
9052
9053
9054
9055
9056
9057
9058
9059
9060
9061
9062
9063
9064
9065
9066
9067
9068
9069
9070
9071
9072
9073
9074
9075
9076
9077
9078
9079
9080
9081
9082
9083
9084
9085
9086
9087
9088
9089
9090
9091
9092
9093
9094
9095
9096
9097
9098
9099
9100
9101
9102
9103
9104
9105
9106
9107
9108
9109
9110
9111
9112
9113
9114
9115
9116
9117
9118
9119
9120
9121
9122
9123
9124
9125
9126
9127
9128
9129
9130
9131
9132
9133
9134
9135
9136
9137
9138
9139
9140
9141
9142
9143
9144
9145
9146
9147
9148
9149
9150
9151
9152
9153
9154
9155
9156
9157
9158
9159
9160
9161
9162
9163
9164
9165
9166
9167
9168
9169
9170
9171
9172
9173
9174
9175
9176
9177
9178
9179
9180
9181
9182
9183
9184
9185
9186
9187
9188
9189
9190
9191
9192
9193
9194
9195
9196
9197
9198
9199
9200
9201
9202
9203
9204
9205
9206
9207
9208
9209
9210
9211
9212
9213
9214
9215
9216
9217
9218
9219
9220
9221
9222
9223
9224
9225
9226
9227
9228
9229
9230
9231
9232
9233
9234
9235
9236
9237
9238
9239
9240
9241
9242
9243
9244
9245
9246
9247
9248
9249
9250
9251
9252
9253
9254
9255
9256
9257
9258
9259
9260
9261
9262
9263
9264
9265
9266
9267
9268
9269
9270
9271
9272
9273
9274
9275
9276
9277
9278
9279
9280
9281
9282
9283
9284
9285
9286
9287
9288
9289
9290
9291
9292
9293
9294
9295
9296
9297
9298
9299
9300
9301
9302
9303
9304
9305
9306
9307
9308
9309
9310
9311
9312
9313
9314
9315
9316
9317
9318
9319
9320
9321
9322
9323
9324
9325
9326
9327
9328
9329
9330
9331
9332
9333
9334
9335
9336
9337
9338
9339
9340
9341
9342
9343
9344
9345
9346
9347
9348
9349
9350
9351
9352
9353
9354
9355
9356
9357
9358
9359
9360
9361
9362
9363
9364
9365
9366
9367
9368
9369
9370
9371
9372
9373
9374
9375
9376
9377
9378
9379
9380
9381
9382
9383
9384
9385
9386
9387
9388
9389
9390
9391
9392
9393
9394
9395
9396
9397
9398
9399
9400
9401
9402
9403
9404
9405
9406
9407
9408
9409
9410
9411
9412
9413
9414
9415
9416
9417
9418
9419
9420
9421
9422
9423
9424
9425
9426
9427
9428
9429
9430
9431
9432
9433
9434
9435
9436
9437
9438
9439
9440
9441
9442
9443
9444
9445
9446
9447
9448
9449
9450
9451
9452
9453
9454
9455
9456
9457
9458
9459
9460
9461
9462
9463
9464
9465
9466
9467
9468
9469
9470
9471
9472
9473
9474
9475
9476
9477
9478
9479
9480
9481
9482
9483
9484
9485
9486
9487
9488
9489
9490
9491
9492
9493
9494
9495
9496
9497
9498
9499
9500
9501
9502
9503
9504
9505
9506
9507
9508
9509
9510
9511
9512
9513
9514
9515
9516
9517
9518
9519
9520
9521
9522
9523
9524
9525
9526
9527
9528
9529
9530
9531
9532
9533
9534
9535
9536
9537
9538
9539
9540
9541
9542
9543
9544
9545
9546
9547
9548
9549
9550
9551
9552
9553
9554
9555
9556
9557
9558
9559
9560
9561
9562
9563
9564
9565
9566
9567
9568
9569
9570
9571
9572
9573
9574
9575
9576
9577
9578
9579
9580
9581
9582
9583
9584
9585
9586
9587
9588
9589
9590
9591
9592
9593
9594
9595
9596
9597
9598
9599
9600
9601
9602
9603
9604
9605
9606
9607
9608
9609
9610
9611
9612
9613
9614
9615
9616
9617
9618
9619
9620
9621
9622
9623
9624
9625
9626
9627
9628
9629
9630
9631
9632
9633
9634
9635
9636
9637
9638
9639
9640
9641
9642
9643
9644
9645
9646
9647
9648
9649
9650
9651
9652
9653
9654
9655
9656
9657
9658
9659
9660
9661
9662
9663
9664
9665
9666
9667
9668
9669
9670
9671
9672
9673
9674
9675
9676
9677
9678
9679
9680
9681
9682
9683
9684
9685
9686
9687
9688
9689
9690
9691
9692
9693
9694
9695
9696
9697
9698
9699
9700
9701
9702
9703
9704
9705
9706
9707
9708
9709
9710
9711
9712
9713
9714
9715
9716
9717
9718
9719
9720
9721
9722
9723
9724
9725
9726
9727
9728
9729
9730
9731
9732
9733
9734
9735
9736
9737
9738
9739
9740
9741
9742
9743
9744
9745
9746
9747
9748
9749
9750
9751
9752
9753
9754
9755
9756
9757
9758
9759
9760
9761
9762
9763
9764
9765
9766
9767
9768
9769
9770
9771
9772
9773
9774
9775
9776
9777
9778
9779
9780
9781
9782
9783
9784
9785
9786
9787
9788
9789
9790
9791
9792
9793
9794
9795
9796
9797
9798
9799
9800
9801
9802
9803
9804
9805
9806
9807
9808
9809
9810
9811
9812
9813
9814
9815
9816
9817
9818
9819
9820
9821
9822
9823
9824
9825
9826
9827
9828
9829
9830
9831
9832
9833
9834
9835
9836
9837
9838
9839
9840
9841
9842
9843
9844
9845
9846
9847
9848
9849
9850
9851
9852
9853
9854
9855
9856
9857
9858
9859
9860
9861
9862
9863
9864
9865
9866
9867
9868
9869
9870
9871
9872
9873
9874
9875
9876
9877
9878
9879
9880
9881
9882
9883
9884
9885
9886
9887
9888
9889
9890
9891
9892
9893
9894
9895
9896
9897
9898
9899
9900
9901
9902
9903
9904
9905
9906
9907
9908
9909
9910
9911
9912
9913
9914
9915
9916
9917
9918
9919
9920
9921
9922
9923
9924
9925
9926
9927
9928
9929
9930
9931
9932
9933
9934
9935
9936
9937
9938
9939
9940
9941
9942
9943
9944
9945
9946
9947
9948
9949
9950
9951
9952
9953
9954
9955
9956
9957
9958
9959
9960
9961
9962
9963
9964
9965
9966
9967
9968
9969
9970
9971
9972
9973
9974
9975
9976
9977
9978
9979
9980
9981
9982
9983
9984
9985
9986
9987
9988
9989
9990
9991
9992
9993
9994
9995
9996
9997
9998
9999
10000
10001
10002
10003
10004
10005
10006
10007
10008
10009
10010
10011
10012
10013
10014
10015
10016
10017
10018
10019
10020
10021
10022
10023
10024
10025
10026
10027
10028
10029
10030
10031
10032
10033
10034
10035
10036
10037
10038
10039
10040
10041
10042
10043
10044
10045
10046
10047
10048
10049
10050
10051
10052
10053
10054
10055
10056
10057
10058
10059
10060
10061
10062
10063
10064
10065
10066
10067
10068
10069
10070
10071
10072
10073
10074
10075
10076
10077
10078
10079
10080
10081
10082
10083
10084
10085
10086
10087
10088
10089
10090
10091
10092
10093
10094
10095
10096
10097
10098
10099
10100
10101
10102
10103
10104
10105
10106
10107
10108
10109
10110
10111
10112
10113
10114
10115
10116
10117
10118
10119
10120
10121
10122
10123
10124
10125
10126
10127
10128
10129
10130
10131
10132
10133
10134
10135
10136
10137
10138
10139
10140
10141
10142
10143
10144
10145
10146
10147
10148
10149
10150
10151
10152
10153
10154
10155
10156
10157
10158
10159
10160
10161
10162
10163
10164
10165
10166
10167
10168
10169
10170
10171
10172
10173
10174
10175
10176
10177
10178
10179
10180
10181
10182
10183
10184
10185
10186
10187
10188
10189
10190
10191
10192
10193
10194
10195
10196
10197
10198
10199
10200
10201
10202
10203
10204
10205
10206
10207
10208
10209
10210
10211
10212
10213
10214
10215
10216
10217
10218
10219
10220
10221
10222
10223
10224
10225
10226
10227
10228
10229
10230
10231
10232
10233
10234
10235
10236
10237
10238
10239
10240
10241
10242
10243
10244
10245
10246
10247
10248
10249
10250
10251
10252
10253
10254
10255
10256
10257
10258
10259
10260
10261
10262
10263
10264
10265
10266
10267
10268
10269
10270
10271
10272
10273
10274
10275
10276
10277
10278
10279
10280
10281
10282
10283
10284
10285
10286
10287
10288
10289
10290
10291
10292
10293
10294
10295
10296
10297
10298
10299
10300
10301
10302
10303
10304
10305
10306
10307
10308
10309
10310
10311
10312
10313
10314
10315
10316
10317
10318
10319
10320
10321
10322
10323
10324
10325
10326
10327
10328
10329
10330
10331
10332
10333
10334
10335
10336
10337
10338
10339
10340
10341
10342
10343
10344
10345
10346
10347
10348
10349
10350
10351
10352
10353
10354
10355
10356
10357
10358
10359
10360
10361
10362
10363
10364
10365
10366
10367
10368
10369
10370
10371
10372
10373
10374
10375
10376
10377
10378
10379
10380
10381
10382
10383
10384
10385
10386
10387
10388
10389
10390
10391
10392
10393
10394
10395
10396
10397
10398
10399
10400
10401
10402
10403
10404
10405
10406
10407
10408
10409
10410
10411
10412
10413
10414
10415
10416
10417
10418
10419
10420
10421
10422
10423
10424
10425
10426
10427
10428
10429
10430
10431
10432
10433
10434
10435
10436
10437
10438
10439
10440
10441
10442
10443
10444
10445
10446
10447
10448
10449
10450
10451
10452
10453
10454
10455
10456
10457
10458
10459
10460
10461
10462
10463
10464
10465
10466
10467
10468
10469
10470
10471
10472
10473
10474
10475
10476
10477
10478
10479
10480
10481
10482
10483
10484
10485
10486
10487
10488
10489
10490
10491
10492
10493
10494
10495
10496
10497
10498
10499
10500
10501
10502
10503
10504
10505
10506
10507
10508
10509
10510
10511
10512
10513
10514
10515
10516
10517
10518
10519
10520
10521
10522
10523
10524
10525
10526
10527
10528
10529
10530
10531
10532
10533
10534
10535
10536
10537
10538
10539
10540
10541
10542
10543
10544
10545
10546
10547
10548
10549
10550
10551
10552
10553
10554
10555
10556
10557
10558
10559
10560
10561
10562
10563
10564
10565
10566
10567
10568
10569
10570
10571
10572
10573
10574
10575
10576
10577
10578
10579
10580
10581
10582
10583
10584
10585
10586
10587
10588
10589
10590
10591
10592
10593
10594
10595
10596
10597
10598
10599
10600
10601
10602
10603
10604
10605
10606
10607
10608
10609
10610
10611
10612
10613
10614
10615
10616
10617
10618
10619
10620
10621
10622
10623
10624
10625
10626
10627
10628
10629
10630
10631
10632
10633
10634
10635
10636
10637
10638
10639
10640
10641
10642
10643
10644
10645
10646
10647
10648
10649
10650
10651
10652
10653
10654
10655
10656
10657
10658
10659
10660
10661
10662
10663
10664
10665
10666
10667
10668
10669
10670
10671
10672
10673
10674
10675
10676
10677
10678
10679
10680
10681
10682
10683
10684
10685
10686
10687
10688
10689
10690
10691
10692
10693
10694
10695
10696
10697
10698
10699
10700
10701
10702
10703
10704
10705
10706
10707
10708
10709
10710
10711
10712
10713
10714
10715
10716
10717
10718
10719
10720
10721
10722
10723
10724
10725
10726
10727
10728
10729
10730
10731
10732
10733
10734
10735
10736
10737
10738
10739
10740
10741
10742
10743
10744
10745
10746
10747
10748
10749
10750
10751
10752
10753
10754
10755
10756
10757
10758
10759
10760
10761
10762
10763
10764
10765
10766
10767
10768
10769
10770
10771
10772
10773
10774
10775
10776
10777
10778
10779
10780
10781
10782
10783
10784
10785
10786
10787
10788
10789
10790
10791
10792
10793
10794
10795
10796
10797
10798
10799
10800
10801
10802
10803
10804
10805
10806
10807
10808
10809
10810
10811
10812
10813
10814
10815
10816
10817
10818
10819
10820
10821
10822
10823
10824
10825
10826
10827
10828
10829
10830
10831
10832
10833
10834
10835
10836
10837
10838
10839
10840
10841
10842
10843
10844
10845
10846
10847
10848
10849
10850
10851
10852
10853
10854
10855
10856
10857
10858
10859
10860
10861
10862
10863
10864
10865
10866
10867
10868
10869
10870
10871
10872
10873
10874
10875
10876
10877
10878
10879
10880
10881
10882
10883
10884
10885
10886
10887
10888
10889
10890
10891
10892
10893
10894
10895
10896
10897
10898
10899
10900
10901
10902
10903
10904
10905
10906
10907
10908
10909
10910
10911
10912
10913
10914
10915
10916
10917
10918
10919
10920
10921
10922
10923
10924
10925
10926
10927
10928
10929
10930
10931
10932
10933
10934
10935
10936
10937
10938
10939
10940
10941
10942
10943
10944
10945
10946
10947
10948
10949
10950
10951
10952
10953
10954
10955
10956
10957
10958
10959
10960
10961
10962
10963
10964
10965
10966
10967
10968
10969
10970
10971
10972
10973
10974
10975
10976
10977
10978
10979
10980
10981
10982
10983
10984
10985
10986
10987
10988
10989
10990
10991
10992
10993
10994
10995
10996
10997
10998
10999
11000
11001
11002
11003
11004
11005
11006
11007
11008
11009
11010
11011
11012
11013
11014
11015
11016
11017
11018
11019
11020
11021
11022
11023
11024
11025
11026
11027
11028
11029
11030
11031
11032
11033
11034
11035
11036
11037
11038
11039
11040
11041
11042
11043
11044
11045
11046
11047
11048
11049
11050
11051
11052
11053
11054
11055
11056
11057
11058
11059
11060
11061
11062
11063
11064
11065
11066
11067
11068
11069
11070
11071
11072
11073
11074
11075
11076
11077
11078
11079
11080
11081
11082
11083
11084
11085
11086
11087
11088
11089
11090
11091
11092
11093
11094
11095
11096
11097
11098
11099
11100
11101
11102
11103
11104
11105
11106
11107
11108
11109
11110
11111
11112
11113
11114
11115
11116
11117
11118
11119
11120
11121
11122
11123
11124
11125
11126
11127
11128
11129
11130
11131
11132
11133
11134
11135
11136
11137
11138
11139
11140
11141
11142
11143
11144
11145
11146
11147
11148
11149
11150
11151
11152
11153
11154
11155
11156
11157
11158
11159
11160
11161
11162
11163
11164
11165
11166
11167
11168
11169
11170
11171
11172
11173
11174
11175
11176
11177
11178
11179
11180
11181
11182
11183
11184
11185
11186
11187
11188
11189
11190
11191
11192
11193
11194
11195
11196
11197
11198
11199
11200
11201
11202
11203
11204
11205
11206
11207
11208
11209
11210
11211
11212
11213
11214
11215
11216
11217
11218
11219
11220
11221
11222
11223
11224
11225
11226
11227
11228
11229
11230
11231
11232
11233
11234
11235
11236
11237
11238
11239
11240
11241
11242
11243
11244
11245
11246
11247
11248
11249
11250
11251
11252
11253
11254
11255
11256
11257
11258
11259
11260
11261
11262
11263
11264
11265
11266
11267
11268
11269
11270
11271
11272
11273
11274
11275
11276
11277
11278
11279
11280
11281
11282
11283
11284
11285
11286
11287
11288
11289
11290
11291
11292
11293
11294
11295
11296
11297
11298
11299
11300
11301
11302
11303
11304
11305
11306
11307
11308
11309
11310
11311
11312
11313
11314
11315
11316
11317
11318
11319
11320
11321
11322
11323
11324
11325
11326
11327
11328
11329
11330
11331
11332
11333
11334
11335
11336
11337
11338
11339
11340
11341
11342
11343
11344
11345
11346
11347
11348
11349
11350
11351
11352
11353
11354
11355
11356
11357
11358
11359
11360
11361
11362
11363
11364
11365
11366
11367
11368
11369
11370
11371
11372
11373
11374
11375
11376
11377
11378
11379
11380
11381
11382
11383
11384
11385
11386
11387
11388
11389
11390
11391
11392
11393
11394
11395
11396
11397
11398
11399
11400
11401
11402
11403
11404
11405
11406
11407
11408
11409
11410
11411
11412
11413
11414
11415
11416
11417
11418
11419
11420
11421
11422
11423
11424
11425
11426
11427
11428
11429
11430
11431
11432
11433
11434
11435
11436
11437
11438
11439
11440
11441
11442
11443
11444
11445
11446
11447
11448
11449
11450
11451
11452
11453
11454
11455
11456
11457
11458
11459
11460
11461
11462
11463
11464
11465
11466
11467
11468
11469
11470
11471
11472
11473
11474
11475
11476
11477
11478
11479
11480
11481
11482
11483
11484
11485
11486
11487
11488
11489
11490
11491
11492
11493
11494
11495
11496
11497
11498
11499
11500
11501
11502
11503
11504
11505
11506
11507
11508
11509
11510
11511
11512
11513
11514
11515
11516
11517
11518
11519
11520
11521
11522
11523
11524
11525
11526
11527
11528
11529
11530
11531
11532
11533
11534
11535
11536
11537
11538
11539
11540
11541
11542
11543
11544
11545
11546
11547
11548
11549
11550
11551
11552
11553
11554
11555
11556
11557
11558
11559
11560
11561
11562
11563
11564
11565
11566
11567
11568
11569
11570
11571
11572
11573
11574
11575
11576
11577
11578
11579
11580
11581
11582
11583
11584
11585
11586
11587
11588
11589
11590
11591
11592
11593
11594
11595
11596
11597
11598
11599
11600
11601
11602
11603
11604
11605
11606
11607
11608
11609
11610
11611
11612
11613
11614
11615
11616
11617
11618
11619
11620
11621
11622
11623
11624
11625
11626
11627
11628
11629
11630
11631
11632
11633
11634
11635
11636
11637
11638
11639
11640
11641
11642
11643
11644
11645
11646
11647
11648
11649
11650
11651
11652
11653
11654
11655
11656
11657
11658
11659
11660
11661
11662
11663
11664
11665
11666
11667
11668
11669
11670
11671
11672
11673
11674
11675
11676
11677
11678
11679
11680
11681
11682
11683
11684
11685
11686
11687
11688
11689
11690
11691
11692
11693
11694
11695
11696
11697
11698
11699
11700
11701
11702
11703
11704
11705
11706
11707
11708
11709
11710
11711
11712
11713
11714
11715
11716
11717
11718
11719
11720
11721
11722
11723
11724
11725
11726
11727
11728
11729
11730
11731
11732
11733
11734
11735
11736
11737
11738
11739
11740
11741
11742
11743
11744
11745
11746
11747
11748
11749
11750
11751
11752
11753
11754
11755
11756
11757
11758
11759
11760
11761
11762
11763
11764
11765
11766
11767
11768
11769
11770
11771
11772
11773
11774
11775
11776
11777
11778
11779
11780
11781
11782
11783
11784
11785
11786
11787
11788
11789
11790
11791
11792
11793
11794
11795
11796
11797
11798
11799
11800
11801
11802
11803
11804
11805
11806
11807
11808
11809
11810
11811
11812
11813
11814
11815
11816
11817
11818
11819
11820
11821
11822
11823
11824
11825
11826
11827
11828
11829
11830
11831
11832
11833
11834
11835
11836
11837
11838
11839
11840
11841
11842
11843
11844
11845
11846
11847
11848
11849
11850
11851
11852
11853
11854
11855
11856
11857
11858
11859
11860
11861
11862
11863
11864
11865
11866
11867
11868
11869
11870
11871
11872
11873
11874
11875
11876
11877
11878
11879
11880
11881
11882
11883
11884
11885
11886
11887
11888
11889
11890
11891
11892
11893
11894
11895
11896
11897
11898
11899
11900
11901
11902
11903
11904
11905
11906
11907
11908
11909
11910
11911
11912
11913
11914
11915
11916
11917
11918
11919
11920
11921
11922
11923
11924
11925
11926
11927
11928
11929
11930
11931
11932
11933
11934
11935
11936
11937
11938
11939
11940
11941
11942
11943
11944
11945
11946
11947
11948
11949
11950
11951
11952
11953
11954
11955
11956
11957
11958
11959
11960
11961
11962
11963
11964
11965
11966
11967
11968
11969
11970
11971
11972
11973
11974
11975
11976
11977
11978
11979
11980
11981
11982
11983
11984
11985
11986
11987
11988
11989
11990
11991
11992
11993
11994
11995
11996
11997
11998
11999
12000
12001
12002
12003
12004
12005
12006
12007
12008
12009
12010
12011
12012
12013
12014
12015
12016
12017
12018
12019
12020
12021
12022
12023
12024
12025
12026
12027
12028
12029
12030
12031
12032
12033
12034
12035
12036
12037
12038
12039
12040
12041
12042
12043
12044
12045
12046
12047
12048
12049
12050
12051
12052
12053
12054
12055
12056
12057
12058
12059
12060
12061
12062
12063
12064
12065
12066
12067
12068
12069
12070
12071
12072
12073
12074
12075
12076
12077
12078
12079
12080
12081
12082
12083
12084
12085
12086
12087
12088
12089
12090
12091
12092
12093
12094
12095
12096
12097
12098
12099
12100
12101
12102
12103
12104
12105
12106
12107
12108
12109
12110
12111
12112
12113
12114
12115
12116
12117
12118
12119
12120
12121
12122
12123
12124
12125
12126
12127
12128
12129
12130
12131
12132
12133
12134
12135
12136
12137
12138
12139
12140
12141
12142
12143
12144
12145
12146
12147
12148
12149
12150
12151
12152
12153
12154
12155
12156
12157
12158
12159
12160
12161
12162
12163
12164
12165
12166
12167
12168
12169
12170
12171
12172
12173
12174
12175
12176
12177
12178
12179
12180
12181
12182
12183
12184
12185
12186
12187
12188
12189
12190
12191
12192
12193
12194
12195
12196
12197
12198
12199
12200
12201
12202
12203
12204
12205
12206
12207
12208
12209
12210
12211
12212
12213
12214
12215
12216
12217
12218
12219
12220
12221
12222
12223
12224
12225
12226
12227
12228
12229
12230
12231
12232
12233
12234
12235
12236
12237
12238
12239
12240
12241
12242
12243
12244
12245
12246
12247
12248
12249
12250
12251
12252
12253
12254
12255
12256
12257
12258
12259
12260
12261
12262
12263
12264
12265
12266
12267
12268
12269
12270
12271
12272
12273
12274
12275
12276
12277
12278
12279
12280
12281
12282
12283
12284
12285
12286
12287
12288
12289
12290
12291
12292
12293
12294
12295
12296
12297
12298
12299
12300
12301
12302
12303
12304
12305
12306
12307
12308
12309
12310
12311
12312
12313
12314
12315
12316
12317
12318
12319
12320
12321
12322
12323
12324
12325
12326
12327
12328
12329
12330
12331
12332
12333
12334
12335
12336
12337
12338
12339
12340
12341
12342
12343
12344
12345
12346
12347
12348
12349
12350
12351
12352
12353
12354
12355
12356
12357
12358
12359
12360
12361
12362
12363
12364
12365
12366
12367
12368
12369
12370
12371
12372
12373
12374
12375
12376
12377
12378
12379
12380
12381
12382
12383
12384
12385
12386
12387
12388
12389
12390
12391
12392
12393
12394
12395
12396
12397
12398
12399
12400
12401
12402
12403
12404
12405
12406
12407
12408
12409
12410
12411
12412
12413
12414
12415
12416
12417
12418
12419
12420
12421
12422
12423
12424
12425
12426
12427
12428
12429
12430
12431
12432
12433
12434
12435
12436
12437
12438
12439
12440
12441
12442
12443
12444
12445
12446
12447
12448
12449
12450
12451
12452
12453
12454
12455
12456
12457
12458
12459
12460
12461
12462
12463
12464
12465
12466
12467
12468
12469
12470
12471
12472
12473
12474
12475
12476
12477
12478
12479
12480
12481
12482
12483
12484
12485
12486
12487
12488
12489
12490
12491
12492
12493
12494
12495
12496
12497
12498
12499
12500
12501
12502
12503
12504
12505
12506
12507
12508
12509
12510
12511
12512
12513
12514
12515
12516
12517
12518
12519
12520
12521
12522
12523
12524
12525
12526
12527
12528
12529
12530
12531
12532
12533
12534
12535
12536
12537
12538
12539
12540
12541
12542
12543
12544
12545
12546
12547
12548
12549
12550
12551
12552
12553
12554
12555
12556
12557
12558
12559
12560
12561
12562
12563
12564
12565
12566
12567
12568
12569
12570
12571
12572
12573
12574
12575
12576
12577
12578
12579
12580
12581
12582
12583
12584
12585
12586
12587
12588
12589
12590
12591
12592
12593
12594
12595
12596
12597
12598
12599
12600
12601
12602
12603
12604
12605
12606
12607
12608
12609
12610
12611
12612
12613
12614
12615
12616
12617
12618
12619
12620
12621
12622
12623
12624
12625
12626
12627
12628
12629
12630
12631
12632
12633
12634
12635
12636
12637
12638
12639
12640
12641
12642
12643
12644
12645
12646
12647
12648
12649
12650
12651
12652
12653
12654
12655
12656
12657
12658
12659
12660
12661
12662
12663
12664
12665
12666
12667
12668
12669
12670
12671
12672
12673
12674
12675
12676
12677
12678
12679
12680
12681
12682
12683
12684
12685
12686
12687
12688
12689
12690
12691
12692
12693
12694
12695
12696
12697
12698
12699
12700
12701
12702
12703
12704
12705
12706
12707
12708
12709
12710
12711
12712
12713
12714
12715
12716
12717
12718
12719
12720
12721
12722
12723
12724
12725
12726
12727
12728
12729
12730
12731
12732
12733
12734
12735
12736
12737
12738
12739
12740
12741
12742
12743
12744
12745
12746
12747
12748
12749
12750
12751
12752
12753
12754
12755
12756
12757
12758
12759
12760
12761
12762
12763
12764
12765
12766
12767
12768
12769
12770
12771
12772
12773
12774
12775
12776
12777
12778
12779
12780
12781
12782
12783
12784
12785
12786
12787
12788
12789
12790
12791
12792
12793
12794
12795
12796
12797
12798
12799
12800
12801
12802
12803
12804
12805
12806
12807
12808
12809
12810
12811
12812
12813
12814
12815
12816
12817
12818
12819
12820
12821
12822
12823
12824
12825
12826
12827
12828
12829
12830
12831
12832
12833
12834
12835
12836
12837
12838
12839
12840
12841
12842
12843
12844
12845
12846
12847
12848
12849
12850
12851
12852
12853
12854
12855
12856
12857
12858
12859
12860
12861
12862
12863
12864
12865
12866
12867
12868
12869
12870
12871
12872
12873
12874
12875
12876
12877
12878
12879
12880
12881
12882
12883
12884
12885
12886
12887
12888
12889
12890
12891
12892
12893
12894
12895
12896
12897
12898
12899
12900
12901
12902
12903
12904
12905
12906
12907
12908
12909
12910
12911
12912
12913
12914
12915
12916
12917
12918
12919
12920
12921
12922
12923
12924
12925
12926
12927
12928
12929
12930
12931
12932
12933
12934
12935
12936
12937
12938
12939
12940
12941
12942
12943
12944
12945
12946
12947
12948
12949
12950
12951
12952
12953
12954
12955
12956
12957
12958
12959
12960
12961
12962
12963
12964
12965
12966
12967
12968
12969
12970
12971
12972
12973
12974
12975
12976
12977
12978
12979
12980
12981
12982
12983
12984
12985
12986
12987
12988
12989
12990
12991
12992
12993
12994
12995
12996
12997
12998
12999
13000
13001
13002
13003
13004
13005
13006
13007
13008
13009
13010
13011
13012
13013
13014
13015
13016
13017
13018
13019
13020
13021
13022
13023
13024
13025
13026
13027
13028
13029
13030
13031
13032
13033
13034
13035
13036
13037
13038
13039
13040
13041
13042
13043
13044
13045
13046
13047
13048
13049
13050
13051
13052
13053
13054
13055
13056
13057
13058
13059
13060
13061
13062
13063
13064
13065
13066
13067
13068
13069
13070
13071
13072
13073
13074
13075
13076
13077
13078
13079
13080
13081
13082
13083
13084
13085
13086
13087
13088
13089
13090
13091
13092
13093
13094
13095
13096
13097
13098
13099
13100
13101
13102
13103
13104
13105
13106
13107
13108
13109
13110
13111
13112
13113
13114
13115
13116
13117
13118
13119
13120
13121
13122
13123
13124
13125
13126
13127
13128
13129
13130
13131
13132
13133
13134
13135
13136
13137
13138
13139
13140
13141
13142
13143
13144
13145
13146
13147
13148
13149
13150
13151
13152
13153
13154
13155
13156
13157
13158
13159
13160
13161
13162
13163
13164
13165
13166
13167
13168
13169
13170
13171
13172
13173
13174
13175
13176
13177
13178
13179
13180
13181
13182
13183
13184
13185
13186
13187
13188
13189
13190
13191
13192
13193
13194
13195
13196
13197
13198
13199
13200
13201
13202
13203
13204
13205
13206
13207
13208
13209
13210
13211
13212
13213
13214
13215
13216
13217
13218
13219
13220
13221
13222
13223
13224
13225
13226
13227
13228
13229
13230
13231
13232
13233
13234
13235
13236
13237
13238
13239
13240
13241
13242
13243
13244
13245
13246
13247
13248
13249
13250
13251
13252
13253
13254
13255
13256
13257
13258
13259
13260
13261
13262
13263
13264
13265
13266
13267
13268
13269
13270
13271
13272
13273
13274
13275
13276
13277
13278
13279
13280
13281
13282
13283
13284
13285
13286
13287
13288
13289
13290
13291
13292
13293
13294
13295
13296
13297
13298
13299
13300
13301
13302
13303
13304
13305
13306
13307
13308
13309
13310
13311
13312
13313
13314
13315
13316
13317
13318
13319
13320
13321
13322
13323
13324
13325
13326
13327
13328
13329
13330
13331
13332
13333
13334
13335
13336
13337
13338
13339
13340
13341
13342
13343
13344
13345
13346
13347
13348
13349
13350
13351
13352
13353
13354
13355
13356
13357
13358
13359
13360
13361
13362
13363
13364
13365
13366
13367
13368
13369
13370
13371
13372
13373
13374
13375
13376
13377
13378
13379
13380
13381
13382
13383
13384
13385
13386
13387
13388
13389
13390
13391
13392
13393
13394
13395
13396
13397
13398
13399
13400
13401
13402
13403
13404
13405
13406
13407
13408
13409
13410
13411
13412
13413
13414
13415
13416
13417
13418
13419
13420
13421
13422
13423
13424
13425
13426
13427
13428
13429
13430
13431
13432
13433
13434
13435
13436
13437
13438
13439
13440
13441
13442
13443
13444
13445
13446
13447
13448
13449
13450
13451
13452
13453
13454
13455
13456
13457
13458
13459
13460
13461
13462
13463
13464
13465
13466
13467
13468
13469
13470
13471
13472
13473
13474
13475
13476
13477
13478
13479
13480
13481
13482
13483
13484
13485
13486
13487
13488
13489
13490
13491
13492
13493
13494
13495
13496
13497
13498
13499
13500
13501
13502
13503
13504
13505
13506
13507
13508
13509
13510
13511
13512
13513
13514
13515
13516
13517
13518
13519
13520
13521
13522
13523
13524
13525
13526
13527
13528
13529
13530
13531
13532
13533
13534
13535
13536
13537
13538
13539
13540
13541
13542
13543
13544
13545
13546
13547
13548
13549
13550
13551
13552
13553
13554
13555
13556
13557
13558
13559
13560
13561
13562
13563
13564
13565
13566
13567
13568
13569
13570
13571
13572
13573
13574
13575
13576
13577
13578
13579
13580
13581
13582
13583
13584
13585
13586
13587
13588
13589
13590
13591
13592
13593
13594
13595
13596
13597
13598
13599
13600
13601
13602
13603
13604
13605
13606
13607
13608
13609
13610
13611
13612
13613
13614
13615
13616
13617
13618
13619
13620
13621
13622
13623
13624
13625
13626
13627
13628
13629
13630
13631
13632
13633
13634
13635
13636
13637
13638
13639
13640
13641
13642
13643
13644
13645
13646
13647
13648
13649
13650
13651
13652
13653
13654
13655
13656
13657
13658
13659
13660
13661
13662
13663
13664
13665
13666
13667
13668
13669
13670
13671
13672
13673
13674
13675
13676
13677
13678
13679
13680
13681
13682
13683
13684
13685
13686
13687
13688
13689
13690
13691
13692
13693
13694
13695
13696
13697
13698
13699
13700
13701
13702
13703
13704
13705
13706
13707
13708
13709
13710
13711
13712
13713
13714
13715
13716
13717
13718
13719
13720
13721
13722
13723
13724
13725
13726
13727
13728
13729
13730
13731
13732
13733
13734
13735
13736
13737
13738
13739
13740
13741
13742
13743
13744
13745
13746
13747
13748
13749
13750
13751
13752
13753
13754
13755
13756
13757
13758
13759
13760
13761
13762
13763
13764
13765
13766
13767
13768
13769
13770
13771
13772
13773
13774
13775
13776
13777
13778
13779
13780
13781
13782
13783
13784
13785
13786
13787
13788
13789
13790
13791
13792
13793
13794
13795
13796
13797
13798
13799
13800
13801
13802
13803
13804
13805
13806
13807
13808
13809
13810
13811
13812
13813
13814
13815
13816
13817
13818
13819
13820
13821
13822
13823
13824
13825
13826
13827
13828
13829
13830
13831
13832
13833
13834
13835
13836
13837
13838
13839
13840
13841
13842
13843
13844
13845
13846
13847
13848
13849
13850
13851
13852
13853
13854
13855
13856
13857
13858
13859
13860
13861
13862
13863
13864
13865
13866
13867
13868
13869
13870
13871
13872
13873
13874
13875
13876
13877
13878
13879
13880
13881
13882
13883
13884
13885
13886
13887
13888
13889
13890
13891
13892
13893
13894
13895
13896
13897
13898
13899
13900
13901
13902
13903
13904
13905
13906
13907
13908
13909
13910
13911
13912
13913
13914
13915
13916
13917
13918
13919
13920
13921
13922
13923
13924
13925
13926
13927
13928
13929
13930
13931
13932
13933
13934
13935
13936
13937
13938
13939
13940
13941
13942
13943
13944
13945
13946
13947
13948
13949
13950
13951
13952
13953
13954
13955
13956
13957
13958
13959
13960
13961
13962
13963
13964
13965
13966
13967
13968
13969
13970
13971
13972
13973
13974
13975
13976
13977
13978
13979
13980
13981
13982
13983
13984
13985
13986
13987
13988
13989
13990
13991
13992
13993
13994
13995
13996
13997
13998
13999
14000
14001
14002
14003
14004
14005
14006
14007
14008
14009
14010
14011
14012
14013
14014
14015
14016
14017
14018
14019
14020
14021
14022
14023
14024
14025
14026
14027
14028
14029
14030
14031
14032
14033
14034
14035
14036
14037
14038
14039
14040
14041
14042
14043
14044
14045
14046
14047
14048
14049
14050
14051
14052
14053
14054
14055
14056
14057
14058
14059
14060
14061
14062
14063
14064
14065
14066
14067
14068
14069
14070
14071
14072
14073
14074
14075
14076
14077
14078
14079
14080
14081
14082
14083
14084
14085
14086
14087
14088
14089
14090
14091
14092
14093
14094
14095
14096
14097
14098
14099
14100
14101
14102
14103
14104
14105
14106
14107
14108
14109
14110
14111
14112
14113
14114
14115
14116
14117
14118
14119
14120
14121
14122
14123
14124
14125
14126
14127
14128
14129
14130
14131
14132
14133
14134
14135
14136
14137
14138
14139
14140
14141
14142
14143
14144
14145
14146
14147
14148
14149
14150
14151
14152
14153
14154
14155
14156
14157
14158
14159
14160
14161
14162
14163
14164
14165
14166
14167
14168
14169
14170
14171
14172
14173
14174
14175
14176
14177
14178
14179
14180
14181
14182
14183
14184
14185
14186
14187
14188
14189
14190
14191
14192
14193
14194
14195
14196
14197
14198
14199
14200
14201
14202
14203
14204
14205
14206
14207
14208
14209
14210
14211
14212
14213
14214
14215
14216
14217
14218
14219
14220
14221
14222
14223
14224
14225
14226
14227
14228
14229
14230
14231
14232
14233
14234
14235
14236
14237
14238
14239
14240
14241
14242
14243
14244
14245
14246
14247
14248
14249
14250
14251
14252
14253
14254
14255
14256
14257
14258
14259
14260
14261
14262
14263
14264
14265
14266
14267
14268
14269
14270
14271
14272
14273
14274
14275
14276
14277
14278
14279
14280
14281
14282
14283
14284
14285
14286
14287
14288
14289
14290
14291
14292
14293
14294
14295
14296
14297
14298
14299
14300
14301
14302
14303
14304
14305
14306
14307
14308
14309
14310
14311
14312
14313
14314
14315
14316
14317
14318
14319
14320
14321
14322
14323
14324
14325
14326
14327
14328
14329
14330
14331
14332
14333
14334
14335
14336
14337
14338
14339
14340
14341
14342
14343
14344
14345
14346
14347
14348
14349
14350
14351
14352
14353
14354
14355
14356
14357
14358
14359
14360
14361
14362
14363
14364
14365
14366
14367
14368
14369
14370
14371
14372
14373
14374
14375
14376
14377
14378
14379
14380
14381
14382
14383
14384
14385
14386
14387
14388
14389
14390
14391
14392
14393
14394
14395
14396
14397
14398
14399
14400
14401
14402
14403
14404
14405
14406
14407
14408
14409
14410
14411
14412
14413
14414
14415
14416
14417
14418
14419
14420
14421
14422
14423
14424
14425
14426
14427
14428
14429
14430
14431
14432
14433
14434
14435
14436
14437
14438
14439
14440
14441
14442
14443
14444
14445
14446
14447
14448
14449
14450
14451
14452
14453
14454
14455
14456
14457
14458
14459
14460
14461
14462
14463
14464
14465
14466
14467
14468
14469
14470
14471
14472
14473
14474
14475
14476
14477
14478
14479
14480
14481
14482
14483
14484
14485
14486
14487
14488
14489
14490
14491
14492
14493
14494
14495
14496
14497
14498
14499
14500
14501
14502
14503
14504
14505
14506
14507
14508
14509
14510
14511
14512
14513
14514
14515
14516
14517
14518
14519
14520
14521
14522
14523
14524
14525
14526
14527
14528
14529
14530
14531
14532
14533
14534
14535
14536
14537
14538
14539
14540
14541
14542
14543
14544
14545
14546
14547
14548
14549
14550
14551
14552
14553
14554
14555
14556
14557
14558
14559
14560
14561
14562
14563
14564
14565
14566
14567
14568
14569
14570
14571
14572
14573
14574
14575
14576
14577
14578
14579
14580
14581
14582
14583
14584
14585
14586
14587
14588
14589
14590
14591
14592
14593
14594
14595
14596
14597
14598
14599
14600
14601
14602
14603
14604
14605
14606
14607
14608
14609
14610
14611
14612
14613
14614
14615
14616
14617
14618
14619
14620
14621
14622
14623
14624
14625
14626
14627
14628
14629
14630
14631
14632
14633
14634
14635
14636
14637
14638
14639
14640
14641
14642
14643
14644
14645
14646
14647
14648
14649
14650
14651
14652
14653
14654
14655
14656
14657
14658
14659
14660
14661
14662
14663
14664
14665
14666
14667
14668
14669
14670
14671
14672
14673
14674
14675
14676
14677
14678
14679
14680
14681
14682
14683
14684
14685
14686
14687
14688
14689
14690
14691
14692
14693
14694
14695
14696
14697
14698
14699
14700
14701
14702
14703
14704
14705
14706
14707
14708
14709
14710
14711
14712
14713
14714
14715
14716
14717
14718
14719
14720
14721
14722
14723
14724
14725
14726
14727
14728
14729
14730
14731
14732
14733
14734
14735
14736
14737
14738
14739
14740
14741
14742
14743
14744
14745
14746
14747
14748
14749
14750
14751
14752
14753
14754
14755
14756
14757
14758
14759
14760
14761
14762
14763
14764
14765
14766
14767
14768
14769
14770
14771
14772
14773
14774
14775
14776
14777
14778
14779
14780
14781
14782
14783
14784
14785
14786
14787
14788
14789
14790
14791
14792
14793
14794
14795
14796
14797
14798
14799
14800
14801
14802
14803
14804
14805
14806
14807
14808
14809
14810
14811
14812
14813
14814
14815
14816
14817
14818
14819
14820
14821
14822
14823
14824
14825
14826
14827
14828
14829
14830
14831
14832
14833
14834
14835
14836
14837
14838
14839
14840
14841
14842
14843
14844
14845
14846
14847
14848
14849
14850
14851
14852
14853
14854
14855
14856
14857
14858
14859
14860
14861
14862
14863
14864
14865
14866
14867
14868
14869
14870
14871
14872
14873
14874
14875
14876
14877
14878
14879
14880
14881
14882
14883
14884
14885
14886
14887
14888
14889
14890
14891
14892
14893
14894
14895
14896
14897
14898
14899
14900
14901
14902
14903
14904
14905
14906
14907
14908
14909
14910
14911
14912
14913
14914
14915
14916
14917
14918
14919
14920
14921
14922
14923
14924
14925
14926
14927
14928
14929
14930
14931
14932
14933
14934
14935
14936
14937
14938
14939
14940
14941
14942
14943
14944
14945
14946
14947
14948
14949
14950
14951
14952
14953
14954
14955
14956
14957
14958
14959
14960
14961
14962
14963
14964
14965
14966
14967
14968
14969
14970
14971
14972
14973
14974
14975
14976
14977
14978
14979
14980
14981
14982
14983
14984
14985
14986
14987
14988
14989
14990
14991
14992
14993
14994
14995
14996
14997
14998
14999
15000
15001
15002
15003
15004
15005
15006
15007
15008
15009
15010
15011
15012
15013
15014
15015
15016
15017
15018
15019
15020
15021
15022
15023
15024
15025
15026
15027
15028
15029
15030
15031
15032
15033
15034
15035
15036
15037
15038
15039
15040
15041
15042
15043
15044
15045
15046
15047
15048
15049
15050
15051
15052
15053
15054
15055
15056
15057
15058
15059
15060
15061
15062
15063
15064
15065
15066
15067
15068
15069
15070
15071
15072
15073
15074
15075
15076
15077
15078
15079
15080
15081
15082
15083
15084
15085
15086
15087
15088
15089
15090
15091
15092
15093
15094
15095
15096
15097
15098
15099
15100
15101
15102
15103
15104
15105
15106
15107
15108
15109
15110
15111
15112
15113
15114
15115
15116
15117
15118
15119
15120
15121
15122
15123
15124
15125
15126
15127
15128
15129
15130
15131
15132
15133
15134
15135
15136
15137
15138
15139
15140
15141
15142
15143
15144
15145
15146
15147
15148
15149
15150
15151
15152
15153
15154
15155
15156
15157
15158
15159
15160
15161
15162
15163
15164
15165
15166
15167
15168
15169
15170
15171
15172
15173
15174
15175
15176
15177
15178
15179
15180
15181
15182
15183
15184
15185
15186
15187
15188
15189
15190
15191
15192
15193
15194
15195
15196
15197
15198
15199
15200
15201
15202
15203
15204
15205
15206
15207
15208
15209
15210
15211
15212
15213
15214
15215
15216
15217
15218
15219
15220
15221
15222
15223
15224
15225
15226
15227
15228
15229
15230
15231
15232
15233
15234
15235
15236
15237
15238
15239
15240
15241
15242
15243
15244
15245
15246
15247
15248
15249
15250
15251
15252
15253
15254
15255
15256
15257
15258
15259
15260
15261
15262
15263
15264
15265
15266
15267
15268
15269
15270
15271
15272
15273
15274
15275
15276
15277
15278
15279
15280
15281
15282
15283
15284
15285
15286
15287
15288
15289
15290
15291
15292
15293
15294
15295
15296
15297
15298
15299
15300
15301
15302
15303
15304
15305
15306
15307
15308
15309
15310
15311
15312
15313
15314
15315
15316
15317
15318
15319
15320
15321
15322
15323
15324
15325
15326
15327
15328
15329
15330
15331
15332
15333
15334
15335
15336
15337
15338
15339
15340
15341
15342
15343
15344
15345
15346
15347
15348
15349
15350
15351
15352
15353
15354
15355
15356
15357
15358
15359
15360
15361
15362
15363
15364
15365
15366
15367
15368
15369
15370
15371
15372
15373
15374
15375
15376
15377
15378
15379
15380
15381
15382
15383
15384
15385
15386
15387
15388
15389
15390
15391
15392
15393
15394
15395
15396
15397
15398
15399
15400
15401
15402
15403
15404
15405
15406
15407
15408
15409
15410
15411
15412
15413
15414
15415
15416
15417
15418
15419
15420
15421
15422
15423
15424
15425
15426
15427
15428
15429
15430
15431
15432
15433
15434
15435
15436
15437
15438
15439
15440
15441
15442
15443
15444
15445
15446
15447
15448
15449
15450
15451
15452
15453
15454
15455
15456
15457
15458
15459
15460
15461
15462
15463
15464
15465
15466
15467
15468
15469
15470
15471
15472
15473
15474
15475
15476
15477
15478
15479
15480
15481
15482
15483
15484
15485
15486
15487
15488
15489
15490
15491
15492
15493
15494
15495
15496
15497
15498
15499
15500
15501
15502
15503
15504
15505
15506
15507
15508
15509
15510
15511
15512
15513
15514
15515
15516
15517
15518
15519
15520
15521
15522
15523
15524
15525
15526
15527
15528
15529
15530
15531
15532
15533
15534
15535
15536
15537
15538
15539
15540
15541
15542
15543
15544
15545
15546
15547
15548
15549
15550
15551
15552
15553
15554
15555
15556
15557
15558
15559
15560
15561
15562
15563
15564
15565
15566
15567
15568
15569
15570
15571
15572
15573
15574
15575
15576
15577
15578
15579
15580
15581
15582
15583
15584
15585
15586
15587
15588
15589
15590
15591
15592
15593
15594
15595
15596
15597
15598
15599
15600
15601
15602
15603
15604
15605
15606
15607
15608
15609
15610
15611
15612
15613
15614
15615
15616
15617
15618
15619
15620
15621
15622
15623
15624
15625
15626
15627
15628
15629
15630
15631
15632
15633
15634
15635
15636
15637
15638
15639
15640
15641
15642
15643
15644
15645
15646
15647
15648
15649
15650
15651
15652
15653
15654
15655
15656
15657
15658
15659
15660
15661
15662
15663
15664
15665
15666
15667
15668
15669
15670
15671
15672
15673
15674
15675
15676
15677
15678
15679
15680
15681
15682
15683
15684
15685
15686
15687
15688
15689
15690
15691
15692
15693
15694
15695
15696
15697
15698
15699
15700
15701
15702
15703
15704
15705
15706
15707
15708
15709
15710
15711
15712
15713
15714
15715
15716
15717
15718
15719
15720
15721
15722
15723
15724
15725
15726
15727
15728
15729
15730
15731
15732
15733
15734
15735
15736
15737
15738
15739
15740
15741
15742
15743
15744
15745
15746
15747
15748
15749
15750
15751
15752
15753
15754
15755
15756
15757
15758
15759
15760
15761
15762
15763
15764
15765
15766
15767
15768
15769
15770
15771
15772
15773
15774
15775
15776
15777
15778
15779
15780
15781
15782
15783
15784
15785
15786
15787
15788
15789
15790
15791
15792
15793
15794
15795
15796
15797
15798
15799
15800
15801
15802
15803
15804
15805
15806
15807
15808
15809
15810
15811
15812
15813
15814
15815
15816
15817
15818
15819
15820
15821
15822
15823
15824
15825
15826
15827
15828
15829
15830
15831
15832
15833
15834
15835
15836
15837
15838
15839
15840
15841
15842
15843
15844
15845
15846
15847
15848
15849
15850
15851
15852
15853
15854
15855
15856
15857
15858
15859
15860
15861
15862
15863
15864
15865
15866
15867
15868
15869
15870
15871
15872
15873
15874
15875
15876
15877
15878
15879
15880
15881
15882
15883
15884
15885
15886
15887
15888
15889
15890
15891
15892
15893
15894
15895
15896
15897
15898
15899
15900
15901
15902
15903
15904
15905
15906
15907
15908
15909
15910
15911
15912
15913
15914
15915
15916
15917
15918
15919
15920
15921
15922
15923
15924
15925
15926
15927
15928
15929
15930
15931
15932
15933
15934
15935
15936
15937
15938
15939
15940
15941
15942
15943
15944
15945
15946
15947
15948
15949
15950
15951
15952
15953
15954
15955
15956
15957
15958
15959
15960
15961
15962
15963
15964
15965
15966
15967
15968
15969
15970
15971
15972
15973
15974
15975
15976
15977
15978
15979
15980
15981
15982
15983
15984
15985
15986
15987
15988
15989
15990
15991
15992
15993
15994
15995
15996
15997
15998
15999
16000
16001
16002
16003
16004
16005
16006
16007
16008
16009
16010
16011
16012
16013
16014
16015
16016
16017
16018
16019
16020
16021
16022
16023
16024
16025
16026
16027
16028
16029
16030
16031
16032
16033
16034
16035
16036
16037
16038
16039
16040
16041
16042
16043
16044
16045
16046
16047
16048
16049
16050
16051
16052
16053
16054
16055
16056
16057
16058
16059
16060
16061
16062
16063
16064
16065
16066
16067
16068
16069
16070
16071
16072
16073
16074
16075
16076
16077
16078
16079
16080
16081
16082
16083
16084
16085
16086
16087
16088
16089
16090
16091
16092
16093
16094
16095
16096
16097
16098
16099
16100
16101
16102
16103
16104
16105
16106
16107
16108
16109
16110
16111
16112
16113
16114
16115
16116
16117
16118
16119
16120
16121
16122
16123
16124
16125
16126
16127
16128
16129
16130
16131
16132
16133
16134
16135
16136
16137
16138
16139
16140
16141
16142
16143
16144
16145
16146
16147
16148
16149
16150
16151
16152
16153
16154
16155
16156
16157
16158
16159
16160
16161
16162
16163
16164
16165
16166
16167
16168
16169
16170
16171
16172
16173
16174
16175
16176
16177
16178
16179
16180
16181
16182
16183
16184
16185
16186
16187
16188
16189
16190
16191
16192
16193
16194
16195
16196
16197
16198
16199
16200
16201
16202
16203
16204
16205
16206
16207
16208
16209
16210
16211
16212
16213
16214
16215
16216
16217
16218
16219
16220
16221
16222
16223
16224
16225
16226
16227
16228
16229
16230
16231
16232
16233
16234
16235
16236
16237
16238
16239
16240
16241
16242
16243
16244
16245
16246
16247
16248
16249
16250
16251
16252
16253
16254
16255
16256
16257
16258
16259
16260
16261
16262
16263
16264
16265
16266
16267
16268
16269
16270
16271
16272
16273
16274
16275
16276
16277
16278
16279
16280
16281
16282
16283
16284
16285
16286
16287
16288
16289
16290
16291
16292
16293
16294
16295
16296
16297
16298
16299
16300
16301
16302
16303
16304
16305
16306
16307
16308
16309
16310
16311
16312
16313
16314
16315
16316
16317
16318
16319
16320
16321
16322
16323
16324
16325
16326
16327
16328
16329
16330
16331
16332
16333
16334
16335
16336
16337
16338
16339
16340
16341
16342
16343
16344
16345
16346
16347
16348
16349
16350
16351
16352
16353
16354
16355
16356
16357
16358
16359
16360
16361
16362
16363
16364
16365
16366
16367
16368
16369
16370
16371
16372
16373
16374
16375
16376
16377
16378
16379
16380
16381
16382
16383
16384
16385
16386
16387
16388
16389
16390
16391
16392
16393
16394
16395
16396
16397
16398
16399
16400
16401
16402
16403
16404
16405
16406
16407
16408
16409
16410
16411
16412
16413
16414
16415
16416
16417
16418
16419
16420
16421
16422
16423
16424
16425
16426
16427
16428
16429
16430
16431
16432
16433
16434
16435
16436
16437
16438
16439
16440
16441
16442
16443
16444
16445
16446
16447
16448
16449
16450
16451
16452
16453
16454
16455
16456
16457
16458
16459
16460
16461
16462
16463
16464
16465
16466
16467
16468
16469
16470
16471
16472
16473
16474
16475
16476
16477
16478
16479
16480
16481
16482
16483
16484
16485
16486
16487
16488
16489
16490
16491
16492
16493
16494
16495
16496
16497
16498
16499
16500
16501
16502
16503
16504
16505
16506
16507
16508
16509
16510
16511
16512
16513
16514
16515
16516
16517
16518
16519
16520
16521
16522
16523
16524
16525
16526
16527
16528
16529
16530
16531
16532
16533
16534
16535
16536
16537
16538
16539
16540
16541
16542
16543
16544
16545
16546
16547
16548
16549
16550
16551
16552
16553
16554
16555
16556
16557
16558
16559
16560
16561
16562
16563
16564
16565
16566
16567
16568
16569
16570
16571
16572
16573
16574
16575
16576
16577
16578
16579
16580
16581
16582
16583
16584
16585
16586
16587
16588
16589
16590
16591
16592
16593
16594
16595
16596
16597
16598
16599
16600
16601
16602
16603
16604
16605
16606
16607
16608
16609
16610
16611
16612
16613
16614
16615
16616
16617
16618
16619
16620
16621
16622
16623
16624
16625
16626
16627
16628
16629
16630
16631
16632
16633
16634
16635
16636
16637
16638
16639
16640
16641
16642
16643
16644
16645
16646
16647
16648
16649
16650
16651
16652
16653
16654
16655
16656
16657
16658
16659
16660
16661
16662
16663
16664
16665
16666
16667
16668
16669
16670
16671
16672
16673
16674
16675
16676
16677
16678
16679
16680
16681
16682
16683
16684
16685
16686
16687
16688
16689
16690
16691
16692
16693
16694
16695
16696
16697
16698
16699
16700
16701
16702
16703
16704
16705
16706
16707
16708
16709
16710
16711
16712
16713
16714
16715
16716
16717
16718
16719
16720
16721
16722
16723
16724
16725
16726
16727
16728
16729
16730
16731
16732
16733
16734
16735
16736
16737
16738
16739
16740
16741
16742
16743
16744
16745
16746
16747
16748
16749
16750
16751
16752
16753
16754
16755
16756
16757
16758
16759
16760
16761
16762
16763
16764
16765
16766
16767
16768
16769
16770
16771
16772
16773
16774
16775
16776
16777
16778
16779
16780
16781
16782
16783
16784
16785
16786
16787
16788
16789
16790
16791
16792
16793
16794
16795
16796
16797
16798
16799
16800
16801
16802
16803
16804
16805
16806
16807
16808
16809
16810
16811
16812
16813
16814
16815
16816
16817
16818
16819
16820
16821
16822
16823
16824
16825
16826
16827
16828
16829
16830
16831
16832
16833
16834
16835
16836
16837
16838
16839
16840
16841
16842
16843
16844
16845
16846
16847
16848
16849
16850
16851
16852
16853
16854
16855
16856
16857
16858
16859
16860
16861
16862
16863
16864
16865
16866
16867
16868
16869
16870
16871
16872
16873
16874
16875
16876
16877
16878
16879
16880
16881
16882
16883
16884
16885
16886
16887
16888
16889
16890
16891
16892
16893
16894
16895
16896
16897
16898
16899
16900
16901
16902
16903
16904
16905
16906
16907
16908
16909
16910
16911
16912
16913
16914
16915
16916
16917
16918
16919
16920
16921
16922
16923
16924
16925
16926
16927
16928
16929
16930
16931
16932
16933
16934
16935
16936
16937
16938
16939
16940
16941
16942
16943
16944
16945
16946
16947
16948
16949
16950
16951
16952
16953
16954
16955
16956
16957
16958
16959
16960
16961
16962
16963
16964
16965
16966
16967
16968
16969
16970
16971
16972
16973
16974
16975
16976
16977
16978
16979
16980
16981
16982
16983
16984
16985
16986
16987
16988
16989
16990
16991
16992
16993
16994
16995
16996
16997
16998
16999
17000
17001
17002
17003
17004
17005
17006
17007
17008
17009
17010
17011
17012
17013
17014
17015
17016
17017
17018
17019
17020
17021
17022
17023
17024
17025
17026
17027
17028
17029
17030
17031
17032
17033
17034
17035
17036
17037
17038
17039
17040
17041
17042
17043
17044
17045
17046
17047
17048
17049
17050
17051
17052
17053
17054
17055
17056
17057
17058
17059
17060
17061
17062
17063
17064
17065
17066
17067
17068
17069
17070
17071
17072
17073
17074
17075
17076
17077
17078
17079
17080
17081
17082
17083
17084
17085
17086
17087
17088
17089
17090
17091
17092
17093
17094
17095
17096
17097
17098
17099
17100
17101
17102
17103
17104
17105
17106
17107
17108
17109
17110
17111
17112
17113
17114
17115
17116
17117
17118
17119
17120
17121
17122
17123
17124
17125
17126
17127
17128
17129
17130
17131
17132
17133
17134
17135
17136
17137
17138
17139
17140
17141
17142
17143
17144
17145
17146
17147
17148
17149
17150
17151
17152
17153
17154
17155
17156
17157
17158
17159
17160
17161
17162
17163
17164
17165
17166
17167
17168
17169
17170
17171
17172
17173
17174
17175
17176
17177
17178
17179
17180
17181
17182
17183
17184
17185
17186
17187
17188
17189
17190
17191
17192
17193
17194
17195
17196
17197
17198
17199
17200
17201
17202
17203
17204
17205
17206
17207
17208
17209
17210
17211
17212
17213
17214
17215
17216
17217
17218
17219
17220
17221
17222
17223
17224
17225
17226
17227
17228
17229
17230
17231
17232
17233
17234
17235
17236
17237
17238
17239
17240
17241
17242
17243
17244
17245
17246
17247
17248
17249
17250
17251
17252
17253
17254
17255
17256
17257
17258
17259
17260
17261
17262
17263
17264
17265
17266
17267
17268
17269
17270
17271
17272
17273
17274
17275
17276
17277
17278
17279
17280
17281
17282
17283
17284
17285
17286
17287
17288
17289
17290
17291
17292
17293
17294
17295
17296
17297
17298
17299
17300
17301
17302
17303
17304
17305
17306
17307
17308
17309
17310
17311
17312
17313
17314
17315
17316
17317
17318
17319
17320
17321
17322
17323
17324
17325
17326
17327
17328
17329
17330
17331
17332
17333
17334
17335
17336
17337
17338
17339
17340
17341
17342
17343
17344
17345
17346
17347
17348
17349
17350
17351
17352
17353
17354
17355
17356
17357
17358
17359
17360
17361
17362
17363
17364
17365
17366
17367
17368
17369
17370
17371
17372
17373
17374
17375
17376
17377
17378
17379
17380
17381
17382
17383
17384
17385
17386
17387
17388
17389
17390
17391
17392
17393
17394
17395
17396
17397
17398
17399
17400
17401
17402
17403
17404
17405
17406
17407
17408
17409
17410
17411
17412
17413
17414
17415
17416
17417
17418
17419
17420
17421
17422
17423
17424
17425
17426
17427
17428
17429
17430
17431
17432
17433
17434
17435
17436
17437
17438
17439
17440
17441
17442
17443
17444
17445
17446
17447
17448
17449
17450
17451
17452
17453
17454
17455
17456
17457
17458
17459
17460
17461
17462
17463
17464
17465
17466
17467
17468
17469
17470
17471
17472
17473
17474
17475
17476
17477
17478
17479
17480
17481
17482
17483
17484
17485
17486
17487
17488
17489
17490
17491
17492
17493
17494
17495
17496
17497
17498
17499
17500
17501
17502
17503
17504
17505
17506
17507
17508
17509
17510
17511
17512
17513
17514
17515
17516
17517
17518
17519
17520
17521
17522
17523
17524
17525
17526
17527
17528
17529
17530
17531
17532
17533
17534
17535
17536
17537
17538
17539
17540
17541
17542
17543
17544
17545
17546
17547
17548
17549
17550
17551
17552
17553
17554
17555
17556
17557
17558
17559
17560
17561
17562
17563
17564
17565
17566
17567
17568
17569
17570
17571
17572
17573
17574
17575
17576
17577
17578
17579
17580
17581
17582
17583
17584
17585
17586
17587
17588
17589
17590
17591
17592
17593
17594
17595
17596
17597
17598
17599
17600
17601
17602
17603
17604
17605
17606
17607
17608
17609
17610
17611
17612
17613
17614
17615
17616
17617
17618
17619
17620
17621
17622
17623
17624
17625
17626
17627
17628
17629
17630
17631
17632
17633
17634
17635
17636
17637
17638
17639
17640
17641
17642
17643
17644
17645
17646
17647
17648
17649
17650
17651
17652
17653
17654
17655
17656
17657
17658
17659
17660
17661
17662
17663
17664
17665
17666
17667
17668
17669
17670
17671
17672
17673
17674
17675
17676
17677
17678
17679
17680
17681
17682
17683
17684
17685
17686
17687
17688
17689
17690
17691
17692
17693
17694
17695
17696
17697
17698
17699
17700
17701
17702
17703
17704
17705
17706
17707
17708
17709
17710
17711
17712
17713
17714
17715
17716
17717
17718
17719
17720
17721
17722
17723
17724
17725
17726
17727
17728
17729
17730
17731
17732
17733
17734
17735
17736
17737
17738
17739
17740
17741
17742
17743
17744
17745
17746
17747
17748
17749
17750
17751
17752
17753
17754
17755
17756
17757
17758
17759
17760
17761
17762
17763
17764
17765
17766
17767
17768
17769
17770
17771
17772
17773
17774
17775
17776
17777
17778
17779
17780
17781
17782
17783
17784
17785
17786
17787
17788
17789
17790
17791
17792
17793
17794
17795
17796
17797
17798
17799
17800
17801
17802
17803
17804
17805
17806
17807
17808
17809
17810
17811
17812
17813
17814
17815
17816
17817
17818
17819
17820
17821
17822
17823
17824
17825
17826
17827
17828
17829
17830
17831
17832
17833
17834
17835
17836
17837
17838
17839
17840
17841
17842
17843
17844
17845
17846
17847
17848
17849
17850
17851
17852
17853
17854
17855
17856
17857
17858
17859
17860
17861
17862
17863
17864
17865
17866
17867
17868
17869
17870
17871
17872
17873
17874
17875
17876
17877
17878
17879
17880
17881
17882
17883
17884
17885
17886
17887
17888
17889
17890
17891
17892
17893
17894
17895
17896
17897
17898
17899
17900
17901
17902
17903
17904
17905
17906
17907
17908
17909
17910
17911
17912
17913
17914
17915
17916
17917
17918
17919
17920
17921
17922
17923
17924
17925
17926
17927
17928
17929
17930
17931
17932
17933
17934
17935
17936
17937
17938
17939
17940
17941
17942
17943
17944
17945
17946
17947
17948
17949
17950
17951
17952
17953
17954
17955
17956
17957
17958
17959
17960
17961
17962
17963
17964
17965
17966
17967
17968
17969
17970
17971
17972
17973
17974
17975
17976
17977
17978
17979
17980
17981
17982
17983
17984
17985
17986
17987
17988
17989
17990
17991
17992
17993
17994
17995
17996
17997
17998
17999
18000
18001
18002
18003
18004
18005
18006
18007
18008
18009
18010
18011
18012
18013
18014
18015
18016
18017
18018
18019
18020
18021
18022
18023
18024
18025
18026
18027
18028
18029
18030
18031
18032
18033
18034
18035
18036
18037
18038
18039
18040
18041
18042
18043
18044
18045
18046
18047
18048
18049
18050
18051
18052
18053
18054
18055
18056
18057
18058
18059
18060
18061
18062
18063
18064
18065
18066
18067
18068
18069
18070
18071
18072
18073
18074
18075
18076
18077
18078
18079
18080
18081
18082
18083
18084
18085
18086
18087
18088
18089
18090
18091
18092
18093
18094
18095
18096
18097
18098
18099
18100
18101
18102
18103
18104
18105
18106
18107
18108
18109
18110
18111
18112
18113
18114
18115
18116
18117
18118
18119
18120
18121
18122
18123
18124
18125
18126
18127
18128
18129
18130
18131
18132
18133
18134
18135
18136
18137
18138
18139
18140
18141
18142
18143
18144
18145
18146
18147
18148
18149
18150
18151
18152
18153
18154
18155
18156
18157
18158
18159
18160
18161
18162
18163
18164
18165
18166
18167
18168
18169
18170
18171
18172
18173
18174
18175
18176
18177
18178
18179
18180
18181
18182
18183
18184
18185
18186
18187
18188
18189
18190
18191
18192
18193
18194
18195
18196
18197
18198
18199
18200
18201
18202
18203
18204
18205
18206
18207
18208
18209
18210
18211
18212
18213
18214
18215
18216
18217
18218
18219
18220
18221
18222
18223
18224
18225
18226
18227
18228
18229
18230
18231
18232
18233
18234
18235
18236
18237
18238
18239
18240
18241
18242
18243
18244
18245
18246
18247
18248
18249
18250
18251
18252
18253
18254
18255
18256
18257
18258
18259
18260
18261
18262
18263
18264
18265
18266
18267
18268
18269
18270
18271
18272
18273
18274
18275
18276
18277
18278
18279
18280
18281
18282
18283
18284
18285
18286
18287
18288
18289
18290
18291
18292
18293
18294
18295
18296
18297
18298
18299
18300
18301
18302
18303
18304
18305
18306
18307
18308
18309
18310
18311
18312
18313
18314
18315
18316
18317
18318
18319
18320
18321
18322
18323
18324
18325
18326
18327
18328
18329
18330
18331
18332
18333
18334
18335
18336
18337
18338
18339
18340
18341
18342
18343
18344
18345
18346
18347
18348
18349
18350
18351
18352
18353
18354
18355
18356
18357
18358
18359
18360
18361
18362
18363
18364
18365
18366
18367
18368
18369
18370
18371
18372
18373
18374
18375
18376
18377
18378
18379
18380
18381
18382
18383
18384
18385
18386
18387
18388
18389
18390
18391
18392
18393
18394
18395
18396
18397
18398
18399
18400
18401
18402
18403
18404
18405
18406
18407
18408
18409
18410
18411
18412
18413
18414
18415
18416
18417
18418
18419
18420
18421
18422
18423
18424
18425
18426
18427
18428
18429
18430
18431
18432
18433
18434
18435
18436
18437
18438
18439
18440
18441
18442
18443
18444
18445
18446
18447
18448
18449
18450
18451
18452
18453
18454
18455
18456
18457
18458
18459
18460
18461
18462
18463
18464
18465
18466
18467
18468
18469
18470
18471
18472
18473
18474
18475
18476
18477
18478
18479
18480
18481
18482
18483
18484
18485
18486
18487
18488
18489
18490
18491
18492
18493
18494
18495
18496
18497
18498
18499
18500
18501
18502
18503
18504
18505
18506
18507
18508
18509
18510
18511
18512
18513
18514
18515
18516
18517
18518
18519
18520
18521
18522
18523
18524
18525
18526
18527
18528
18529
18530
18531
18532
18533
18534
18535
18536
18537
18538
18539
18540
18541
18542
18543
18544
18545
18546
18547
18548
18549
18550
18551
18552
18553
18554
18555
18556
18557
18558
18559
18560
18561
18562
18563
18564
18565
18566
18567
18568
18569
18570
18571
18572
18573
18574
18575
18576
18577
18578
18579
18580
18581
18582
18583
18584
18585
18586
18587
18588
18589
18590
18591
18592
18593
18594
18595
18596
18597
18598
18599
18600
18601
18602
18603
18604
18605
18606
18607
18608
18609
18610
18611
18612
18613
18614
18615
18616
18617
18618
18619
18620
18621
18622
18623
18624
18625
18626
18627
18628
18629
18630
18631
18632
18633
18634
18635
18636
18637
18638
18639
18640
18641
18642
18643
18644
18645
18646
18647
18648
18649
18650
18651
18652
18653
18654
18655
18656
18657
18658
18659
18660
18661
18662
18663
18664
18665
18666
18667
18668
18669
18670
18671
18672
18673
18674
18675
18676
18677
18678
18679
18680
18681
18682
18683
18684
18685
18686
18687
18688
18689
18690
18691
18692
18693
18694
18695
18696
18697
18698
18699
18700
18701
18702
18703
18704
18705
18706
18707
18708
18709
18710
18711
18712
18713
18714
18715
18716
18717
18718
18719
18720
18721
18722
18723
18724
18725
18726
18727
18728
18729
18730
18731
18732
18733
18734
18735
18736
18737
18738
18739
18740
18741
18742
18743
18744
18745
18746
18747
18748
18749
18750
18751
18752
18753
18754
18755
18756
18757
18758
18759
18760
18761
18762
18763
18764
18765
18766
18767
18768
18769
18770
18771
18772
18773
18774
18775
18776
18777
18778
18779
18780
18781
18782
18783
18784
18785
18786
18787
18788
18789
18790
18791
18792
18793
18794
18795
18796
18797
18798
18799
18800
18801
18802
18803
18804
18805
18806
18807
18808
18809
18810
18811
18812
18813
18814
18815
18816
18817
18818
18819
18820
18821
18822
18823
18824
18825
18826
18827
18828
18829
18830
18831
18832
18833
18834
18835
18836
18837
18838
18839
18840
18841
18842
18843
18844
18845
18846
18847
18848
18849
18850
18851
18852
18853
18854
18855
18856
18857
18858
18859
18860
18861
18862
18863
18864
18865
18866
18867
18868
18869
18870
18871
18872
18873
18874
18875
18876
18877
18878
18879
18880
18881
18882
18883
18884
18885
18886
18887
18888
18889
18890
18891
18892
18893
18894
18895
18896
18897
18898
18899
18900
18901
18902
18903
18904
18905
18906
18907
18908
18909
18910
18911
18912
18913
18914
18915
18916
18917
18918
18919
18920
18921
18922
18923
18924
18925
18926
18927
18928
18929
18930
18931
18932
18933
18934
18935
18936
18937
18938
18939
18940
18941
18942
18943
18944
18945
18946
18947
18948
18949
18950
18951
18952
18953
18954
18955
18956
18957
18958
18959
18960
18961
18962
18963
18964
18965
18966
18967
18968
18969
18970
18971
18972
18973
18974
18975
18976
18977
18978
18979
18980
18981
18982
18983
18984
18985
18986
18987
18988
18989
18990
18991
18992
18993
18994
18995
18996
18997
18998
18999
19000
19001
19002
19003
19004
19005
19006
19007
19008
19009
19010
19011
19012
19013
19014
19015
19016
19017
19018
19019
19020
19021
19022
19023
19024
19025
19026
19027
19028
19029
19030
19031
19032
19033
19034
19035
19036
19037
19038
19039
19040
19041
19042
19043
19044
19045
19046
19047
19048
19049
19050
19051
19052
19053
19054
19055
19056
19057
19058
19059
19060
19061
19062
19063
19064
19065
19066
19067
19068
19069
19070
19071
19072
19073
19074
19075
19076
19077
19078
19079
19080
19081
19082
19083
19084
19085
19086
19087
19088
19089
19090
19091
19092
19093
19094
19095
19096
19097
19098
19099
19100
19101
19102
19103
19104
19105
19106
19107
19108
19109
19110
19111
19112
19113
19114
19115
19116
19117
19118
19119
19120
19121
19122
19123
19124
19125
19126
19127
19128
19129
19130
19131
19132
19133
19134
19135
19136
19137
19138
19139
19140
19141
19142
19143
19144
19145
19146
19147
19148
19149
19150
19151
19152
19153
19154
19155
19156
19157
19158
19159
19160
19161
19162
19163
19164
19165
19166
19167
19168
19169
19170
19171
19172
19173
19174
19175
19176
19177
19178
19179
19180
19181
19182
19183
19184
19185
19186
19187
19188
19189
19190
19191
19192
19193
19194
19195
19196
19197
19198
19199
19200
19201
19202
19203
19204
19205
19206
19207
19208
19209
19210
19211
19212
19213
19214
19215
19216
19217
19218
19219
19220
19221
19222
19223
19224
19225
19226
19227
19228
19229
19230
19231
19232
19233
19234
19235
19236
19237
19238
19239
19240
19241
19242
19243
19244
19245
19246
19247
19248
19249
19250
19251
19252
19253
19254
19255
19256
19257
19258
19259
19260
19261
19262
19263
19264
19265
19266
19267
19268
19269
19270
19271
19272
19273
19274
19275
19276
19277
19278
19279
19280
19281
19282
19283
19284
19285
19286
19287
19288
19289
19290
19291
19292
19293
19294
19295
19296
19297
19298
19299
19300
19301
19302
19303
19304
19305
19306
19307
19308
19309
19310
19311
19312
19313
19314
19315
19316
19317
19318
19319
19320
19321
19322
19323
19324
19325
19326
19327
19328
19329
19330
19331
19332
19333
19334
19335
19336
19337
19338
19339
19340
19341
19342
19343
19344
19345
19346
19347
19348
19349
19350
19351
19352
19353
19354
19355
19356
19357
19358
19359
19360
19361
19362
19363
19364
19365
19366
19367
19368
19369
19370
19371
19372
19373
19374
19375
19376
19377
19378
19379
19380
19381
19382
19383
19384
19385
19386
19387
19388
19389
19390
19391
19392
19393
19394
19395
19396
19397
19398
19399
19400
19401
19402
19403
19404
19405
19406
19407
19408
19409
19410
19411
19412
19413
19414
19415
19416
19417
19418
19419
19420
19421
19422
19423
19424
19425
19426
19427
19428
19429
19430
19431
19432
19433
19434
19435
19436
19437
19438
19439
19440
19441
19442
19443
19444
19445
19446
19447
19448
19449
19450
19451
19452
19453
19454
19455
19456
19457
19458
19459
19460
19461
19462
19463
19464
19465
19466
19467
19468
19469
19470
19471
19472
19473
19474
19475
19476
19477
19478
19479
19480
19481
19482
19483
19484
19485
19486
19487
19488
19489
19490
19491
19492
19493
19494
19495
19496
19497
19498
19499
19500
19501
19502
19503
19504
19505
19506
19507
19508
19509
19510
19511
19512
19513
19514
19515
19516
19517
19518
19519
19520
19521
19522
19523
19524
19525
19526
19527
19528
19529
19530
19531
19532
19533
19534
19535
19536
19537
19538
19539
19540
19541
19542
19543
19544
19545
19546
19547
19548
19549
19550
19551
19552
19553
19554
19555
19556
19557
19558
19559
19560
19561
19562
19563
19564
19565
19566
19567
19568
19569
19570
19571
19572
19573
19574
19575
19576
19577
19578
19579
19580
19581
19582
19583
19584
19585
19586
19587
19588
19589
19590
19591
19592
19593
19594
19595
19596
19597
19598
19599
19600
19601
19602
19603
19604
19605
19606
19607
19608
19609
19610
19611
19612
19613
19614
19615
19616
19617
19618
19619
19620
19621
19622
19623
19624
19625
19626
19627
19628
19629
19630
19631
19632
19633
19634
19635
19636
19637
19638
19639
19640
19641
19642
19643
19644
19645
19646
19647
19648
19649
19650
19651
19652
19653
19654
19655
19656
19657
19658
19659
19660
19661
19662
19663
19664
19665
19666
19667
19668
19669
19670
19671
19672
19673
19674
19675
19676
19677
19678
19679
19680
19681
19682
19683
19684
19685
19686
19687
19688
19689
19690
19691
19692
19693
19694
19695
19696
19697
19698
19699
19700
19701
19702
19703
19704
19705
19706
19707
19708
19709
19710
19711
19712
19713
19714
19715
19716
19717
19718
19719
19720
19721
19722
19723
19724
19725
19726
19727
19728
19729
19730
19731
19732
19733
19734
19735
19736
19737
19738
19739
19740
19741
19742
19743
19744
19745
19746
19747
19748
19749
19750
19751
19752
19753
19754
19755
19756
19757
19758
19759
19760
19761
19762
19763
19764
19765
19766
19767
19768
19769
19770
19771
19772
19773
19774
19775
19776
19777
19778
19779
19780
19781
19782
19783
19784
19785
19786
19787
19788
19789
19790
19791
19792
19793
19794
19795
19796
19797
19798
19799
19800
19801
19802
19803
19804
19805
19806
19807
19808
19809
19810
19811
19812
19813
19814
19815
19816
19817
19818
19819
19820
19821
19822
19823
19824
19825
19826
19827
19828
19829
19830
19831
19832
19833
19834
19835
19836
19837
19838
19839
19840
19841
19842
19843
19844
19845
19846
19847
19848
19849
19850
19851
19852
19853
19854
19855
19856
19857
19858
19859
19860
19861
19862
19863
19864
19865
19866
19867
19868
19869
19870
19871
19872
19873
19874
19875
19876
19877
19878
19879
19880
19881
19882
19883
19884
19885
19886
19887
19888
19889
19890
19891
19892
19893
19894
19895
19896
19897
19898
19899
19900
19901
19902
19903
19904
19905
19906
19907
19908
19909
19910
19911
19912
19913
19914
19915
19916
19917
19918
19919
19920
19921
19922
19923
19924
19925
19926
19927
19928
19929
19930
19931
19932
19933
19934
19935
19936
19937
19938
19939
19940
19941
19942
19943
19944
19945
19946
19947
19948
19949
19950
19951
19952
19953
19954
19955
19956
19957
19958
19959
19960
19961
19962
19963
19964
19965
19966
19967
19968
19969
19970
19971
19972
19973
19974
19975
19976
19977
19978
19979
19980
19981
19982
19983
19984
19985
19986
19987
19988
19989
19990
19991
19992
19993
19994
19995
19996
19997
19998
19999
20000
20001
20002
20003
20004
20005
20006
20007
20008
20009
20010
20011
20012
20013
20014
20015
20016
20017
20018
20019
20020
20021
20022
20023
20024
20025
20026
20027
20028
20029
20030
20031
20032
20033
20034
20035
20036
20037
20038
20039
20040
20041
20042
20043
20044
20045
20046
20047
20048
20049
20050
20051
20052
20053
20054
20055
20056
20057
20058
20059
20060
20061
20062
20063
20064
20065
20066
20067
20068
20069
20070
20071
20072
20073
20074
20075
20076
20077
20078
20079
20080
20081
20082
20083
20084
20085
20086
20087
20088
20089
20090
20091
20092
20093
20094
20095
20096
20097
20098
20099
20100
20101
20102
20103
20104
20105
20106
20107
20108
20109
20110
20111
20112
20113
20114
20115
20116
20117
20118
20119
20120
20121
20122
20123
20124
20125
20126
20127
20128
20129
20130
20131
20132
20133
20134
20135
20136
20137
20138
20139
20140
20141
20142
20143
20144
20145
20146
20147
20148
20149
20150
20151
20152
20153
20154
20155
20156
20157
20158
20159
20160
20161
20162
20163
20164
20165
20166
20167
20168
20169
20170
20171
20172
20173
20174
20175
20176
20177
20178
20179
20180
20181
20182
20183
20184
20185
20186
20187
20188
20189
20190
20191
20192
20193
20194
20195
20196
20197
20198
20199
20200
20201
20202
20203
20204
20205
20206
20207
20208
20209
20210
20211
20212
20213
20214
20215
20216
20217
20218
20219
20220
20221
20222
20223
20224
20225
20226
20227
20228
20229
20230
20231
20232
20233
20234
20235
20236
20237
20238
20239
20240
20241
20242
20243
20244
20245
20246
20247
20248
20249
20250
20251
20252
20253
20254
20255
20256
20257
20258
20259
20260
20261
20262
20263
20264
20265
20266
20267
20268
20269
20270
20271
20272
20273
20274
20275
20276
20277
20278
20279

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
<meta charset="utf-8"><title>The Red Fairy Book | Project Gutenberg</title>
<link rel="coverpage" href="images/cover.jpg" >
<style>

body { margin-left: 10%;
       margin-right: 10%;
       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; }

.p2 {margin-top: 2em;}

p.poem {text-indent: 0%;
        margin-left: 10%;
        font-size: 90%;
        margin-top: 1em;
        margin-bottom: 1em; }

p.noindent {text-indent: 0% }

p.center  {text-align: center;
           text-indent: 0em;
           margin-top: 1em;
           margin-bottom: 1em; }

p.right {text-align: right;
         margin-right: 10%;
         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'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 540 ***</div>

<h1>The<br>
Red Fairy Book</h1>

<h2 class="no-break">Edited by<br>
Andrew Lang</h2>

<div class="chapter">

<p class="center">
TO<br>
MASTER BILLY TREMAYNE MILES<br>
A PROFOUND STUDENT<br>
YET<br>
AN AMIABLE CRITIC
</p>

<hr >

</div><!--end chapter-->

<div class="chapter">

<h2>Contents</h2>

<table>

<tr>
<td> <a href="#pref01">PREFACE</a></td>
</tr>

<tr>
<td> <a href="#chap01">THE TWELVE DANCING PRINCESSES</a></td>
</tr>

<tr>
<td> <a href="#chap02">THE PRINCESS MAYBLOSSOM</a></td>
</tr>

<tr>
<td> <a href="#chap03">SORIA MORIA CASTLE</a></td>
</tr>

<tr>
<td> <a href="#chap04">THE DEATH OF KOSHCHEI THE DEATHLESS</a></td>
</tr>

<tr>
<td> <a href="#chap05">THE BLACK THIEF AND KNIGHT OF THE GLEN.</a></td>
</tr>

<tr>
<td> <a href="#chap06">THE MASTER THIEF</a></td>
</tr>

<tr>
<td> <a href="#chap07">BROTHER AND SISTER</a></td>
</tr>

<tr>
<td> <a href="#chap08">PRINCESS ROSETTE</a></td>
</tr>

<tr>
<td> <a href="#chap09">THE ENCHANTED PIG</a></td>
</tr>

<tr>
<td> <a href="#chap10">THE NORKA</a></td>
</tr>

<tr>
<td> <a href="#chap11">THE WONDERFUL BIRCH</a></td>
</tr>

<tr>
<td> <a href="#chap12">JACK AND THE BEANSTALK</a></td>
</tr>

<tr>
<td> <a href="#chap13">THE LITTLE GOOD MOUSE</a></td>
</tr>

<tr>
<td> <a href="#chap14">GRACIOSA AND PERCINET</a></td>
</tr>

<tr>
<td> <a href="#chap15">THE THREE PRINCESSES OF WHITELAND</a></td>
</tr>

<tr>
<td> <a href="#chap16">THE VOICE OF DEATH</a></td>
</tr>

<tr>
<td> <a href="#chap17">THE SIX SILLIES</a></td>
</tr>

<tr>
<td> <a href="#chap18">KARI WOODENGOWN</a></td>
</tr>

<tr>
<td> <a href="#chap19">DRAKESTAIL</a></td>
</tr>

<tr>
<td> <a href="#chap20">THE RATCATCHER</a></td>
</tr>

<tr>
<td> <a href="#chap21">THE TRUE HISTORY OF LITTLE GOLDENHOOD</a></td>
</tr>

<tr>
<td> <a href="#chap22">THE GOLDEN BRANCH</a></td>
</tr>

<tr>
<td> <a href="#chap23">THE THREE DWARFS</a></td>
</tr>

<tr>
<td> <a href="#chap24">DAPPLEGRIM</a></td>
</tr>

<tr>
<td> <a href="#chap25">THE ENCHANTED CANARY</a></td>
</tr>

<tr>
<td> <a href="#chap26">THE TWELVE BROTHERS</a></td>
</tr>

<tr>
<td> <a href="#chap27">RAPUNZEL</a></td>
</tr>

<tr>
<td> <a href="#chap28">THE NETTLE SPINNER</a></td>
</tr>

<tr>
<td> <a href="#chap29">FARMER WEATHERBEARD</a></td>
</tr>

<tr>
<td> <a href="#chap30">MOTHER HOLLE</a></td>
</tr>

<tr>
<td> <a href="#chap31">MINNIKIN</a></td>
</tr>

<tr>
<td> <a href="#chap32">BUSHY BRIDE</a></td>
</tr>

<tr>
<td> <a href="#chap33">SNOWDROP</a></td>
</tr>

<tr>
<td> <a href="#chap34">THE GOLDEN GOOSE</a></td>
</tr>

<tr>
<td> <a href="#chap35">THE SEVEN FOALS</a></td>
</tr>

<tr>
<td> <a href="#chap36">THE MARVELLOUS MUSICIAN</a></td>
</tr>

<tr>
<td> <a href="#chap37">THE STORY OF SIGURD</a></td>
</tr>

</table>

<hr >

</div><!--end chapter-->

<div class="chapter">

<h2><a id="pref01"></a>PREFACE</h2>

<p>
In a second gleaning of the fields of Fairy Land we cannot expect to find a
second Perrault. But there are good stories enough left, and it is hoped that
some in the Red Fairy Book may have the attraction of being less familiar than
many of the old friends. The tales have been translated, or, in the case of
those from Madame d&rsquo;Aulnoy&rsquo;s long stories, adapted, by Mrs. Hunt
from the Norse, by Miss Minnie Wright from Madame d&rsquo;Aulnoy, by Mrs. Lang
and Miss Bruce from other French sources, by Miss May Sellar, Miss Farquharson,
and Miss Blackley from the German, while the story of &lsquo;Sigurd&rsquo; is
condensed by the Editor from Mr. William Morris&rsquo;s prose version of the
&lsquo;Volsunga Saga.&rsquo; The Editor has to thank his friend, M. Charles
Marelles, for permission to reproduce his versions of the &lsquo;Pied
Piper,&rsquo; of &lsquo;Drakestail,&rsquo; and of &lsquo;Little Golden
Hood&rsquo; from the French, and M. Henri Carnoy for the same privilege in
regard to &lsquo;The Six Sillies&rsquo; from <i>La Tradition</i>.
</p>

<p>
Lady Frances Balfour has kindly copied an old version of &lsquo;Jack and the
Beanstalk,&rsquo; and Messrs. Smith and Elder have permitted the publication of
two of Mr. Ralston&rsquo;s versions from the Russian.
</p>

<p class="right">
A. L.
</p>

</div><!--end chapter-->

<div class="chapter">

<h2><a id="chap01"></a>THE TWELVE DANCING PRINCESSES</h2>

<h3>I</h3>

<p>
Once upon a time there lived in the village of Montignies-sur-Roc a little
cow-boy, without either father or mother. His real name was Michael, but he was
always called the Star Gazer, because when he drove his cows over the commons
to seek for pasture, he went along with his head in the air, gaping at nothing.
</p>

<p>
As he had a white skin, blue eyes, and hair that curled all over his head, the
village girls used to cry after him, &lsquo;Well, Star Gazer, what are you
doing?&rsquo; and Michael would answer, &lsquo;Oh, nothing,&rsquo; and go on
his way without even turning to look at them.
</p>

<p>
The fact was he thought them very ugly, with their sun-burnt necks, their great
red hands, their coarse petticoats and their wooden shoes. He had heard that
somewhere in the world there were girls whose necks were white and whose hands
were small, who were always dressed in the finest silks and laces, and were
called princesses, and while his companions round the fire saw nothing in the
flames but common everyday fancies, he dreamed that he had the happiness to
marry a princess.
</p>

<h3>II</h3>

<p>
One morning about the middle of August, just at mid-day when the sun was
hottest, Michael ate his dinner of a piece of dry bread, and went to sleep
under an oak. And while he slept he dreamt that there appeared before him a
beautiful lady, dressed in a robe of cloth of gold, who said to him: &lsquo;Go
to the castle of Beloeil, and there you shall marry a princess.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
That evening the little cow-boy, who had been thinking a great deal about the
advice of the lady in the golden dress, told his dream to the farm people. But,
as was natural, they only laughed at the Star Gazer.
</p>

<p>
The next day at the same hour he went to sleep again under the same tree. The
lady appeared to him a second time, and said: &lsquo;Go to the castle of
Beloeil, and you shall marry a princess.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
In the evening Michael told his friends that he had dreamed the same dream
again, but they only laughed at him more than before. &lsquo;Never mind,&rsquo;
he thought to himself; &lsquo;if the lady appears to me a third time, I will do
as she tells me.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
The following day, to the great astonishment of all the village, about two
o&rsquo;clock in the afternoon a voice was heard singing:
</p>

<p class="poem">
&lsquo;Raleô, raleô,<br>
How the cattle go!&rsquo;
</p>

<p class="noindent">
It was the little cow-boy driving his herd back to the byre.
</p>

<p>
The farmer began to scold him furiously, but he answered quietly, &lsquo;I am
going away,&rsquo; made his clothes into a bundle, said good-bye to all his
friends, and boldly set out to seek his fortunes.
</p>

<p>
There was great excitement through all the village, and on the top of the hill
the people stood holding their sides with laughing, as they watched the Star
Gazer trudging bravely along the valley with his bundle at the end of his
stick.
</p>

<p>
It was enough to make anyone laugh, certainly.
</p>

<h3>III</h3>

<p>
It was well known for full twenty miles round that there lived in the castle of
Beloeil twelve princesses of wonderful beauty, and as proud as they were
beautiful, and who were besides so very sensitive and of such truly royal
blood, that they would have felt at once the presence of a pea in their beds,
even if the mattresses had been laid over it.
</p>

<p>
It was whispered about that they led exactly the lives that princesses ought to
lead, sleeping far into the morning, and never getting up till mid-day. They
had twelve beds all in the same room, but what was very extraordinary was the
fact that though they were locked in by triple bolts, every morning their satin
shoes were found worn into holes.
</p>

<p>
When they were asked what they had been doing all night, they always answered
that they had been asleep; and, indeed, no noise was ever heard in the room,
yet the shoes could not wear themselves out alone!
</p>

<p>
At last the Duke of Beloeil ordered the trumpet to be sounded, and a
proclamation to be made that whoever could discover how his daughters wore out
their shoes should choose one of them for his wife.
</p>

<p>
On hearing the proclamation a number of princes arrived at the castle to try
their luck. They watched all night behind the open door of the princesses, but
when the morning came they had all disappeared, and no one could tell what had
become of them.
</p>

<h3>IV</h3>

<p>
When he reached the castle, Michael went straight to the gardener and offered
his services. Now it happened that the garden boy had just been sent away, and
though the Star Gazer did not look very sturdy, the gardener agreed to take
him, as he thought that his pretty face and golden curls would please the
princesses.
</p>

<p>
The first thing he was told was that when the princesses got up he was to
present each one with a bouquet, and Michael thought that if he had nothing
more unpleasant to do than that he should get on very well.
</p>

<p>
Accordingly he placed himself behind the door of the princesses&rsquo; room,
with the twelve bouquets in a basket. He gave one to each of the sisters, and
they took them without even deigning to look at the lad, except Lina the
youngest, who fixed her large black eyes as soft as velvet on him, and
exclaimed, &lsquo;Oh, how pretty he is&mdash;our new flower boy!&rsquo; The
rest all burst out laughing, and the eldest pointed out that a princess ought
never to lower herself by looking at a garden boy.
</p>

<p>
Now Michael knew quite well what had happened to all the princes, but
notwithstanding, the beautiful eyes of the Princess Lina inspired him with a
violent longing to try his fate. Unhappily he did not dare to come forward,
being afraid that he should only be jeered at, or even turned away from the
castle on account of his impudence.
</p>

<h3>V</h3>

<p>
Nevertheless, the Star Gazer had another dream. The lady in the golden dress
appeared to him once more, holding in one hand two young laurel trees, a cherry
laurel and a rose laurel, and in the other hand a little golden rake, a little
golden bucket, and a silken towel. She thus addressed him:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Plant these two laurels in two large pots, rake them over with the rake,
water them with the bucket, and wipe them with the towel. When they have grown
as tall as a girl of fifteen, say to each of them, &lsquo;&rsquo;My beautiful
laurel, with the golden rake I have raked you, with the golden bucket I have
watered you, with the silken towel I have wiped you.&lsquo;&rsquo; Then after
that ask anything you choose, and the laurels will give it to you.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Michael thanked the lady in the golden dress, and when he woke he found the two
laurel bushes beside him. So he carefully obeyed the orders he had been given
by the lady.
</p>

<p>
The trees grew very fast, and when they were as tall as a girl of fifteen he
said to the cherry laurel, &lsquo;My lovely cherry laurel, with the golden rake
I have raked thee, with the golden bucket I have watered thee, with the silken
towel I have wiped thee. Teach me how to become invisible.&rsquo; Then there
instantly appeared on the laurel a pretty white flower, which Michael gathered
and stuck into his button-hole.
</p>

<h3>VI</h3>

<p>
That evening, when the princesses went upstairs to bed, he followed them
barefoot, so that he might make no noise, and hid himself under one of the
twelve beds, so as not to take up much room.
</p>

<p>
The princesses began at once to open their wardrobes and boxes. They took out
of them the most magnificent dresses, which they put on before their mirrors,
and when they had finished, turned themselves all round to admire their
appearances.
</p>

<p>
Michael could see nothing from his hiding-place, but he could hear everything,
and he listened to the princesses laughing and jumping with pleasure. At last
the eldest said, &lsquo;Be quick, my sisters, our partners will be
impatient.&rsquo; At the end of an hour, when the Star Gazer heard no more
noise, he peeped out and saw the twelve sisters in splendid garments, with
their satin shoes on their feet, and in their hands the bouquets he had brought
them.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Are you ready?&rsquo; asked the eldest.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Yes,&rsquo; replied the other eleven in chorus, and they took their
places one by one behind her.
</p>

<p>
Then the eldest Princess clapped her hands three times and a trap door opened.
All the princesses disappeared down a secret staircase, and Michael hastily
followed them.
</p>

<p>
As he was following on the steps of the Princess Lina, he carelessly trod on
her dress.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;There is somebody behind me,&rsquo; cried the Princess; &lsquo;they are
holding my dress.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;You foolish thing,&rsquo; said her eldest sister, &lsquo;you are always
afraid of something. It is only a nail which caught you.&rsquo;
</p>

<h3>VII</h3>

<p>
They went down, down, down, till at last they came to a passage with a door at
one end, which was only fastened with a latch. The eldest Princess opened it,
and they found themselves immediately in a lovely little wood, where the leaves
were spangled with drops of silver which shone in the brilliant light of the
moon.
</p>

<p>
They next crossed another wood where the leaves were sprinkled with gold, and
after that another still, where the leaves glittered with diamonds.
</p>

<p>
At last the Star Gazer perceived a large lake, and on the shores of the lake
twelve little boats with awnings, in which were seated twelve princes, who,
grasping their oars, awaited the princesses.
</p>

<p>
Each princess entered one of the boats, and Michael slipped into that which
held the youngest. The boats glided along rapidly, but Lina&rsquo;s, from being
heavier, was always behind the rest. &lsquo;We never went so slowly
before,&rsquo; said the Princess; &lsquo;what can be the reason?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I don&rsquo;t know,&rsquo; answered the Prince. &lsquo;I assure you I am
rowing as hard as I can.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
On the other side of the lake the garden boy saw a beautiful castle splendidly
illuminated, whence came the lively music of fiddles, kettle-drums, and
trumpets.
</p>

<p>
In a moment they touched land, and the company jumped out of the boats; and the
princes, after having securely fastened their barques, gave their arms to the
princesses and conducted them to the castle.
</p>

<h3>VIII</h3>

<p>
Michael followed, and entered the ball-room in their train. Everywhere were
mirrors, lights, flowers, and damask hangings.
</p>

<p>
The Star Gazer was quite bewildered at the magnificence of the sight.
</p>

<p>
He placed himself out of the way in a corner, admiring the grace and beauty of
the princesses. Their loveliness was of every kind. Some were fair and some
were dark; some had chestnut hair, or curls darker still, and some had golden
locks. Never were so many beautiful princesses seen together at one time, but
the one whom the cow-boy thought the most beautiful and the most fascinating
was the little Princess with the velvet eyes.
</p>

<p>
With what eagerness she danced! leaning on her partner&rsquo;s shoulder she
swept by like a whirlwind. Her cheeks flushed, her eyes sparkled, and it was
plain that she loved dancing better than anything else.
</p>

<p>
The poor boy envied those handsome young men with whom she danced so
gracefully, but he did not know how little reason he had to be jealous of them.
</p>

<p>
The young men were really the princes who, to the number of fifty at least, had
tried to steal the princesses&rsquo; secret. The princesses had made them drink
something of a philtre, which froze the heart and left nothing but the love of
dancing.
</p>

<h3>IX</h3>

<p>
They danced on till the shoes of the princesses were worn into holes. When the
cock crowed the third time the fiddles stopped, and a delicious supper was
served by negro boys, consisting of sugared orange flowers, crystallised rose
leaves, powdered violets, cracknels, wafers, and other dishes, which are, as
everyone knows, the favourite food of princesses.
</p>

<p>
After supper, the dancers all went back to their boats, and this time the Star
Gazer entered that of the eldest Princess. They crossed again the wood with the
diamond-spangled leaves, the wood with gold-sprinkled leaves, and the wood
whose leaves glittered with drops of silver, and as a proof of what he had
seen, the boy broke a small branch from a tree in the last wood. Lina turned as
she heard the noise made by the breaking of the branch.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;What was that noise?&rsquo; she said.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;It was nothing,&rsquo; replied her eldest sister; &lsquo;it was only the
screech of the barn-owl that roosts in one of the turrets of the castle.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
While she was speaking Michael managed to slip in front, and running up the
staircase, he reached the princesses&rsquo; room first. He flung open the
window, and sliding down the vine which climbed up the wall, found himself in
the garden just as the sun was beginning to rise, and it was time for him to
set to his work.
</p>

<h3>X</h3>

<p>
That day, when he made up the bouquets, Michael hid the branch with the silver
drops in the nosegay intended for the youngest Princess.
</p>

<p>
When Lina discovered it she was much surprised. However, she said nothing to
her sisters, but as she met the boy by accident while she was walking under the
shade of the elms, she suddenly stopped as if to speak to him; then, altering
her mind, went on her way.
</p>

<p>
The same evening the twelve sisters went again to the ball, and the Star Gazer
again followed them and crossed the lake in Lina&rsquo;s boat. This time it was
the Prince who complained that the boat seemed very heavy.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;It is the heat,&rsquo; replied the Princess. &lsquo;I, too, have been
feeling very warm.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
During the ball she looked everywhere for the gardener&rsquo;s boy, but she
never saw him.
</p>

<p>
As they came back, Michael gathered a branch from the wood with the
gold-spangled leaves, and now it was the eldest Princess who heard the noise
that it made in breaking.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;It is nothing,&rsquo; said Lina; &lsquo;only the cry of the owl which
roosts in the turrets of the castle.&rsquo;
</p>

<h3>XI</h3>

<p>
As soon as she got up she found the branch in her bouquet. When the sisters
went down she stayed a little behind and said to the cow-boy: &lsquo;Where does
this branch come from?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Your Royal Highness knows well enough,&rsquo; answered Michael.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;So you have followed us?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Yes, Princess.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;How did you manage it? we never saw you.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I hid myself,&rsquo; replied the Star Gazer quietly.
</p>

<p>
The Princess was silent a moment, and then said:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;You know our secret!&mdash;keep it. Here is the reward of your
discretion.&rsquo; And she flung the boy a purse of gold.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I do not sell my silence,&rsquo; answered Michael, and he went away
without picking up the purse.
</p>

<p>
For three nights Lina neither saw nor heard anything extraordinary; on the
fourth she heard a rustling among the diamond-spangled leaves of the wood. That
day there was a branch of the trees in her bouquet.
</p>

<p>
She took the Star Gazer aside, and said to him in a harsh voice:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;You know what price my father has promised to pay for our secret?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I know, Princess,&rsquo; answered Michael.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Don&rsquo;t you mean to tell him?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;That is not my intention.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Are you afraid?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;No, Princess.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;What makes you so discreet, then?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
But Michael was silent.
</p>

<h3>XII</h3>

<p>
Lina&rsquo;s sisters had seen her talking to the little garden boy, and jeered
at her for it.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;What prevents your marrying him?&rsquo; asked the eldest, &lsquo;you
would become a gardener too; it is a charming profession. You could live in a
cottage at the end of the park, and help your husband to draw up water from the
well, and when we get up you could bring us our bouquets.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
The Princess Lina was very angry, and when the Star Gazer presented her
bouquet, she received it in a disdainful manner.
</p>

<p>
Michael behaved most respectfully. He never raised his eyes to her, but nearly
all day she felt him at her side without ever seeing him.
</p>

<p>
One day she made up her mind to tell everything to her eldest sister.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;What!&rsquo; said she, &lsquo;this rogue knows our secret, and you never
told me! I must lose no time in getting rid of him.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;But how?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Why, by having him taken to the tower with the dungeons, of
course.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
For this was the way that in old times beautiful princesses got rid of people
who knew too much.
</p>

<p>
But the astonishing part of it was that the youngest sister did not seem at all
to relish this method of stopping the mouth of the gardener&rsquo;s boy, who,
after all, had said nothing to their father.
</p>

<h3>XIII</h3>

<p>
It was agreed that the question should be submitted to the other ten sisters.
All were on the side of the eldest. Then the youngest sister declared that if
they laid a finger on the little garden boy, she would herself go and tell
their father the secret of the holes in their shoes.
</p>

<p>
At last it was decided that Michael should be put to the test; that they would
take him to the ball, and at the end of supper would give him the philtre which
was to enchant him like the rest.
</p>

<p>
They sent for the Star Gazer, and asked him how he had contrived to learn their
secret; but still he remained silent.
</p>

<p>
Then, in commanding tones, the eldest sister gave him the order they had agreed
upon.
</p>

<p>
He only answered:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I will obey.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
He had really been present, invisible, at the council of princesses, and had
heard all; but he had made up his mind to drink of the philtre, and sacrifice
himself to the happiness of her he loved.
</p>

<p>
Not wishing, however, to cut a poor figure at the ball by the side of the other
dancers, he went at once to the laurels, and said:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;My lovely rose laurel, with the golden rake I have raked thee, with the
golden bucket I have watered thee, with a silken towel I have dried thee. Dress
me like a prince.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
A beautiful pink flower appeared. Michael gathered it, and found himself in a
moment clothed in velvet, which was as black as the eyes of the little
Princess, with a cap to match, a diamond aigrette, and a blossom of the rose
laurel in his button-hole.
</p>

<p>
Thus dressed, he presented himself that evening before the Duke of Beloeil, and
obtained leave to try and discover his daughters&rsquo; secret. He looked so
distinguished that hardly anyone would have known who he was.
</p>

<h3>XIV</h3>

<p>
The twelve princesses went upstairs to bed. Michael followed them, and waited
behind the open door till they gave the signal for departure.
</p>

<p>
This time he did not cross in Lina&rsquo;s boat. He gave his arm to the eldest
sister, danced with each in turn, and was so graceful that everyone was
delighted with him. At last the time came for him to dance with the little
Princess. She found him the best partner in the world, but he did not dare to
speak a single word to her.
</p>

<p>
When he was taking her back to her place she said to him in a mocking voice:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Here you are at the summit of your wishes: you are being treated like a
prince.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Don&rsquo;t be afraid,&rsquo; replied the Star Gazer gently. &lsquo;You
shall never be a gardener&rsquo;s wife.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
The little Princess stared at him with a frightened face, and he left her
without waiting for an answer.
</p>

<p>
When the satin slippers were worn through the fiddles stopped, and the negro
boys set the table. Michael was placed next to the eldest sister, and opposite
to the youngest.
</p>

<p>
They gave him the most exquisite dishes to eat, and the most delicate wines to
drink; and in order to turn his head more completely, compliments and flattery
were heaped on him from every side.
</p>

<p>
But he took care not to be intoxicated, either by the wine or the compliments.
</p>

<h3>XV</h3>

<p>
At last the eldest sister made a sign, and one of the black pages brought in a
large golden cup.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;The enchanted castle has no more secrets for you,&rsquo; she said to the
Star Gazer. &lsquo;Let us drink to your triumph.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
He cast a lingering glance at the little Princess, and without hesitation
lifted the cup.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Don&rsquo;t drink!&rsquo; suddenly cried out the little Princess;
&lsquo;I would rather marry a gardener.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
And she burst into tears.
</p>

<p>
Michael flung the contents of the cup behind him, sprang over the table, and
fell at Lina&rsquo;s feet. The rest of the princes fell likewise at the knees
of the princesses, each of whom chose a husband and raised him to her side. The
charm was broken.
</p>

<p>
The twelve couples embarked in the boats, which crossed back many times in
order to carry over the other princes. Then they all went through the three
woods, and when they had passed the door of the underground passage a great
noise was heard, as if the enchanted castle was crumbling to the earth.
</p>

<p>
They went straight to the room of the Duke of Beloeil, who had just awoke.
Michael held in his hand the golden cup, and he revealed the secret of the
holes in the shoes.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Choose, then,&rsquo; said the Duke, &lsquo;whichever you prefer.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;My choice is already made,&rsquo; replied the garden boy, and he offered
his hand to the youngest Princess, who blushed and lowered her eyes.
</p>

<h3>XVI</h3>

<p>
The Princess Lina did not become a gardener&rsquo;s wife; on the contrary, it
was the Star Gazer who became a Prince: but before the marriage ceremony the
Princess insisted that her lover should tell her how he came to discover the
secret.
</p>

<p>
So he showed her the two laurels which had helped him, and she, like a prudent
girl, thinking they gave him too much advantage over his wife, cut them off at
the root and threw them in the fire. And this is why the country girls go about
singing:
</p>

<p class="poem">
Nous n&rsquo;irons plus au bois,<br>
Les lauriers sont coupés,
</p>

<p class="noindent">
and dancing in summer by the light of the moon.
</p>

</div><!--end chapter-->

<div class="chapter">

<h2><a id="chap02"></a>THE PRINCESS MAYBLOSSOM</h2>

<p>
Once upon a time there lived a King and Queen whose children had all died,
first one and then another, until at last only one little daughter remained,
and the Queen was at her wits&rsquo; end to know where to find a really good
nurse who would take care of her, and bring her up. A herald was sent who blew
a trumpet at every street corner, and commanded all the best nurses to appear
before the Queen, that she might choose one for the little Princess. So on the
appointed day the whole palace was crowded with nurses, who came from the four
corners of the world to offer themselves, until the Queen declared that if she
was ever to see the half of them, they must be brought out to her, one by one,
as she sat in a shady wood near the palace.
</p>

<p>
This was accordingly done, and the nurses, after they had made their curtsey to
the King and Queen, ranged themselves in a line before her that she might
choose. Most of them were fair and fat and charming, but there was one who was
dark-skinned and ugly, and spoke a strange language which nobody could
understand. The Queen wondered how she dared offer herself, and she was told to
go away, as she certainly would not do. Upon which she muttered something and
passed on, but hid herself in a hollow tree, from which she could see all that
happened. The Queen, without giving her another thought, chose a pretty
rosy-faced nurse, but no sooner was her choice made than a snake, which was
hidden in the grass, bit that very nurse on her foot, so that she fell down as
if dead. The Queen was very much vexed by this accident, but she soon selected
another, who was just stepping forward when an eagle flew by and dropped a
large tortoise upon her head, which was cracked in pieces like an egg-shell. At
this the Queen was much horrified; nevertheless, she chose a third time, but
with no better fortune, for the nurse, moving quickly, ran into the branch of a
tree and blinded herself with a thorn. Then the Queen in dismay cried that
there must be some malignant influence at work, and that she would choose no
more that day; and she had just risen to return to the palace when she heard
peals of malicious laughter behind her, and turning round saw the ugly stranger
whom she had dismissed, who was making very merry over the disasters and
mocking everyone, but especially the Queen. This annoyed Her Majesty very much,
and she was about to order that she should be arrested, when the
witch&mdash;for she was a witch&mdash;with two blows from a wand summoned a
chariot of fire drawn by winged dragons, and was whirled off through the air
uttering threats and cries. When the King saw this he cried:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Alas! now we are ruined indeed, for that was no other than the Fairy
Carabosse, who has had a grudge against me ever since I was a boy and put
sulphur into her porridge one day for fun.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Then the Queen began to cry.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;If I had only known who it was,&rsquo; she said, &lsquo;I would have
done my best to make friends with her; now I suppose all is lost.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
The King was sorry to have frightened her so much, and proposed that they
should go and hold a council as to what was best to be done to avert the
misfortunes which Carabosse certainly meant to bring upon the little Princess.
</p>

<p>
So all the counsellors were summoned to the palace, and when they had shut
every door and window, and stuffed up every keyhole that they might not be
overheard, they talked the affair over, and decided that every fairy for a
thousand leagues round should be invited to the christening of the Princess,
and that the time of the ceremony should be kept a profound secret, in case the
Fairy Carabosse should take it into her head to attend it.
</p>

<p>
The Queen and her ladies set to work to prepare presents for the fairies who
were invited: for each one a blue velvet cloak, a petticoat of apricot satin, a
pair of high-heeled shoes, some sharp needles, and a pair of golden scissors.
Of all the fairies the Queen knew, only five were able to come on the day
appointed, but they began immediately to bestow gifts upon the Princess. One
promised that she should be perfectly beautiful, the second that she should
understand anything&mdash;no matter what&mdash;the first time it was explained
to her, the third that she should sing like a nightingale, the fourth that she
should succeed in everything she undertook, and the fifth was opening her mouth
to speak when a tremendous rumbling was heard in the chimney, and Carabosse,
all covered with soot, came rolling down, crying:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I say that she shall be the unluckiest of the unlucky until she is
twenty years old.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Then the Queen and all the fairies began to beg and beseech her to think better
of it, and not be so unkind to the poor little Princess, who had never done her
any harm. But the ugly old Fairy only grunted and made no answer. So the last
Fairy, who had not yet given her gift, tried to mend matters by promising the
Princess a long and happy life after the fatal time was over. At this Carabosse
laughed maliciously, and climbed away up the chimney, leaving them all in great
consternation, and especially the Queen. However, she entertained the fairies
splendidly, and gave them beautiful ribbons, of which they are very fond, in
addition to the other presents.
</p>

<p>
When they were going away the oldest Fairy said that they were of opinion that
it would be best to shut the Princess up in some place, with her waiting-women,
so that she might not see anyone else until she was twenty years old. So the
King had a tower built on purpose. It had no windows, so it was lighted with
wax candles, and the only way into it was by an underground passage, which had
iron doors only twenty feet apart, and guards were posted everywhere.
</p>

<p>
The Princess had been named Mayblossom, because she was as fresh and blooming
as Spring itself, and she grew up tall and beautiful, and everything she did
and said was charming. Every time the King and Queen came to see her they were
more delighted with her than before, but though she was weary of the tower, and
often begged them to take her away from it, they always refused. The
Princess&rsquo;s nurse, who had never left her, sometimes told her about the
world outside the tower, and though the Princess had never seen anything for
herself, yet she always understood exactly, thanks to the second Fairy&rsquo;s
gift. Often the King said to the Queen:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;We were cleverer than Carabosse after all. Our Mayblossom will be happy
in spite of her predictions.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
And the Queen laughed until she was tired at the idea of having outwitted the
old Fairy. They had caused the Princess&rsquo;s portrait to be painted and sent
to all the neighbouring Courts, for in four days she would have completed her
twentieth year, and it was time to decide whom she should marry. All the town
was rejoicing at the thought of the Princess&rsquo;s approaching freedom, and
when the news came that King Merlin was sending his ambassador to ask her in
marriage for his son, they were still more delighted. The nurse, who kept the
Princess informed of everything that went forward in the town, did not fail to
repeat the news that so nearly concerned her, and gave such a description of
the splendour in which the ambassador Fanfaronade would enter the town, that
the Princess was wild to see the procession for herself.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;What an unhappy creature I am,&rsquo; she cried, &lsquo;to be shut up in
this dismal tower as if I had committed some crime! I have never seen the sun,
or the stars, or a horse, or a monkey, or a lion, except in pictures, and
though the King and Queen tell me I am to be set free when I am twenty, I
believe they only say it to keep me amused, when they never mean to let me out
at all.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
And then she began to cry, and her nurse, and the nurse&rsquo;s daughter, and
the cradle-rocker, and the nursery-maid, who all loved her dearly, cried too
for company, so that nothing could be heard but sobs and sighs. It was a scene
of woe. When the Princess saw that they all pitied her she made up her mind to
have her own way. So she declared that she would starve herself to death if
they did not find some means of letting her see Fanfaronade&rsquo;s grand entry
into the town.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;If you really love me,&rsquo; she said, &lsquo;you will manage it,
somehow or other, and the King and Queen need never know anything about
it.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Then the nurse and all the others cried harder than ever, and said everything
they could think of to turn the Princess from her idea. But the more they said
the more determined she was, and at last they consented to make a tiny hole in
the tower on the side that looked towards the city gates.
</p>

<p>
After scratching and scraping all day and all night, they presently made a hole
through which they could, with great difficulty, push a very slender needle,
and out of this the Princess looked at the daylight for the first time. She was
so dazzled and delighted by what she saw, that there she stayed, never taking
her eyes away from the peep-hole for a single minute, until presently the
ambassador&rsquo;s procession appeared in sight.
</p>

<p>
At the head of it rode Fanfaronade himself upon a white horse, which pranced
and caracoled to the sound of the trumpets. Nothing could have been more
splendid than the ambassador&rsquo;s attire. His coat was nearly hidden under
an embroidery of pearls and diamonds, his boots were solid gold, and from his
helmet floated scarlet plumes. At the sight of him the Princess lost her wits
entirely, and determined that Fanfaronade and nobody else would she marry.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;It is quite impossible,&rsquo; she said, &lsquo;that his master should
be half as handsome and delightful. I am not ambitious, and having spent all my
life in this tedious tower, anything&mdash;even a house in the
country&mdash;will seem a delightful change. I am sure that bread and water
shared with Fanfaronade will please me far better than roast chicken and
sweetmeats with anybody else.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
And so she went on talk, talk, talking, until her waiting-women wondered where
she got it all from. But when they tried to stop her, and represented that her
high rank made it perfectly impossible that she should do any such thing, she
would not listen, and ordered them to be silent.
</p>

<p>
As soon as the ambassador arrived at the palace, the Queen started to fetch her
daughter.
</p>

<p>
All the streets were spread with carpets, and the windows were full of ladies
who were waiting to see the Princess, and carried baskets of flowers and
sweetmeats to shower upon her as she passed.
</p>

<p>
They had hardly begun to get the Princess ready when a dwarf arrived, mounted
upon an elephant. He came from the five fairies, and brought for the Princess a
crown, a sceptre, and a robe of golden brocade, with a petticoat marvellously
embroidered with butterflies&rsquo; wings. They also sent a casket of jewels,
so splendid that no one had ever seen anything like it before, and the Queen
was perfectly dazzled when she opened it. But the Princess scarcely gave a
glance to any of these treasures, for she thought of nothing but Fanfaronade.
The Dwarf was rewarded with a gold piece, and decorated with so many ribbons
that it was hardly possible to see him at all. The Princess sent to each of the
fairies a new spinning-wheel with a distaff of cedar wood, and the Queen said
she must look through her treasures and find something very charming to send
them also.
</p>

<p>
When the Princess was arrayed in all the gorgeous things the Dwarf had brought,
she was more beautiful than ever, and as she walked along the streets the
people cried: &lsquo;How pretty she is! How pretty she is!&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
The procession consisted of the Queen, the Princess, five dozen other
princesses her cousins, and ten dozen who came from the neighbouring kingdoms;
and as they proceeded at a stately pace the sky began to grow dark, then
suddenly the thunder growled, and rain and hail fell in torrents. The Queen put
her royal mantle over her head, and all the princesses did the same with their
trains. Mayblossom was just about to follow their example when a terrific
croaking, as of an immense army of crows, rooks, ravens, screech-owls, and all
birds of ill-omen was heard, and at the same instant a huge owl skimmed up to
the Princess, and threw over her a scarf woven of spiders&rsquo; webs and
embroidered with bats&rsquo; wings. And then peals of mocking laughter rang
through the air, and they guessed that this was another of the Fairy
Carabosse&rsquo;s unpleasant jokes.
</p>

<p>
The Queen was terrified at such an evil omen, and tried to pull the black scarf
from the Princess&rsquo;s shoulders, but it really seemed as if it must be
nailed on, it clung so closely.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Ah!&rsquo; cried the Queen, &lsquo;can nothing appease this enemy of
ours? What good was it that I sent her more than fifty pounds of sweetmeats,
and as much again of the best sugar, not to mention two Westphalia hams? She is
as angry as ever.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
While she lamented in this way, and everybody was as wet as if they had been
dragged through a river, the Princess still thought of nothing but the
ambassador, and just at this moment he appeared before her, with the King, and
there was a great blowing of trumpets, and all the people shouted louder than
ever. Fanfaronade was not generally at a loss for something to say, but when he
saw the Princess, she was so much more beautiful and majestic than he had
expected that he could only stammer out a few words, and entirely forgot the
harangue which he had been learning for months, and knew well enough to have
repeated it in his sleep. To gain time to remember at least part of it, he made
several low bows to the Princess, who on her side dropped half-a-dozen curtseys
without stopping to think, and then said, to relieve his evident embarrassment:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Sir Ambassador, I am sure that everything you intend to say is charming,
since it is you who mean to say it; but let us make haste into the palace, as
it is pouring cats and dogs, and the wicked Fairy Carabosse will be amused to
see us all stand dripping here. When we are once under shelter we can laugh at
her.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Upon this the Ambassador found his tongue, and replied gallantly that the Fairy
had evidently foreseen the flames that would be kindled by the bright eyes of
the Princess, and had sent this deluge to extinguish them. Then he offered his
hand to conduct the Princess, and she said softly:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;As you could not possibly guess how much I like you, Sir Fanfaronade, I
am obliged to tell you plainly that, since I saw you enter the town on your
beautiful prancing horse, I have been sorry that you came to speak for another
instead of for yourself. So, if you think about it as I do, I will marry you
instead of your master. Of course I know you are not a prince, but I shall be
just as fond of you as if you were, and we can go and live in some cosy little
corner of the world, and be as happy as the days are long.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
The Ambassador thought he must be dreaming, and could hardly believe what the
lovely Princess said. He dared not answer, but only squeezed the
Princess&rsquo;s hand until he really hurt her little finger, but she did not
cry out. When they reached the palace the King kissed his daughter on both
cheeks, and said:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;My little lambkin, are you willing to marry the great King
Merlin&rsquo;s son, for this Ambassador has come on his behalf to fetch
you?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;If you please, sire,&rsquo; said the Princess, dropping a curtsey.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I consent also,&rsquo; said the Queen; &lsquo;so let the banquet be
prepared.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
This was done with all speed, and everybody feasted except Mayblossom and
Fanfaronade, who looked at one another and forgot everything else.
</p>

<p>
After the banquet came a ball, and after that again a ballet, and at last they
were all so tired that everyone fell asleep just where he sat. Only the lovers
were as wide-awake as mice, and the Princess, seeing that there was nothing to
fear, said to Fanfaronade:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Let us be quick and run away, for we shall never have a better chance
than this.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Then she took the King&rsquo;s dagger, which was in a diamond sheath, and the
Queen&rsquo;s neck-handkerchief, and gave her hand to Fanfaronade, who carried
a lantern, and they ran out together into the muddy street and down to the
sea-shore. Here they got into a little boat in which the poor old boatman was
sleeping, and when he woke up and saw the lovely Princess, with all her
diamonds and her spiders&rsquo;&mdash;web scarf, he did not know what to think,
and obeyed her instantly when she commanded him to set out. They could see
neither moon nor stars, but in the Queen&rsquo;s neck-handkerchief there was a
carbuncle which glowed like fifty torches. Fanfaronade asked the Princess where
she would like to go, but she only answered that she did not care where she
went as long as he was with her.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;But, Princess,&rsquo; said he, &lsquo;I dare not take you back to King
Merlin&rsquo;s court. He would think hanging too good for me.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Oh, in that case,&rsquo; she answered, &lsquo;we had better go to
Squirrel Island; it is lonely enough, and too far off for anyone to follow us
there.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
So she ordered the old boatman to steer for Squirrel Island.
</p>

<p>
Meanwhile the day was breaking, and the King and Queen and all the courtiers
began to wake up and rub their eyes, and think it was time to finish the
preparations for the wedding. And the Queen asked for her neck-handkerchief,
that she might look smart. Then there was a scurrying hither and thither, and a
hunting everywhere: they looked into every place, from the wardrobes to the
stoves, and the Queen herself ran about from the garret to the cellar, but the
handkerchief was nowhere to be found.
</p>

<p>
By this time the King had missed his dagger, and the search began all over
again. They opened boxes and chests of which the keys had been lost for a
hundred years, and found numbers of curious things, but not the dagger, and the
King tore his beard, and the Queen tore her hair, for the handkerchief and the
dagger were the most valuable things in the kingdom.
</p>

<p>
When the King saw that the search was hopeless he said:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Never mind, let us make haste and get the wedding over before anything
else is lost.&rsquo; And then he asked where the Princess was. Upon this her
nurse came forward and said:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Sire, I have been seeking her these two hours, but she is nowhere to be
found.&rsquo; This was more than the Queen could bear. She gave a shriek of
alarm and fainted away, and they had to pour two barrels of eau-de-cologne over
her before she recovered. When she came to herself everybody was looking for
the Princess in the greatest terror and confusion, but as she did not appear,
the King said to his page:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Go and find the Ambassador Fanfaronade, who is doubtless asleep in some
corner, and tell him the sad news.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
So the page hunted hither and thither, but Fanfaronade was no more to be found
than the Princess, the dagger, or the neck-handkerchief!
</p>

<p>
Then the King summoned his counsellors and his guards, and, accompanied by the
Queen, went into his great hall. As he had not had time to prepare his speech
beforehand, the King ordered that silence should be kept for three hours, and
at the end of that time he spoke as follows:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Listen, great and small! My dear daughter Mayblossom is lost: whether
she has been stolen away or has simply disappeared I cannot tell. The
Queen&rsquo;s neck-handkerchief and my sword, which are worth their weight in
gold, are also missing, and, what is worst of all, the Ambassador Fanfaronade
is nowhere to be found. I greatly fear that the King, his master, when he
receives no tidings from him, will come to seek him among us, and will accuse
us of having made mince-meat of him. Perhaps I could bear even that if I had
any money, but I assure you that the expenses of the wedding have completely
ruined me. Advise me, then, my dear subjects, what had I better do to recover
my daughter, Fanfaronade, and the other things.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
This was the most eloquent speech the King had been known to make, and when
everybody had done admiring it the Prime Minister made answer:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Sire, we are all very sorry to see you so sorry. We would give
everything we value in the world to take away the cause of your sorrow, but
this seems to be another of the tricks of the Fairy Carabosse. The
Princess&rsquo;s twenty unlucky years were not quite over, and really, if the
truth must be told, I noticed that Fanfaronade and the Princess appeared to
admire one another greatly. Perhaps this may give some clue to the mystery of
their disappearance.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Here the Queen interrupted him, saying, &lsquo;Take care what you say, sir.
Believe me, the Princess Mayblossom was far too well brought up to think of
falling in love with an Ambassador.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
At this the nurse came forward, and, falling on her knees, confessed how they
had made the little needle-hole in the tower, and how the Princess had declared
when she saw the Ambassador that she would marry him and nobody else. Then the
Queen was very angry, and gave the nurse, and the cradle-rocker, and the
nursery-maid such a scolding that they shook in their shoes. But the Admiral
Cocked-Hat interrupted her, crying:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Let us be off after this good-for-nothing Fanfaronade, for with out a
doubt he has run away with our Princess.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Then there was a great clapping of hands, and everybody shouted, &lsquo;By all
means let us be after him.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
So while some embarked upon the sea, the others ran from kingdom to kingdom
beating drums and blowing trumpets, and wherever a crowd collected they cried:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Whoever wants a beautiful doll, sweetmeats of all kinds, a little pair
of scissors, a golden robe, and a satin cap has only to say where Fanfaronade
has hidden the Princess Mayblossom.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
But the answer everywhere was, &lsquo;You must go farther, we have not seen
them.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
However, those who went by sea were more fortunate, for after sailing about for
some time they noticed a light before them which burned at night like a great
fire. At first they dared not go near it, not knowing what it might be, but
by-and-by it remained stationary over Squirrel Island, for, as you have guessed
already, the light was the glowing of the carbuncle. The Princess and
Fanfaronade on landing upon the island had given the boatman a hundred gold
pieces, and made him promise solemnly to tell no one where he had taken them;
but the first thing that happened was that, as he rowed away, he got into the
midst of the fleet, and before he could escape the Admiral had seen him and
sent a boat after him.
</p>

<p>
When he was searched they found the gold pieces in his pocket, and as they were
quite new coins, struck in honour of the Princess&rsquo;s wedding, the Admiral
felt certain that the boatman must have been paid by the Princess to aid her in
her flight. But he would not answer any questions, and pretended to be deaf and
dumb.
</p>

<p>
Then the Admiral said: &lsquo;Oh! deaf and dumb is he? Lash him to the mast and
give him a taste of the cat-o&rsquo;-nine-tails. I don&rsquo;t know anything
better than that for curing the deaf and dumb!&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
And when the old boatman saw that he was in earnest, he told all he knew about
the cavalier and the lady whom he had landed upon Squirrel Island, and the
Admiral knew it must be the Princess and Fanfaronade; so he gave the order for
the fleet to surround the island.
</p>

<p>
Meanwhile the Princess Mayblossom, who was by this time terribly sleepy, had
found a grassy bank in the shade, and throwing herself down had already fallen
into a profound slumber, when Fanfaronade, who happened to be hungry and not
sleepy, came and woke her up, saying, very crossly:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Pray, madam, how long do you mean to stay here? I see nothing to eat,
and though you may be very charming, the sight of you does not prevent me from
famishing.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;What! Fanfaronade,&rsquo; said the Princess, sitting up and rubbing her
eyes, &lsquo;is it possible that when I am here with you you can want anything
else? You ought to be thinking all the time how happy you are.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Happy!&rsquo; cried he; &lsquo;say rather unhappy. I wish with all my
heart that you were back in your dark tower again.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Darling, don&rsquo;t be cross,&rsquo; said the Princess. &lsquo;I will
go and see if I can find some wild fruit for you.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I wish you might find a wolf to eat you up,&rsquo; growled Fanfaronade.
</p>

<p>
The Princess, in great dismay, ran hither and thither all about the wood,
tearing her dress, and hurting her pretty white hands with the thorns and
brambles, but she could find nothing good to eat, and at last she had to go
back sorrowfully to Fanfaronade. When he saw that she came empty-handed he got
up and left her, grumbling to himself.
</p>

<p>
The next day they searched again, but with no better success.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Alas!&rsquo; said the Princess, &lsquo;if only I could find something
for you to eat, I should not mind being hungry myself.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;No, I should not mind that either,&rsquo; answered Fanfaronade.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Is it possible,&rsquo; said she, &lsquo;that you would not care if I
died of hunger? Oh, Fanfaronade, you said you loved me!&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;That was when we were in quite another place and I was not
hungry,&rsquo; said he. &lsquo;It makes a great difference in one&rsquo;s ideas
to be dying of hunger and thirst on a desert island.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
At this the Princess was dreadfully vexed, and she sat down under a white rose
bush and began to cry bitterly.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Happy roses,&rsquo; she thought to herself, &lsquo;they have only to
blossom in the sunshine and be admired, and there is nobody to be unkind to
them.&rsquo; And the tears ran down her cheeks and splashed on to the rose-tree
roots. Presently she was surprised to see the whole bush rustling and shaking,
and a soft little voice from the prettiest rosebud said:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Poor Princess! look in the trunk of that tree, and you will find a
honeycomb, but don&rsquo;t be foolish enough to share it with
Fanfaronade.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Mayblossom ran to the tree, and sure enough there was the honey. Without losing
a moment she ran with it to Fanfaronade, crying gaily:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;See, here is a honeycomb that I have found. I might have eaten it up all
by myself, but I had rather share it with you.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
But without looking at her or thanking her he snatched the honey comb out of
her hands and ate it all up&mdash;every bit, without offering her a morsel.
Indeed, when she humbly asked for some he said mockingly that it was too sweet
for her, and would spoil her teeth.
</p>

<p>
Mayblossom, more downcast than ever, went sadly away and sat down under an oak
tree, and her tears and sighs were so piteous that the oak fanned her with his
rustling leaves, and said:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Take courage, pretty Princess, all is not lost yet. Take this pitcher of
milk and drink it up, and whatever you do, don&rsquo;t leave a drop for
Fanfaronade.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
The Princess, quite astonished, looked round, and saw a big pitcher full of
milk, but before she could raise it to her lips the thought of how thirsty
Fanfaronade must be, after eating at least fifteen pounds of honey, made her
run back to him and say:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Here is a pitcher of milk; drink some, for you must be thirsty I am
sure; but pray save a little for me, as I am dying of hunger and thirst.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
But he seized the pitcher and drank all it contained at a single draught, and
then broke it to atoms on the nearest stone, saying with a malicious smile:
&lsquo;As you have not eaten anything you cannot be thirsty.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Ah!&rsquo; cried the Princess, &lsquo;I am well punished for
disappointing the King and Queen, and running away with this Ambassador about
whom I knew nothing.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
And so saying she wandered away into the thickest part of the wood, and sat
down under a thorn tree, where a nightingale was singing. Presently she heard
him say: &lsquo;Search under the bush Princess; you will find some sugar,
almonds, and some tarts there But don&rsquo;t be silly enough to offer
Fanfaronade any.&rsquo; And this time the Princess, who was fainting with
hunger, took the nightingale&rsquo;s advice, and ate what she found all by
herself. But Fanfaronade, seeing that she had found something good, and was not
going to share it with him, ran after her in such a fury that she hastily drew
out the Queen&rsquo;s carbuncle, which had the property of rendering people
invisible if they were in danger, and when she was safely hidden from him she
reproached him gently for his unkindness.
</p>

<p>
Meanwhile Admiral Cocked-Hat had despatched
Jack-the-Chatterer-of-the-Straw-Boots, Courier in Ordinary to the Prime
Minister, to tell the King that the Princess and the Ambassador had landed on
Squirrel Island, but that not knowing the country he had not pursued them, for
fear of being captured by concealed enemies. Their Majesties were overjoyed at
the news, and the King sent for a great book, each leaf of which was eight ells
long. It was the work of a very clever Fairy, and contained a description of
the whole earth. He very soon found that Squirrel Island was uninhabited.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Go,&rsquo; said he, to Jack-the-Chatterer, &lsquo;tell the Admiral from
me to land at once. I am surprised at his not having done so sooner.&rsquo; As
soon as this message reached the fleet, every preparation was made for war, and
the noise was so great that it reached the ears of the Princess, who at once
flew to protect her lover. As he was not very brave he accepted her aid gladly.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;You stand behind me,&rsquo; said she, &lsquo;and I will hold the
carbuncle which will make us invisible, and with the King&rsquo;s dagger I can
protect you from the enemy.&rsquo; So when the soldiers landed they could see
nothing, but the Princess touched them one after another with the dagger, and
they fell insensible upon the sand, so that at last the Admiral, seeing that
there was some enchantment, hastily gave orders for a retreat to be sounded,
and got his men back into their boats in great confusion.
</p>

<p>
Fanfaronade, being once more left with the Princess, began to think that if he
could get rid of her, and possess himself of the carbuncle and the dagger, he
would be able to make his escape. So as they walked back over the cliffs he
gave the Princess a great push, hoping she would fall into the sea; but she
stepped aside so quickly that he only succeeded in overbalancing himself, and
over he went, and sank to the bottom of the sea like a lump of lead, and was
never heard of any more. While the Princess was still looking after him in
horror, her attention was attracted by a rushing noise over her head, and
looking up she saw two chariots approaching rapidly from opposite directions.
One was bright and glittering, and drawn by swans and peacocks, while the Fairy
who sat in it was beautiful as a sunbeam; but the other was drawn by bats and
ravens, and contained a frightful little Dwarf, who was dressed in a
snake&rsquo;s skin, and wore a great toad upon her head for a hood. The
chariots met with a frightful crash in mid-air, and the Princess looked on in
breathless anxiety while a furious battle took place between the lovely Fairy
with her golden lance, and the hideous little Dwarf and her rusty pike. But
very soon it was evident that the Beauty had the best of it, and the Dwarf
turned her bats&rsquo; heads and flickered away in great confusion, while the
Fairy came down to where the Princess stood, and said, smiling, &lsquo;You see
Princess, I have completely routed that malicious old Carabosse. Will you
believe it! she actually wanted to claim authority over you for ever, because
you came out of the tower four days before the twenty years were ended.
However, I think I have settled her pretensions, and I hope you will be very
happy and enjoy the freedom I have won for you.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
The Princess thanked her heartily, and then the Fairy despatched one of her
peacocks to her palace to bring a gorgeous robe for Mayblossom, who certainly
needed it, for her own was torn to shreds by the thorns and briars. Another
peacock was sent to the Admiral to tell him that he could now land in perfect
safety, which he at once did, bringing all his men with him, even to
Jack-the-Chatterer, who, happening to pass the spit upon which the
Admiral&rsquo;s dinner was roasting, snatched it up and brought it with him.
</p>

<p>
Admiral Cocked-Hat was immensely surprised when he came upon the golden
chariot, and still more so to see two lovely ladies walking under the trees a
little farther away. When he reached them, of course he recognised the
Princess, and he went down on his knees and kissed her hand quite joyfully.
Then she presented him to the Fairy, and told him how Carabosse had been
finally routed, and he thanked and congratulated the Fairy, who was most
gracious to him. While they were talking she cried suddenly:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I declare I smell a savoury dinner.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Why yes, Madam, here it is,&rsquo; said Jack-the-Chatterer, holding up
the spit, where all the pheasants and partridges were frizzling. &lsquo;Will
your Highness please to taste any of them?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;By all means,&rsquo; said the Fairy, &lsquo;especially as the Princess
will certainly be glad of a good meal.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
So the Admiral sent back to his ship for everything that was needful, and they
feasted merrily under the trees. By the time they had finished the peacock had
come back with a robe for the Princess, in which the Fairy arrayed her. It was
of green and gold brocade, embroidered with pearls and rubies, and her long
golden hair was tied back with strings of diamonds and emeralds, and crowned
with flowers. The Fairy made her mount beside her in the golden chariot, and
took her on board the Admiral&rsquo;s ship, where she bade her farewell,
sending many messages of friendship to the Queen, and bidding the Princess tell
her that she was the fifth Fairy who had attended the christening. Then salutes
were fired, the fleet weighed anchor, and very soon they reached the port. Here
the King and Queen were waiting, and they received the Princess with such joy
and kindness that she could not get a word in edgewise, to say how sorry she
was for having run away with such a very poor spirited Ambassador. But, after
all, it must have been all Carabosse&rsquo;s fault. Just at this lucky moment
who should arrive but King Merlin&rsquo;s son, who had become uneasy at not
receiving any news from his Ambassador, and so had started himself with a
magnificent escort of a thousand horsemen, and thirty body-guards in gold and
scarlet uniforms, to see what could have happened. As he was a hundred times
handsomer and braver than the Ambassador, the Princess found she could like him
very much. So the wedding was held at once, with so much splendour and
rejoicing that all the previous misfortunes were quite forgotten.<a href="#fn1" id="fnref1"><sup>[1]</sup></a>
</p>

<p class="footnote">
<a id="fn1"></a> <a href="#fnref1">[1]</a>
<i>La Princesse Printanière.</i> Par Mme. d&rsquo;Aulnoy.
</p>

</div><!--end chapter-->

<div class="chapter">

<h2><a id="chap03"></a>SORIA MORIA CASTLE</h2>

<p>
There was once upon a time a couple of folks who had a son called Halvor. Ever
since he had been a little boy he had been unwilling to do any work, and had
just sat raking about among the ashes. His parents sent him away to learn
several things, but Halvor stayed nowhere, for when he had been gone two or
three days he always ran away from his master, hurried off home, and sat down
in the chimney corner to grub among the ashes again.
</p>

<p>
One day, however, a sea captain came and asked Halvor if he hadn&rsquo;t a
fancy to come with him and go to sea, and behold foreign lands. And Halvor had
a fancy for that, so he was not long in getting ready.
</p>

<p>
How long they sailed I have no idea, but after a long, long time there was a
terrible storm, and when it was over and all had become calm again, they knew
not where they were, for they had been driven away to a strange coast of which
none of them had any knowledge.
</p>

<p>
As there was no wind at all they lay there becalmed, and Halvor asked the
skipper to give him leave to go on shore to look about him, for he would much
rather do that than lie there and sleep.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Dost thou think that thou art fit to go where people can see
thee?&rsquo; said the skipper; &lsquo;thou hast no clothes but those rags thou
art going about in!&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Halvor still begged for leave, and at last got it, but he was to come back at
once if the wind began to rise.
</p>

<p>
So he went on shore, and it was a delightful country; whithersoever he went
there were wide plains with fields and meadows, but as for people, there were
none to be seen. The wind began to rise, but Halvor thought that he had not
seen enough yet, and that he would like to walk about a little longer, to try
if he could not meet somebody. So after a while he came to a great highway,
which was so smooth that an egg might have been rolled along it without
breaking. Halvor followed this, and when evening drew near he saw a big castle
far away in the distance, and there were lights in it. So as he had now been
walking the whole day and had not brought anything to eat away with him, he was
frightfully hungry. Nevertheless, the nearer he came to the castle the more
afraid he was.
</p>

<p>
A fire was burning in the castle, and Halvor went into the kitchen, which was
more magnificent than any kitchen he had ever yet beheld. There were vessels of
gold and silver, but not one human being was to be seen. When Halvor had stood
there for some time, and no one had come out, he went in and opened a door, and
inside a Princess was sitting at her wheel spinning.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Nay!&rsquo; she cried, &lsquo;can Christian folk dare to come hither?
But the best thing that you can do is to go away again, for if not the Troll
will devour you. A Troll with three heads lives here.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I should have been just as well pleased if he had had four heads more,
for I should have enjoyed seeing the fellow,&rsquo; said the youth; &lsquo;and
I won&rsquo;t go away, for I have done no harm, but you must give me something
to eat, for I am frightfully hungry.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
When Halvor had eaten his fill, the Princess told him to try if he could wield
the sword which was hanging on the wall, but he could not wield it, nor could
he even lift it up.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Well, then, you must take a drink out of that bottle which is hanging by
its side, for that&rsquo;s what the Troll does whenever he goes out and wants
to use the sword,&rsquo; said the Princess.
</p>

<p>
Halvor took a draught, and in a moment he was able to swing the sword about
with perfect ease. And now he thought it was high time for the Troll to make
his appearance, and at that very moment he came, panting for breath.
</p>

<p>
Halvor got behind the door.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Hutetu!&rsquo; said the Troll as he put his head in at the door.
&lsquo;It smells just as if there were Christian man&rsquo;s blood here!&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Yes, you shall learn that there is!&rsquo; said Halvor, and cut off all
his heads.
</p>

<p>
The Princess was so rejoiced to be free that she danced and sang, but then she
remembered her sisters, and said: &lsquo;If my sisters were but free
too!&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Where are they?&rsquo; asked Halvor.
</p>

<p>
So she told him where they were. One of them had been taken away by a Troll to
his castle, which was six miles off, and the other had been carried off to a
castle which was nine miles farther off still.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;But now,&rsquo; said she, &lsquo;you must first help me to get this dead
body away from here.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Halvor was so strong that he cleared everything away, and made all clean and
tidy very quickly. So then they ate and drank, and were happy, and next morning
he set off in the grey light of dawn. He gave himself no rest, but walked or
ran the livelong day. When he came in sight of the castle he was again just a
little afraid. It was much more splendid than the other, but here too there was
not a human being to be seen. So Halvor went into the kitchen, and did not
linger there either, but went straight in.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Nay! do Christian folk dare to come here?&rsquo; cried the second
Princess. &lsquo;I know not how long it is since I myself came, but during all
that time I have never seen a Christian man. It will be better for you to
depart at once, for a Troll lives here who has six heads.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;No, I shall not go,&rsquo; said Halvor; &lsquo;even if he had six more I
would not.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;He will swallow you up alive,&rsquo; said the Princess.
</p>

<p>
But she spoke to no purpose, for Halvor would not go; he was not afraid of the
Troll, but he wanted some meat and drink, for he was hungry after his journey.
So she gave him as much as he would have, and then she once more tried to make
him go away.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;No,&rsquo; said Halvor, &lsquo;I will not go, for I have not done
anything wrong, and I have no reason to be afraid.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;He won&rsquo;t ask any questions about that,&rsquo; said the Princess,
&lsquo;for he will take you without leave or right; but as you will not go, try
if you can wield that sword which the Troll uses in battle.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
He could not brandish the sword; so the Princess said that he was to take a
draught from the flask which hung by its side, and when he had done that he
could wield the sword.
</p>

<p>
Soon afterwards the Troll came, and he was so large and stout that he was
forced to go sideways to get through the door. When the Troll got his first
head in he cried: &lsquo;Hutetu! It smells of a Christian man&rsquo;s blood
here!&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
With that Halvor cut off the first head, and so on with all the rest. The
Princess was now exceedingly delighted, but then she remembered her sisters,
and wished that they too were free. Halvor thought that might be managed, and
wanted to set off immediately; but first he had to help the Princess to remove
the Troll&rsquo;s body, so it was not until morning that he set forth on his
way.
</p>

<p>
It was a long way to the castle, and he both walked and ran to get there in
time. Late in the evening he caught sight of it, and it was very much more
magnificent than either of the others. And this time he was not in the least
afraid, but went into the kitchen, and then straight on inside the castle.
There a Princess was sitting, who was so beautiful that there was never anyone
to equal her. She too said what the others had said, that no Christian folk had
ever been there since she had come, and entreated him to go away again, or else
the Troll would swallow him up alive. The Troll had nine heads, she told him.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Yes, and if he had nine added to the nine, and then nine more still, I
would not go away,&rsquo; said Halvor, and went and stood by the stove.
</p>

<p>
The Princess begged him very prettily to go lest the Troll should devour him;
but Halvor said, &lsquo;Let him come when he will.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
So she gave him the Troll&rsquo;s sword, and bade him take a drink from the
flask to enable him to wield it.
</p>

<p>
At that same moment the Troll came, breathing hard, and he was ever so much
bigger and stouter than either of the others, and he too was forced to go
sideways to get in through the door.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Hutetu! what a smell of Christian blood there is here!&rsquo; said he.
</p>

<p>
Then Halvor cut off the first head, and after that the others, but the last was
the toughest of them all, and it was the hardest work that Halvor had ever done
to get it off, but he still believed that he would have strength enough to do
it.
</p>

<p>
And now all the Princesses came to the castle, and were together again, and
they were happier than they had ever been in their lives; and they were
delighted with Halvor, and he with them, and he was to choose the one he liked
best; but of the three sisters the youngest loved him best.
</p>

<p>
But Halvor went about and was so strange and so mournful and quiet that the
Princesses asked what it was that he longed for, and if he did not like to be
with them. He said that he did like to be with them, for they had enough to
live on, and he was very comfortable there; but he longed to go home, for his
father and mother were alive, and he had a great desire to see them again.
</p>

<p>
They thought that this might easily be done.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;You shall go and return in perfect safety if you will follow our
advice,&rsquo; said the Princesses.
</p>

<p>
So he said that he would do nothing that they did not wish.
</p>

<p>
Then they dressed him so splendidly that he was like a King&rsquo;s son; and
they put a ring on his finger, and it was one which would enable him to go
there and back again by wishing, but they told him that he must not throw it
away, or name their names; for if he did, all his magnificence would be at an
end, and then he would never see them more.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;If I were but at home again, or if home were but here!&rsquo; said
Halvor, and no sooner had he wished this than it was granted. Halvor was
standing outside his father and mother&rsquo;s cottage before he knew what he
was about. The darkness of night was coming on, and when the father and mother
saw such a splendid and stately stranger walk in, they were so startled that
they both began to bow and curtsey.
</p>

<p>
Halvor then inquired if he could stay there and have lodging for the night. No,
that he certainly could not. &lsquo;We can give you no such
accommodation,&rsquo; they said, &lsquo;for we have none of the things that are
needful when a great lord like you is to be entertained. It will be better for
you to go up to the farm. It is not far off, you can see the chimney-pots from
here, and there they have plenty of everything.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Halvor would not hear of that, he was absolutely determined to stay where he
was; but the old folks stuck to what they had said, and told him that he was to
go to the farm, where he could get both meat and drink, whereas they themselves
had not even a chair to offer him.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;No,&rsquo; said Halvor, &lsquo;I will not go up there till early
to-morrow morning; let me stay here to-night. I can sit down on the
hearth.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
They could say nothing against that, so Halvor sat down on the hearth, and
began to rake about among the ashes just as he had done before, when he lay
there idling away his time.
</p>

<p>
They chattered much about many things, and told Halvor of this and of that, and
at last he asked them if they had never had any child.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Yes,&rsquo; they said; they had had a boy who was called Halvor, but
they did not know where he had gone, and they could not even say whether he
were dead or alive.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Could I be he?&rsquo; said Halvor.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I should know him well enough,&rsquo; said the old woman rising.
&lsquo;Our Halvor was so idle and slothful that he never did anything at all,
and he was so ragged that one hole ran into another all over his clothes. Such
a fellow as he was could never turn into such a man as you are, sir.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
In a short time the old woman had to go to the fireplace to stir the fire, and
when the blaze lit up Halvor, as it used to do when he was at home raking up
the ashes, she knew him again.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Good Heavens! is that you, Halvor?&rsquo; said she, and such great
gladness fell on the old parents that there were no bounds to it. And now he
had to relate everything that had befallen him, and the old woman was so
delighted with him that she would take him up to the farm at once to show him
to the girls who had formerly looked down on him so. She went there first, and
Halvor followed her. When she got there she told them how Halvor had come home
again, and now they should just see how magnificent he was. &lsquo;He looks
like a prince,&rsquo; she said.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;We shall see that he is just the same ragamuffin that he was
before,&rsquo; said the girls, tossing their heads.
</p>

<p>
At that same moment Halvor entered, and the girls were so astonished that they
left their kirtles lying in the chimney corner, and ran away in nothing but
their petticoats. When they came in again they were so shamefaced that they
hardly dared to look at Halvor, towards whom they had always been so proud and
haughty before.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Ay, ay! you have always thought that you were so pretty and dainty that
no one was equal to you,&rsquo; said Halvor, &lsquo;but you should just see the
eldest Princess whom I set free. You look like herds-women compared with her,
and the second Princess is also much prettier than you; but the youngest, who
is my sweetheart, is more beautiful than either sun or moon. I wish to Heaven
they were here, and then you would see them.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Scarcely had he said this before they were standing by his side, but then he
was very sorrowful, for the words which they had said to him came to his mind.
</p>

<p>
Up at the farm a great feast was made ready for the Princesses, and much
respect paid to them, but they would not stay there.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;We want to go down to your parents,&rsquo; they said to Halvor,
&lsquo;so we will go out and look about us.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
He followed them out, and they came to a large pond outside the farm-house.
Very near the water there was a pretty green bank, and there the Princesses
said they would sit down and while away an hour, for they thought that it would
be pleasant to sit and look out over the water, they said.
</p>

<p>
There they sat down, and when they had sat for a short time the youngest
Princess said, &lsquo;I may as well comb your hair a little, Halvor.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
So Halvor laid his head down on her lap, and she combed it, and it was not long
before he fell asleep. Then she took her ring from him and put another in its
place, and then she said to her sisters: &lsquo;Hold me as I am holding you. I
would that we were at Soria Moria Castle.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
When Halvor awoke he knew that he had lost the Princesses, and began to weep
and lament, and was so unhappy that he could not be comforted. In spite of all
his father&rsquo;s and mother&rsquo;s entreaties, he would not stay, but bade
them farewell, saying that he would never see them more, for if he did not find
the Princess again he did not think it worth while to live.
</p>

<p>
He again had three hundred dollars, which he put into his pocket and went on
his way. When he had walked some distance he met a man with a tolerably good
horse. Halvor longed to buy it, and began to bargain with the man.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Well, I have not exactly been thinking of selling him,&rsquo; said the
man, &lsquo;but if we could agree, perhaps&mdash;&mdash;&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Halvor inquired how much he wanted to have for the horse.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I did not give much for him, and he is not worth much; he is a capital
horse to ride, but good for nothing at drawing; but he will always be able to
carry your bag of provisions and you too, if you walk and ride by turns.&rsquo;
At last they agreed about the price, and Halvor laid his bag on the horse, and
sometimes he walked and sometimes he rode. In the evening he came to a green
field, where stood a great tree, under which he seated himself. Then he let the
horse loose and lay down to sleep, but before he did that he took his bag off
the horse. At daybreak he set off again, for he did not feel as if he could
take any rest. So he walked and rode the whole day, through a great wood where
there were many green places which gleamed very prettily among the trees. He
did not know where he was or whither he was going, but he never lingered longer
in any place than was enough to let his horse get a little food when they came
to one of these green spots, while he himself took out his bag of provisions.
</p>

<p>
So he walked and he rode, and it seemed to him that the wood would never come
to an end. But on the evening of the second day he saw a light shining through
the trees.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;If only there were some people up there I might warm myself and get
something to eat,&rsquo; thought Halvor.
</p>

<p>
When he got to the place where the light had come from, he saw a wretched
little cottage, and through a small pane of glass he saw a couple of old folks
inside. They were very old, and as grey-headed as a pigeon, and the old woman
had such a long nose that she sat in the chimney corner and used it to stir the
fire.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Good evening! good evening!&rsquo; said the old hag; &lsquo;but what
errand have you that can bring you here? No Christian folk have been here for
more than a hundred years.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
So Halvor told her that he wanted to get to Soria Moria Castle, and inquired if
she knew the way thither.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;No,&rsquo; said the old woman, &lsquo;that I do not, but the Moon will
be here presently, and I will ask her, and she will know. She can easily see
it, for she shines on all things.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
So when the Moon stood clear and bright above the tree-tops the old woman went
out. &lsquo;Moon! Moon!&rsquo; she screamed. &lsquo;Canst thou tell me the way
to Soria Moria Castle?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;No,&rsquo; said the Moon, &lsquo;that I can&rsquo;t, for when I shone
there, there was a cloud before me.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Wait a little longer,&rsquo; said the old woman to Halvor, &lsquo;for
the West Wind will presently be here, and he will know it, for he breathes
gently or blows into every corner.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;What! have you a horse too?&rsquo; she said when she came in again.
&lsquo;Oh! let the poor creature loose in our bit of fenced-in pasture, and
don&rsquo;t let it stand there starving at our very door. But won&rsquo;t you
exchange him with me? We have a pair of old boots here with which you can go
fifteen quarters of a mile at each step. You shall have them for the horse, and
then you will be able to get sooner to Soria Moria Castle.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Halvor consented to this at once, and the old woman was so delighted with the
horse that she was ready to dance. &lsquo;For now I, too, shall be able to ride
to church,&rsquo; she said. Halvor could take no rest, and wanted to set off
immediately; but the old woman said that there was no need to hasten.
&lsquo;Lie down on the bench and sleep a little, for we have no bed to offer
you,&rsquo; said she, &lsquo;and I will watch for the coming of the West
Wind.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Ere long came the West Wind, roaring so loud that the walls creaked.
</p>

<p>
The old woman went out and cried:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;West Wind! West Wind! Canst thou tell me the way to Soria Moria Castle?
Here is one who would go thither.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Yes, I know it well,&rsquo; said the West Wind. &lsquo;I am just on my
way there to dry the clothes for the wedding which is to take place. If he is
fleet of foot he can go with me.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Out ran Halvor.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;You will have to make haste if you mean to go with me,&rsquo; said the
West Wind; and away it went over hill and dale, and moor and morass, and Halvor
had enough to do to keep up with it.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Well, now I have no time to stay with you any longer,&rsquo; said the
West Wind, &lsquo;for I must first go and tear down a bit of spruce fir before
I go to the bleaching-ground to dry the clothes; but just go along the side of
the hill, and you will come to some girls who are standing there washing
clothes, and then you will not have to walk far before you are at Soria Moria
Castle.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Shortly afterwards Halvor came to the girls who were standing washing, and they
asked him if he had seen anything of the West Wind, who was to come there to
dry the clothes for the wedding.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Yes,&rsquo; said Halvor, &lsquo;he has only gone to break down a bit of
spruce fir. It won&rsquo;t be long before he is here.&rsquo; And then he asked
them the way to Soria Moria Castle. They put him in the right way, and when he
came in front of the castle it was so full of horses and people that it swarmed
with them. But Halvor was so ragged and torn with following the West Wind
through bushes and bogs that he kept on one side, and would not go among the
crowd until the last day, when the feast was to be held at noon.
</p>

<p>
So when, as was the usage and custom, all were to drink to the bride and the
young girls who were present, the cup-bearer filled the cup for each in turn,
both bride and bridegroom, and knights and servants, and at last, after a very
long time, he came to Halvor. He drank their health, and then slipped the ring
which the Princess had put on his finger when they were sitting by the
waterside into the glass, and ordered the cup-bearer to carry the glass to the
bride from him and greet her.
</p>

<p>
Then the Princess at once rose up from the table, and said, &lsquo;Who is most
worthy to have one of us&mdash;he who has delivered us from the Trolls or he
who is sitting here as bridegroom?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
There could be but one opinion as to that, everyone thought, and when Halvor
heard what they said he was not long in flinging off his beggar&rsquo;s rags
and arraying himself as a bridegroom.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Yes, he is the right one,&rsquo; cried the youngest Princess when she
caught sight of him; so she flung the other out of the window and held her
wedding with Halvor.<a href="#fn2" id="fnref2"><sup>[2]</sup></a>
</p>

<p class="footnote">
<a id="fn2"></a> <a href="#fnref2">[2]</a>
From P. C. Asbjørnsen.
</p>

</div><!--end chapter-->

<div class="chapter">

<h2><a id="chap04"></a>THE DEATH OF KOSHCHEI THE DEATHLESS</h2>

<p>
In a certain kingdom there lived a Prince Ivan. He had three sisters. The first
was the Princess Marya, the second the Princess Olga, the third the Princess
Anna. When their father and mother lay at the point of death, they had thus
enjoined their son: &lsquo;Give your sisters in marriage to the very first
suitors who come to woo them. Don&rsquo;t go keeping them by you!&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
They died, and the Prince buried them, and then, to solace his grief, he went
with his sisters into the garden green to stroll. Suddenly the sky was covered
by a black cloud; a terrible storm arose.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Let us go home, sisters!&rsquo; he cried.
</p>

<p>
Hardly had they got into the palace, when the thunder pealed, the ceiling split
open, and into the room where they were came flying a falcon bright. The Falcon
smote upon the ground, became a brave youth, and said:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Hail, Prince Ivan! Before I came as a guest, but now I have come as a
wooer! I wish to propose for your sister, the Princess Marya.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;If you find favour in the eyes of my sister, I will not interfere with
her wishes. Let her marry you, in God&rsquo;s name!&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
The Princess Marya gave her consent; the Falcon married her and bore her away
into his own realm.
</p>

<p>
Days follow days, hours chase hours; a whole year goes by. One day Prince Ivan
and his two sisters went out to stroll in the garden green. Again there arose a
storm-cloud, with whirlwind and lightning.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Let us go home, sisters!&rsquo; cries the Prince. Scarcely had they
entered the palace when the thunder crashed, the roof burst into a blaze, the
ceiling split in twain, and in flew an eagle. The Eagle smote upon the ground
and became a brave youth.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Hail, Prince Ivan! Before I came as a guest, but now I have come as a
wooer!&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
And he asked for the hand of the Princess Olga. Prince Ivan replied:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;If you find favour in the eyes of the Princess Olga, then let her marry
you. I will not interfere with her liberty of choice.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
The Princess Olga gave her consent and married the Eagle. The Eagle took her
and carried her off to his own kingdom.
</p>

<p>
Another year went by. Prince Ivan said to his youngest sister:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Let us go out and stroll in the garden green!&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
They strolled about for a time. Again there arose a storm-cloud, with whirlwind
and lightning.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Let us return home, sister!&rsquo; said he.
</p>

<p>
They returned home, but they hadn&rsquo;t had time to sit down when the thunder
crashed, the ceiling split open, and in flew a raven. The Raven smote upon the
floor and became a brave youth. The former youths had been handsome, but this
one was handsomer still.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Well, Prince Ivan! Before I came as a guest, but now I have come as a
wooer! Give me the Princess Anna to wife.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I won&rsquo;t interfere with my sister&rsquo;s freedom. If you gain her
affections, let her marry you.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
So the Princess Anna married the Raven, and he bore her away into his own
realm. Prince Ivan was left alone. A whole year he lived without his sisters;
then he grew weary, and said:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I will set out in search of my sisters.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
He got ready for the journey, he rode and rode, and one day he saw a whole army
lying dead on the plain. He cried aloud, &lsquo;If there be a living man there,
let him make answer! Who has slain this mighty host?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
There replied unto him a living man:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;All this mighty host has been slain by the fair Princess Marya
Morevna.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Prince Ivan rode further on, and came to a white tent, and forth came to meet
him the fair Princess Marya Morevna.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Hail, Prince!&rsquo; says she; &lsquo;whither does God send you? and is
it of your free will or against your will?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Prince Ivan replied, &lsquo;Not against their will do brave youths ride!&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Well, if your business be not pressing, tarry awhile in my tent.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Thereat was Prince Ivan glad. He spent two nights in the tent, and he found
favour in the eyes of Marya Morevna, and she married him. The fair Princess,
Marya Morevna, carried him off into her own realm.
</p>

<p>
They spent some time together, and then the Princess took it into her head to
go a warring. So she handed over all the house-keeping affairs to Prince Ivan,
and gave him these instructions:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Go about everywhere, keep watch over everything; only do not venture to
look into that closet there.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
He couldn&rsquo;t help doing so. The moment Marya Morevna had gone he rushed to
the closet, pulled open the door, and looked in&mdash;there hung Koshchei the
Deathless, fettered by twelve chains. Then Koshchei entreated Prince Ivan,
saying:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Have pity upon me and give me to drink! Ten years long have I been here
in torment, neither eating nor drinking; my throat is utterly dried up.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
The Prince gave him a bucketful of water; he drank it up and asked for more,
saying:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;A single bucket of water will not quench my thirst; give me more!&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
The Prince gave him a second bucketful. Koshchei drank it up and asked for a
third, and when he had swallowed the third bucketful, he regained his former
strength, gave his chains a shake, and broke all twelve at once.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Thanks, Prince Ivan!&rsquo; cried Koshchei the Deathless, &lsquo;now you
will sooner see your own ears than Marya Morevna!&rsquo; and out of the window
he flew in the shape of a terrible whirlwind. And he came up with the fair
Princess Marya Morevna as she was going her way, laid hold of her and carried
her off home with him. But Prince Ivan wept full sore, and he arrayed himself
and set out a-wandering, saying to himself, &lsquo;Whatever happens, I will go
and look for Marya Morevna!&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
One day passed, another day passed; at the dawn of the third day he saw a
wondrous palace, and by the side of the palace stood an oak, and on the oak sat
a falcon bright. Down flew the Falcon from the oak, smote upon the ground,
turned into a brave youth, and cried aloud:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Ha, dear brother-in-law! how deals the Lord with you?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Out came running the Princess Marya, joyfully greeted her brother Ivan, and
began inquiring after his health, and telling him all about herself. The Prince
spent three days with them; then he said:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I cannot abide with you; I must go in search of my wife, the fair
Princess Marya Morevna.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Hard will it be for you to find her,&rsquo; answered the Falcon.
&lsquo;At all events leave with us your silver spoon. We will look at it and
remember you.&rsquo; So Prince Ivan left his silver spoon at the
Falcon&rsquo;s, and went on his way again.
</p>

<p>
On he went one day, on he went another day, and by the dawn of the third day he
saw a palace still grander than the former one and hard by the palace stood an
oak, and on the oak sat an eagle. Down flew the Eagle from the oak, smote upon
the ground, turned into a brave youth, and cried aloud:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Rise up, Princess Olga! Hither comes our brother dear!&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
The Princess Olga immediately ran to meet him, and began kissing him and
embracing him, asking after his health, and telling him all about herself. With
them Prince Ivan stopped three days; then he said:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I cannot stay here any longer. I am going to look for my wife, the fair
Princess Marya Morevna.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Hard will it be for you to find her,&rsquo; replied the Eagle.
&lsquo;Leave with us a silver fork. We will look at it and remember you.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
He left a silver fork behind, and went his way. He travelled one day, he
travelled two days; at daybreak on the third day he saw a palace grander than
the first two, and near the palace stood an oak, and on the oak sat a raven.
Down flew the Raven from the oak, smote upon the ground, turned into a brave
youth, and cried aloud:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Princess Anna, come forth quickly! our brother is coming.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Out ran the Princess Anna, greeted him joyfully, and began kissing and
embracing him, asking after his health and telling him all about herself.
Prince Ivan stayed with them three days; then he said:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Farewell! I am going to look for my wife, the fair Princess Marya
Morevna.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Hard will it be for you to find her,&rsquo; replied the Raven.
&lsquo;Anyhow, leave your silver snuff-box with us. We will look at it and
remember you.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
The Prince handed over his silver snuff-box, took his leave, and went his way.
One day he went, another day he went, and on the third day he came to where
Marya Morevna was. She caught sight of her love, flung her arms around his
neck, burst into tears, and exclaimed:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Oh, Prince Ivan! why did you disobey me and go looking into the closet
and letting out Koshchei the Deathless?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Forgive me, Marya Morevna! Remember not the past; much better fly with
me while Koshchei the Deathless is out of sight. Perhaps he won&rsquo;t catch
us.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
So they got ready and fled. Now Koshchei was out hunting. Towards evening he
was returning home, when his good steed stumbled beneath him.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Why stumblest thou, sorry jade? Scentest thou some ill?&rsquo; The steed
replied:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Prince Ivan has come and carried off Marya Morevna.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Is it possible to catch them?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;It is possible to sow wheat, to wait till it grows up, to reap it and
thresh it, to grind it to flour, to make five pies of it, to eat those pies,
and then to start in pursuit&mdash;and even then to be in time.&rsquo; Koshchei
galloped off and caught up Prince Ivan.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Now,&rsquo; says he, &lsquo;this time I will forgive you, in return for
your kindness in giving me water to drink. And a second time I will forgive
you; but the third time beware! I will cut you to bits.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Then he took Marya Morevna from him, and carried her off. But Prince Ivan sat
down on a stone and burst into tears. He wept and wept&mdash;and then returned
back again to Marya Morevna. Now Koshchei the Deathless happened not to be at
home.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Let us fly, Marya Morevna!&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Ah, Prince Ivan! he will catch us.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Suppose he does catch us. At all events we shall have spent an hour or
two together.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
So they got ready and fled. As Koshchei the Deathless was returning home, his
good steed stumbled beneath him.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Why stumblest thou, sorry jade? Scentest thou some ill?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Prince Ivan has come and carried off Marya Morevna.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Is it possible to catch them?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;It is possible to sow barley, to wait till it grows up, to reap it and
thresh it, to brew beer, to drink ourselves drunk on it, to sleep our fill, and
then to set off in pursuit&mdash;and yet to be in time.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Koshchei galloped off, caught up Prince Ivan:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Didn&rsquo;t I tell you that you should not see Marya Morevna any more
than your own ears?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
And he took her away and carried her off home with him.
</p>

<p>
Prince Ivan was left there alone. He wept and wept; then he went back again
after Marya Morevna. Koshchei happened to be away from home at that moment.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Let us fly, Marya Morevna!&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Ah, Prince Ivan! he is sure to catch us and hew you in pieces.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Let him hew away! I cannot live without you.
</p>

<p>
So they got ready and fled.
</p>

<p>
Koshchei the Deathless was returning home when his good steed stumbled beneath
him.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Why stumblest thou? Scentest thou any ill?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Prince Ivan has come and has carried off Marya Morevna.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Koshchei galloped off, caught Prince Ivan, chopped him into little pieces, put
them into a barrel, smeared it with pitch and bound it with iron hoops, and
flung it into the blue sea. But Marya Morevna he carried off home.
</p>

<p>
At that very time the silver articles turned black which Prince Ivan had left
with his brothers-in-law.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Ah!&rsquo; said they, &lsquo;the evil is accomplished sure
enough!&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Then the Eagle hurried to the blue sea, caught hold of the barrel, and dragged
it ashore; the Falcon flew away for the Water of Life, and the Raven for the
Water of Death.
</p>

<p>
Afterwards they all three met, broke open the barrel, took out the remains of
Prince Ivan, washed them, and put them together in fitting order. The Raven
sprinkled them with the Water of Death&mdash;the pieces joined together, the
body became whole. The Falcon sprinkled it with the Water of Life&mdash;Prince
Ivan shuddered, stood up, and said:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Ah! what a time I&rsquo;ve been sleeping!&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;You&rsquo;d have gone on sleeping a good deal longer if it hadn&rsquo;t
been for us,&rsquo; replied his brothers-in-law. &lsquo;Now come and pay us a
visit.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Not so, brothers; I shall go and look for Marya Morevna.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
And when he had found her, he said to her:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Find out from Koshchei the Deathless whence he got so good a
steed.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
So Marya Morevna chose a favourable moment, and began asking Koshchei about it.
Koshchei replied:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Beyond thrice nine lands, in the thirtieth kingdom, on the other side of
the fiery river, there lives a Baba Yaga. She has so good a mare that she flies
right round the world on it every day. And she has many other splendid mares. I
watched her herds for three days without losing a single mare, and in return
for that the Baba Yaga gave me a foal.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;But how did you get across the fiery river?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Why, I&rsquo;ve a handkerchief of this kind&mdash;when I wave it thrice
on the right hand, there springs up a very lofty bridge, and the fire cannot
reach it.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Marya Morevna listened to all this, and repeated it to Prince Ivan, and she
carried off the handkerchief and gave it to him. So he managed to get across
the fiery river, and then went on to the Baba Yaga&rsquo;s. Long went he on
without getting anything either to eat or to drink. At last he came across an
outlandish bird and its young ones. Says Prince Ivan:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I&rsquo;ll eat one of these chickens.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Don&rsquo;t eat it, Prince Ivan!&rsquo; begs the outlandish bird;
&lsquo;some time or other I&rsquo;ll do you a good turn.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
He went on farther and saw a hive of bees in the forest.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I&rsquo;ll get a bit of honeycomb,&rsquo; says he.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Don&rsquo;t disturb my honey, Prince Ivan!&rsquo; exclaims the
queen-bee; &lsquo;some time or other I&rsquo;ll do you a good turn.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
So he didn&rsquo;t disturb it, but went on. Presently there met him a lioness
with her cub.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Anyhow, I&rsquo;ll eat this lion cub,&rsquo; says he; &lsquo;I&rsquo;m
so hungry I feel quite unwell!&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Please let us alone, Prince Ivan!&rsquo; begs the lioness; &lsquo;some
time or other I&rsquo;ll do you a good turn.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Very well; have it your own way,&rsquo; says he.
</p>

<p>
Hungry and faint he wandered on, walked farther and farther, and at last came
to where stood the house of the Baba Yaga. Round the house were set twelve
poles in a circle, and on each of eleven of these poles was stuck a human head;
the twelfth alone remained unoccupied.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Hail, granny!&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Hail, Prince Ivan! wherefore have you come? Is it of your own accord, or
on compulsion?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I have come to earn from you an heroic steed.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;So be it, Prince! You won&rsquo;t have to serve a year with me, but just
three days. If you take good care of my mares, I&rsquo;ll give you an heroic
steed. But if you don&rsquo;t&mdash;why, then you mustn&rsquo;t be annoyed at
finding your head stuck on top of the last pole up there.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Prince Ivan agreed to these terms. The Baba Yaga gave him food and drink, and
bade him set about his business. But the moment he had driven the mares afield,
they cocked up their tails, and away they tore across the meadows in all
directions. Before the Prince had time to look round they were all out of
sight. Thereupon he began to weep and to disquiet himself, and then he sat down
upon a stone and went to sleep. But when the sun was near its setting the
outlandish bird came flying up to him, and awakened him, saying:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Arise, Prince Ivan! The mares are at home now.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
The Prince arose and returned home. There the Baba Yaga was storming and raging
at her mares, and shrieking:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Whatever did ye come home for?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;How could we help coming home?&rsquo; said they. &lsquo;There came
flying birds from every part of the world, and all but pecked our eyes
out.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Well, well! to-morrow don&rsquo;t go galloping over the meadows, but
disperse amid the thick forests.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Prince Ivan slept all night. In the morning the Baba Yaga says to him:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Mind, Prince! if you don&rsquo;t take good care of the mares, if you
lose merely one of them&mdash;your bold head will be stuck on that pole!&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
He drove the mares afield. Immediately they cocked up their tails and dispersed
among the thick forests. Again did the Prince sit down on the stone, weep and
weep, and then go to sleep. The sun went down behind the forest. Up came
running the lioness.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Arise, Prince Ivan! The mares are all collected.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Prince Ivan arose and went home. More than ever did the Baba Yaga storm at her
mares and shriek:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Whatever did ye come back home for?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;How could we help coming back? Beasts of prey came running at us from
all parts of the world, and all but tore us utterly to pieces.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Well, to-morrow run off into the blue sea.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Again did Prince Ivan sleep through the night. Next morning the Baba Yaga sent
him forth to watch the mares.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;If you don&rsquo;t take good care of them,&rsquo; says she, &lsquo;your
bold head will be stuck on that pole!&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
He drove the mares afield. Immediately they cocked up their tails, disappeared
from sight, and fled into the blue sea. There they stood, up to their necks in
water. Prince Ivan sat down on the stone, wept, and fell asleep. But when the
sun had set behind the forest, up came flying a bee, and said:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Arise, Prince! The mares are all collected. But when you get home,
don&rsquo;t let the Baba Yaga set eyes on you, but go into the stable and hide
behind the mangers. There you will find a sorry colt rolling in the muck. Do
you steal it, and at the dead of night ride away from the house.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Prince Ivan arose, slipped into the stable, and lay down behind the mangers,
while the Baba Yaga was storming away at her mares and shrieking:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Why did ye come back?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;How could we help coming back? There came flying bees in countless
numbers from all parts of the world, and began stinging us on all sides till
the blood came!&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
The Baba Yaga went to sleep. In the dead of the night Prince Ivan stole the
sorry colt, saddled it, jumped on its back, and galloped away to the fiery
river. When he came to that river he waved the handkerchief three times on the
right hand, and suddenly, springing goodness knows whence, there hung across
the river, high in the air, a splendid bridge. The Prince rode across the
bridge and waved the handkerchief twice only on the left hand; there remained
across the river a thin, ever so thin a bridge!
</p>

<p>
When the Baba Yaga got up in the morning the sorry colt was not to be seen! Off
she set in pursuit. At full speed did she fly in her iron mortar, urging it on
with the pestle, sweeping away her traces with the broom. She dashed up to the
fiery river, gave a glance, and said, &lsquo;A capital bridge!&rsquo; She drove
on to the bridge, but had only got half-way when the bridge broke in two, and
the Baba Yaga went flop into the river. There truly did she meet with a cruel
death!
</p>

<p>
Prince Ivan fattened up the colt in the green meadows, and it turned into a
wondrous steed. Then he rode to where Marya Morevna was. She came running out,
and flung herself on his neck, crying:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;By what means has God brought you back to life?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Thus and thus,&rsquo; says he. &lsquo;Now come along with me.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I am afraid, Prince Ivan! If Koshchei catches us you will be cut in
pieces again.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;No, he won&rsquo;t catch us! I have a splendid heroic steed now; it
flies just like a bird.&rsquo; So they got on its back and rode away.
</p>

<p>
Koshchei the Deathless was returning home when his horse stumbled beneath him.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;What art thou stumbling for, sorry jade? Dost thou scent any ill?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Prince Ivan has come and carried off Marya Morevna.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Can we catch them?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;God knows! Prince Ivan has a horse now which is better than I.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Well, I can&rsquo;t stand it,&rsquo; says Koshchei the Deathless.
&lsquo;I will pursue.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
After a time he came up with Prince Ivan, lighted on the ground, and was going
to chop him up with his sharp sword. But at that moment Prince Ivan&rsquo;s
horse smote Koshchei the Deathless full swing with its hoof, and cracked his
skull, and the Prince made an end of him with a club. Afterwards the Prince
heaped up a pile of wood, set fire to it, burnt Koshchei the Deathless on the
pyre, and scattered his ashes to the wind. Then Marya Morevna mounted
Koshchei&rsquo;s horse and Prince Ivan got on his own, and they rode away to
visit first the Raven, and then the Eagle, and then the Falcon. Wherever they
went they met with a joyful greeting.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Ah, Prince Ivan! why, we never expected to see you again. Well, it
wasn&rsquo;t for nothing that you gave yourself so much trouble. Such a beauty
as Marya Morevna one might search for all the world over&mdash;and never find
one like her!&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
And so they visited, and they feasted; and afterwards they went off to their
own realm.<a href="#fn3" id="fnref3"><sup>[3]</sup></a>
</p>

<p class="footnote">
<a id="fn3"></a> <a href="#fnref3">[3]</a>
Ralston.
</p>

</div><!--end chapter-->

<div class="chapter">

<h2><a id="chap05"></a>THE BLACK THIEF AND KNIGHT OF THE GLEN.</h2>

<p>
In times of yore there was a King and a Queen in the south of Ireland who had
three sons, all beautiful children; but the Queen, their mother, sickened unto
death when they were yet very young, which caused great grief throughout the
Court, particularly to the King, her husband, who could in no wise be
comforted. Seeing that death was drawing near her, she called the King to her
and spoke as follows:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I am now going to leave you, and as you are young and in your prime, of
course after my death you will marry again. Now all the request I ask of you is
that you will build a tower in an island in the sea, wherein you will keep your
three sons until they are come of age and fit to do for themselves; so that
they may not be under the power or jurisdiction of any other woman. Neglect not
to give them education suitable to their birth, and let them be trained up to
every exercise and pastime requisite for king&rsquo;s sons to learn. This is
all I have to say, so farewell.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
The King had scarce time, with tears in his eyes, to assure her she should be
obeyed in everything, when she, turning herself in her bed, with a smile gave
up the ghost. Never was greater mourning seen than was throughout the Court and
the whole kingdom; for a better woman than the Queen, to rich and poor, was not
to be found in the world. She was interred with great pomp and magnificence,
and the King, her husband, became in a manner inconsolable for the loss of her.
However, he caused the tower to be built and his sons placed in it, under
proper guardians, according to his promise.
</p>

<p>
In process of time the lords and knights of the kingdom counselled the King (as
he was young) to live no longer as he had done, but to take a wife; which
counsel prevailing, they chose him a rich and beautiful princess to be his
consort&mdash;a neighbouring King&rsquo;s daughter, of whom he was very fond.
Not long after, the Queen had a fine son, which caused great feasting and
rejoicing at the Court, insomuch that the late Queen, in a manner, was entirely
forgotten. That fared well, and King and Queen lived happy together for several
years.
</p>

<p>
At length the Queen, having some business with the hen-wife, went herself to
her, and, after a long conference passed, was taking leave of her, when the
hen-wife prayed that if ever she should come back to her again she might break
her neck. The Queen, greatly incensed at such a daring insult from one of her
meanest subjects, demanded immediately the reason, or she would have her put to
death.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;It was worth your while, madam,&rsquo; says the hen-wife, &lsquo;to pay
me well for it, for the reason I prayed so on you concerns you much.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;What must I pay you?&rsquo; asked the Queen.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;You must give me,&rsquo; says she, &lsquo;the full of a pack of wool,
and I have an ancient crock which you must fill with butter, likewise a barrel
which you must fill for me full of wheat.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;How much wool will it take to the pack?&rsquo; says the Queen.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;It will take seven herds of sheep,&rsquo; said she, &lsquo;and their
increase for seven years.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;How much butter will it take to fill your crock?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Seven dairies,&rsquo; said she, &lsquo;and their increase for seven
years.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;And how much will it take to fill the barrel you have?&rsquo; says the
Queen.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;It will take the increase of seven barrels of wheat for seven
years.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;That is a great quantity,&rsquo; says the Queen; &lsquo;but the reason
must be extraordinary, and before I want it, I will give you all you
demand.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Well,&rsquo; says the hen-wife, &lsquo;it is because you are so stupid
that you don&rsquo;t observe or find out those affairs that are so dangerous
and hurtful to yourself and your child.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;What is that?&rsquo; says the Queen.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Why,&rsquo; says she, &lsquo;the King your husband has three fine sons
he had by the late Queen, whom he keeps shut up in a tower until they come of
age, intending to divide the kingdom between them, and let your son push his
fortune; now, if you don&rsquo;t find some means of destroying them; your child
and perhaps yourself will be left desolate in the end.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;And what would you advise me to do?&rsquo; said she; &lsquo;I am wholly
at a loss in what manner to act in this affair.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;You must make known to the King,&rsquo; says the hen-wife, &lsquo;that
you heard of his sons, and wonder greatly that he concealed them all this time
from you; tell him you wish to see them, and that it is full time for them to
be liberated, and that you would be desirous he would bring them to the Court.
The King will then do so, and there will be a great feast prepared on that
account, and also diversions of every sort to amuse the people; and in these
sports,&rsquo; said she, &lsquo;ask the King&rsquo;s sons to play a game at
cards with you, which they will not refuse. Now,&rsquo; says the hen-wife,
&lsquo;you must make a bargain, that if you win they must do whatever you
command them, and if they win, that you must do whatever they command you to
do; this bargain must be made before the assembly, and here is a pack of
cards,&rsquo; says she, &lsquo;that I am thinking you will not lose by.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
The Queen immediately took the cards, and, after returning the hen-wife thanks
for her kind instruction, went back to the palace, where she was quite uneasy
until she got speaking to the King in regard of his children; at last she broke
it off to him in a very polite and engaging manner, so that he could see no
muster or design in it. He readily consented to her desire, and his sons were
sent for to the tower, who gladly came to Court, rejoicing that they were freed
from such confinement. They were all very handsome, and very expert in all arts
and exercises, so that they gained the love and esteem of all that had seen
them.
</p>

<p>
The Queen, more jealous with them than ever, thought it an age until all the
feasting and rejoicing was over, that she might get making her proposal,
depending greatly on the power of the hen-wife&rsquo;s cards. At length this
royal assembly began to sport and play at all kinds of diversions, and the
Queen very cunningly challenged the three Princes to play at cards with her,
making bargain with them as she had been instructed.
</p>

<p>
They accepted the challenge, and the eldest son and she played the first game,
which she won; then the second son played, and she won that game likewise; the
third son and she then played the last game, and he won it, which sorely
grieved her that she had not him in her power as well as the rest, being by far
the handsomest and most beloved of the three.
</p>

<p>
However, everyone was anxious to hear the Queen&rsquo;s commands in regard to
the two Princes, not thinking that she had any ill design in her head against
them. Whether it was the hen-wife instructed her, or whether it was from her
own knowledge, I cannot tell; but she gave out they must go and bring her the
Knight of the Glen&rsquo;s wild Steed of Bells, or they should lose their
heads.
</p>

<p>
The young Princes were not in the least concerned, not knowing what they had to
do; but the whole Court was amazed at her demand, knowing very well that it was
impossible for them ever to get the steed, as all that ever sought him perished
in the attempt. However, they could not retract the bargain, and the youngest
Prince was desired to tell what demand he had on the Queen, as he had won his
game.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;My brothers,&rsquo; says he, &lsquo;are now going to travel, and, as I
understand, a perilous journey wherein they know not what road to take or what
may happen them. I am resolved, therefore, not to stay here, but to go with
them, let what will betide; and I request and command, according to my bargain,
that the Queen shall stand on the highest tower of the palace until we come
back (or find out that we are certainly dead), with nothing but sheaf corn for
her food and cold water for her drink, if it should be for seven years and
longer.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
All things being now fixed, the three princes departed the Court in search of
the Knight of the Glen&rsquo;s palace, and travelling along the road they came
up with a man who was a little lame, and seemed to be somewhat advanced in
years; they soon fell into discourse, and the youngest of the princes asked the
stranger his name, or what was the reason he wore so remarkable a black cap as
he saw on him.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I am called,&rsquo; said he, &lsquo;the Thief of Sloan, and sometimes
the Black Thief from my cap; &lsquo;and so telling the prince the most of his
adventures, he asked him again where they were bound for, or what they were
about.
</p>

<p>
The prince, willing to gratify his request, told him their affairs from the
beginning to the end. &lsquo;And now,&rsquo; said he, &lsquo;we are travelling,
and do not know whether we are on the right road or not.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Ah! my brave fellows,&rsquo; says the Black Thief, &lsquo;you little
know the danger you run. I am after that steed myself these seven years, and
can never steal him on account of a silk covering he has on him in the stable,
with sixty bells fixed to it, and whenever you approach the place he quickly
observes it and shakes himself; which, by the sound of the bells, not only
alarms the prince and his guards, but the whole country round, so that it is
impossible ever to get him, and those that are so unfortunate as to be taken by
the Knight of the Glen are boiled in a red-hot fiery furnace.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Bless me,&rsquo; says the young prince, &lsquo;what will we do? If we
return without the steed we will lose our heads, so I see we are ill fixed on
both sides.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Well,&rsquo; says the Thief of Sloan, &lsquo;if it were my case I would
rather die by the Knight than by the wicked Queen; besides, I will go with you
myself and show you the road, and whatever fortune you will have, I will take
chance of the same.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
They returned him sincere thanks for his kindness, and he, being well
acquainted with the road, in a short time brought them within view of the
knight&rsquo;s castle.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Now,&rsquo; says he, &lsquo;we must stay here till night comes; for I
know all the ways of the place, and if there be any chance for it, it is when
they are all at rest; for the steed is all the watch the knight keeps
there.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Accordingly, in the dead hour of the night, the King&rsquo;s three sons and the
Thief of Sloan attempted the Steed of Bells in order to carry him away, but
before they could reach the stables the steed neighed most terribly and shook
himself so, and the bells rung with such noise, that the knight and all his men
were up in a moment.
</p>

<p>
The Black Thief and the King&rsquo;s sons thought to make their escape, but
they were suddenly surrounded by the knight&rsquo;s guards and taken prisoners;
where they were brought into that dismal part of the palace where the knight
kept a furnace always boiling, in which he threw all offenders that ever came
in his way, which in a few moments would entirely consume them.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Audacious villains!&rsquo; says the Knight of the Glen, &lsquo;how dare
you attempt so bold an action as to steal my steed? See, now, the reward of
your folly; for your greater punishment I will not boil you all together, but
one after the other, so that he that survives may witness the dire afflictions
of his unfortunate companions.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
So saying he ordered his servants to stir up the fire: &lsquo;We will boil the
eldest-looking of these young men first,&rsquo; said he, &lsquo;and so on to
the last, which will be this old champion with the black cap. He seems to be
the captain, and looks as if he had come through many toils.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I was as near death once as the prince is yet,&rsquo; says the Black
Thief, &lsquo;and escaped; and so will he too.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;No, you never were,&rsquo; said the knight; &lsquo;for he is within two
or three minutes of his latter end.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;But,&rsquo; says the Black Thief, &lsquo;I was within one moment of my
death, and I am here yet.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;How was that?&rsquo; says the knight; &lsquo;I would be glad to hear it,
for it seems impossible.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;If you think, sir knight,&rsquo; says the Black Thief, &lsquo;that the
danger I was in surpasses that of this young man, will you pardon him his
crime?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I will,&rsquo; says the knight, &lsquo;so go on with your story.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I was, sir,&rsquo; says he, &lsquo;a very wild boy in my youth, and came
through many distresses; once in particular, as I was on my rambling, I was
benighted and could find no lodging. At length I came to an old kiln, and being
much fatigued I went up and lay on the ribs. I had not been long there when I
saw three witches coming in with three bags of gold. Each put their bags of
gold under their heads, as if to sleep. I heard one of them say to the other
that if the Black Thief came on them while they slept, he would not leave them
a penny. I found by their discourse that everybody had got my name into their
mouth, though I kept silent as death during their discourse. At length they
fell fast asleep, and then I stole softly down, and seeing some turf
convenient, I placed one under each of their heads, and off I went, with their
gold, as fast as I could.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I had not gone far,&rsquo; continued the Thief of Sloan, &lsquo;until I
saw a grey-hound, a hare, and a hawk in pursuit of me, and began to think it
must be the witches that had taken the shapes in order that I might not escape
them unseen either by land or water. Seeing they did not appear in any
formidable shape, I was more than once resolved to attack them, thinking that
with my broad sword I could easily destroy them. But considering again that it
was perhaps still in their power to become alive again, I gave over the attempt
and climbed with difficulty up a tree, bringing my sword in my hand and all the
gold along with me. However, when they came to the tree they found what I had
done, and making further use of their hellish art, one of them was changed into
a smith&rsquo;s anvil and another into a piece of iron, of which the third soon
made a hatchet. Having the hatchet made, she fell to cutting down the tree, and
in the course of an hour it began to shake with me. At length it began to bend,
and I found that one or two blows at the most would put it down. I then began
to think that my death was inevitable, considering that those who were capable
of doing so much would soon end my life; but just as she had the stroke drawn
that would terminate my fate, the cock crew, and the witches disappeared,
having resumed their natural shapes for fear of being known, and I got safe off
with my bags of gold.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Now, sir,&rsquo; says he to the Knight of the Glen, &lsquo;if that be
not as great an adventure as ever you heard, to be within one blow of a hatchet
of my end, and that blow even drawn, and after all to escape, I leave it to
yourself.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Well, I cannot say but it is very extraordinary,&rsquo; says the Knight
of the Glen, &lsquo;and on that account pardon this young man his crime; so
stir up the fire, till I boil this second one.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Indeed,&rsquo; says the Black Thief, &lsquo;I would fain think he would
not die this time either.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;How so?&rsquo; says the knight; &lsquo;it is impossible for him to
escape.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I escaped death more wonderfully myself,&rsquo; says the Thief of Sloan,
&lsquo;than if you had him ready to throw into the furnace, and I hope it will
be the case with him likewise.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Why, have you been in another great danger?&rsquo; says the knight.
&lsquo;I would be glad to hear the story too, and if it be as wonderful as the
last, I will pardon this young man as I did the other.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;My way of living, sir,&rsquo; says the Black Thief, &lsquo;was not good,
as I told you before; and being at a certain time fairly run out of cash, and
meeting with no enterprise worthy of notice, I was reduced to great straits. At
length a rich bishop died in the neighbourhood I was then in, and I heard he
was interred with a great deal of jewels and rich robes upon him, all which I
intended in a short time to be master of. Accordingly that very night I set
about it, and coming to the place, I understood he was placed at the further
end of a long dark vault, which I slowly entered. I had not gone in far until I
heard a foot coming towards me with a quick pace, and although naturally bold
and daring, yet, thinking of the deceased bishop and the crime I was engaged
in, I lost courage, and ran towards the entrance of the vault. I had retreated
but a few paces when I observed, between me and the light, the figure of a tall
black man standing in the entrance. Being in great fear and not knowing how to
pass, I fired a pistol at him, and he immediately fell across the entrance.
Perceiving he still retained the figure of a mortal man, I began to imagine
that it could not be the bishop&rsquo;s ghost; recovering myself therefore from
the fear I was in, I ventured to the upper end of the vault, where I found a
large bundle, and upon further examination I found that the corpse was already
rifled, and that which I had taken to be a ghost was no more than one of his
own clergy. I was then very sorry that I had the misfortune to kill him, but it
then could not be helped. I took up the bundle that contained everything
belonging to the corpse that was valuable, intending to take my departure from
this melancholy abode; but just as I came to the mouth of the entrance I saw
the guards of the place coming towards me, and distinctly heard them saying
that they would look in the vault, for that the Black Thief would think little
of robbing the corpse if he was anywhere in the place. I did not then know in
what manner to act, for if I was seen I would surely lose my life, as everybody
had a look-out at that time, and because there was no person bold enough to
come in on me. I knew very well on the first sight of me that could be got, I
would be shot like a dog. However, I had not time to lose. I took and raised up
the man which I had killed, as if he was standing on his feet, and I, crouching
behind him, bore him up as well as I could, so that the guards readily saw him
as they came up to the vault. Seeing the man in black, one of the men cried
that was the Black Thief, and, presenting his piece, fired at the man, at which
I let him fall, and crept into a little dark corner myself, that was at the
entrance of the place. When they saw the man fall, they ran all into the vault,
and never stopped until they were at the end of it, for fear, as I thought,
that there might be some others along with him that was killed. But while they
were busy inspecting the corpse and the vault to see what they could miss, I
slipped out, and, once away, and still away; but they never had the Black Thief
in their power since.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Well, my brave fellow,&rsquo; says the Knight of the Glen, &lsquo;I see
you have come through many dangers: you have freed these two princes by your
stories; but I am sorry myself that this young prince has to suffer for all.
Now, if you could tell me something as wonderful as you have told already, I
would pardon him likewise; I pity this youth and do not want to put him to
death if I could help it.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;That happens well,&rsquo; says the Thief of Sloan, &lsquo;for I like him
best myself, and have reserved the most curious passage for the last on his
account.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Well, then,&rsquo; says the knight, &lsquo;let us hear it.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I was one day on my travels,&rsquo; says the Black Thief, &lsquo;and I
came into a large forest, where I wandered a long time, and could not get out
of it. At length I came to a large castle, and fatigue obliged me to call in
the same, where I found a young woman and a child sitting on her knee, and she
crying. I asked her what made her cry, and where the lord of the castle was,
for I wondered greatly that I saw no stir of servants or any person about the
place.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;&ldquo;It is well for you,&rdquo; says the young woman, &ldquo;that the
lord of this castle is not at home at present; for he is a monstrous giant,
with but one eye on his forehead, who lives on human flesh. He brought me this
child,&rdquo; says she, &ldquo;I do not know where he got it, and ordered me to
make it into a pie, and I cannot help crying at the command.&rdquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I told her that if she knew of any place convenient that I could leave
the child safely I would do it, rather than it should be killed by such a
monster.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;She told me of a house a distance off where I would get a woman who
would take care of it. &ldquo;But what will I do in regard of the pie?&rdquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;&ldquo;Cut a finger off it,&rdquo; said I, &ldquo;and I will bring you
in a young wild pig out of the forest, which you may dress as if it was the
child, and put the finger in a certain place, that if the giant doubts anything
about it you may know where to turn it over at the first, and when he sees it
he will be fully satisfied that the pie is made of the child.&rdquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;She agreed to the scheme I proposed, and, cutting off the child&rsquo;s
finger, by her direction I soon had it at the house she told me of, and brought
her the little pig in the place of it. She then made ready the pie, and after
eating and drinking heartily myself, I was just taking my leave of the young
woman when we observed the giant coming through the castle gates.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;&ldquo;Bless me,&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;what will you do now? Run away
and lie down among the dead bodies that he has in the room (showing me the
place), and strip off your clothes that he may not know you from the rest if he
has occasion to go that way.&rdquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I took her advice, and laid myself down among the rest, as if dead, to
see how he would behave. The first thing I heard was him calling for his pie.
When she set it down before him he swore it smelled like swine&rsquo;s flesh,
but knowing where to find the finger, she immediately turned it up, which
fairly convinced him of the contrary. The pie only served to sharpen his
appetite, and I heard him sharpening his knife and saying he must have a collop
or two, for he was not near satisfied. But what was my terror when I heard the
giant groping among the bodies, and, fancying myself, cut the half of my hip
off, and took it with him to be roasted. You may be certain I was in great
pain, but the fear of being killed prevented me from making any complaint.
However, when he had eaten all he began to drink hot liquors in great
abundance, so that in a short time he could not hold up his head, but threw
himself on a large creel he had made for the purpose, and fell fast asleep.
When I heard him snoring, as I was I went up and caused the woman to bind my
wound with a handkerchief; and, taking the giant&rsquo;s spit, reddened it in
the fire, and ran it through the eye, but was not able to kill him.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;However, I left the spit sticking in his head, and took to my heels; but
I soon found he was in pursuit of me, although blind; and having an enchanted
ring he threw it at me, and it fell on my big toe and remained fastened to it.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;The giant then called to the ring, where it was, and to my great
surprise it made him answer on my foot; and he, guided by the same, made a leap
at me which I had the good luck to observe, and fortunately escaped the danger.
However, I found running was of no use in saving me, as long as I had the ring
on my foot; so I took my sword and cut off the toe it was fastened on, and
threw both into a large fish-pond that was convenient. The giant called again
to the ring, which by the power of enchantment always made him answer; but he,
not knowing what I had done, imagined it was still on some part of me, and made
a violent leap to seize me, when he went into the pond, over head and ears, and
was drowned. Now, sir knight,&rsquo; says the Thief of Sloan, &lsquo;you see
what dangers I came through and always escaped; but, indeed, I am lame for the
want of my toe ever since.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;My lord and master,&rsquo; says an old woman that was listening all the
time, &lsquo;that story is but too true, as I well know, for I am the very
woman that was in the giant&rsquo;s castle, and you, my lord, the child that I
was to make into a pie; and this is the very man that saved your life, which
you may know by the want of your finger that was taken off, as you have heard,
to deceive the giant.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
The Knight of the Glen, greatly surprised at what he had heard the old woman
tell, and knowing he wanted his finger from his childhood, began to understand
that the story was true enough.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;And is this my deliverer?&rsquo; says he. &lsquo;O brave fellow, I not
only pardon you all, but will keep you with myself while you live, where you
shall feast like princes, and have every attendance that I have myself.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
They all returned thanks on their knees, and the Black Thief told him the
reason they attempted to steal the Steed of Bells, and the necessity they were
under in going home.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Well,&rsquo; says the Knight of the Glen, &lsquo;if that&rsquo;s the
case I bestow you my steed rather than this brave fellow should die; so you may
go when you please, only remember to call and see me betimes, that we may know
each other well.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
They promised they would, and with great joy they set off for the King their
father&rsquo;s palace, and the Black Thief along with them.
</p>

<p>
The wicked Queen was standing all this time on the tower, and, hearing the
bells ringing at a great distance off, knew very well it was the princes coming
home, and the steed with them, and through spite and vexation precipitated
herself from the tower and was shattered to pieces.
</p>

<p>
The three princes lived happy and well during their father&rsquo;s reign, and
always keeping the Black Thief along with them; but how they did after the old
King&rsquo;s death is not known.<a href="#fn4" id="fnref4"><sup>[4]</sup></a>
</p>

<p class="footnote">
<a id="fn4"></a> <a href="#fnref4">[4]</a>
The Hibernian Tales.
</p>

</div><!--end chapter-->

<div class="chapter">

<h2><a id="chap06"></a>THE MASTER THIEF</h2>

<p>
There was once upon a time a husbandman who had three sons. He had no property
to bequeath to them, and no means of putting them in the way of getting a
living, and did not know what to do, so he said that they had his leave to take
to anything they most fancied, and go to any place they best liked. He would
gladly accompany them for some part of their way, he said, and that he did. He
went with them till they came to a place where three roads met, and there each
of them took his own way, and the father bade them farewell and returned to his
own home again. What became of the two elder I have never been able to
discover, but the youngest went both far and wide.
</p>

<p>
It came to pass, one night, as he was going through a great wood, that a
terrible storm came on. It blew so hard and rained so heavily that he could
scarcely keep his eyes open, and before he was aware of it he had got quite out
of the track, and could neither find road nor path. But he went on, and at last
he saw a light far away in the wood. Then he thought he must try and get to it,
and after a long, long time he did reach it. There was a large house, and the
fire was burning so brightly inside that he could tell that the people were not
in bed. So he went in, and inside there was an old woman who was busy about
some work.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Good evening, mother!&rsquo; said the youth.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Good evening!&rsquo; said the old woman.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Hutetu! it is terrible weather outside to-night,&rsquo; said the young
fellow.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Indeed it is,&rsquo; said the old woman.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Can I sleep here, and have shelter for the night?&rsquo; asked the
youth.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;It wouldn&rsquo;t be good for you to sleep here,&rsquo; said the old
hag, &lsquo;for if the people of the house come home and find you, they will
kill both you and me.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;What kind of people are they then, who dwell here?&rsquo; said the
youth.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Oh! robbers, and rabble of that sort,&rsquo; said the old woman;
&lsquo;they stole me away when I was little, and I have had to keep house for
them ever since.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I still think I will go to bed, all the same,&rsquo; said the youth.
&lsquo;No matter what happens, I&rsquo;ll not go out to-night in such weather
as this.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Well, then, it will be the worse for yourself,&rsquo; said the old
woman.
</p>

<p>
The young man lay down in a bed which stood near, but he dared not go to sleep:
and it was better that he didn&rsquo;t, for the robbers came, and the old woman
said that a young fellow who was a stranger had come there, and she had not
been able to get him to go away again.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Did you see if he had any money?&rsquo; said the robbers.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;He&rsquo;s not one to have money, he is a tramp! If he has a few clothes
to his back, that is all.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Then the robbers began to mutter to each other apart about what they should do
with him, whether they should murder him, or what else they should do. In the
meantime the boy got up and began to talk to them, and ask them if they did not
want a man-servant, for he could find pleasure enough in serving them.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Yes,&rsquo; said they, &lsquo;if you have a mind to take to the trade
that we follow, you may have a place here.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;It&rsquo;s all the same to me what trade I follow,&rsquo; said the
youth, &lsquo;for when I came away from home my father gave me leave to take to
any trade I fancied.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Have you a fancy for stealing, then?&rsquo; said the robbers.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Yes,&rsquo; said the boy, for he thought that was a trade which would
not take long to learn.
</p>

<p>
Not very far off there dwelt a man who had three oxen, one of which he was to
take to the town to sell. The robbers had heard of this, so they told the youth
that if he were able to steal the ox from him on the way, without his knowing,
and without doing him any harm, he should have leave to be their servant-man.
So the youth set off, taking with him a pretty shoe with a silver buckle that
was lying about in the house. He put this in the road by which the man must go
with his ox, and then went into the wood and hid himself under a bush. When the
man came up he at once saw the shoe.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;That&rsquo;s a brave shoe,&rsquo; said he. &lsquo;If I had but the
fellow to it, I would carry it home with me, and then I should put my old woman
into a good humour for once.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
For he had a wife who was so cross and ill-tempered that the time between the
beatings she gave him was very short. But then he bethought himself that he
could do nothing with one shoe if he had not the fellow to it, so he journeyed
onwards and let it lie where it was. Then the youth picked up the shoe and
hurried off away through the wood as fast as he was able, to get in front of
the man, and then put the shoe in the road before him again.
</p>

<p>
When the man came with the ox and saw the shoe, he was quite vexed at having
been so stupid as to leave the fellow to it lying where it was, instead of
bringing it on with him.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I will just run back again and fetch it now,&rsquo; he said to himself,
&lsquo;and then I shall take back a pair of good shoes to the old woman, and
she may perhaps throw a kind word to me for once.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
So he went and searched and searched for the other shoe for a long, long time,
but no shoe was to be found, and at last he was forced to go back with the one
which he had.
</p>

<p>
In the meantime the youth had taken the ox and gone off with it. When the man
got there and found that his ox was gone, he began to weep and wail, for he was
afraid that when his old woman got to know she would be the death of him. But
all at once it came into his head to go home and get the other ox, and drive it
to the town, and take good care that his old wife knew nothing about it. So he
did this; he went home and took the ox without his wife&rsquo;s knowing about
it, and went on his way to the town with it. But the robbers they knew it well,
because they got out their magic. So they told the youth that if he could take
this ox also without the man knowing anything about it, and without doing him
any hurt, he should then be on an equality with them.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Well, that will not be a very hard thing to do,&rsquo; thought the
youth.
</p>

<p>
This time he took with him a rope and put it under his arms and tied himself up
to a tree, which hung over the road that the man would have to take. So the man
came with his ox, and when he saw the body hanging there he felt a little
queer.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;What a hard lot yours must have been to make you hang yourself!&rsquo;
said he. &lsquo;Ah, well! you may hang there for me; I can&rsquo;t breathe life
into you again.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
So on he went with his ox. Then the youth sprang down from the tree, ran by a
short cut and got before him, and once more hung himself up on a tree in the
road before the man.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;How I should like to know if you really were so sick at heart that you
hanged yourself there, or if it is only a hobgoblin that&rsquo;s before
me!&rsquo; said the man. &lsquo;Ah, well! you may hang there for me, whether
you are a hobgoblin or not,&rsquo; and on he went with his ox.
</p>

<p>
Once more the youth did just as he had done twice already; jumped down from the
tree, ran by a short cut through the wood, and again hanged himself in the very
middle of the road before him.
</p>

<p>
But when the man once more saw this he said to himself, &lsquo;What a bad
business this is! Can they all have been so heavy-hearted that they have all
three hanged themselves? No, I can&rsquo;t believe that it is anything but
witchcraft! But I will know the truth,&rsquo; he said; &lsquo;if the two others
are still hanging there it is true but if they are not it&rsquo;s nothing else
but witchcraft.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
So he tied up his ox and ran back to see if they really were hanging there.
While he was going, and looking up at every tree as he went, the youth leapt
down and took his ox and went off with it. Any one may easily imagine what a
fury the man fell into when he came back and saw that his ox was gone. He wept
and he raged, but at last he took comfort and told himself that the best thing
to do was to go home and take the third ox, without letting his wife know
anything about it, and then try to sell it so well that he got a good sum of
money for it. So he went home and took the third ox, and drove it off without
his wife knowing anything about it. But the robbers knew all about it, and they
told the youth that if he could steal this as he had stolen the two others, he
should be master of the whole troop. So the youth set out and went to the wood,
and when the man was coming along with the ox he began to bellow loudly, just
like a great ox somewhere inside the wood. When the man heard that he was right
glad, for he fancied he recognised the voice of his big bullock, and thought
that now he should find both of them again. So he tied up the third, and ran
away off the road to look for them in the wood. In the meantime the youth went
away with the third ox. When the man returned and found that he had lost that
too, he fell into such a rage that there was no bounds to it. He wept and
lamented, and for many days he did not dare to go home again, for he was afraid
that the old woman would slay him outright. The robbers, also, were not very
well pleased at this, for they were forced to own that the youth was at the
head of them all. So one day they made up their minds to set to work to do
something which it was not in his power to accomplish, and they all took to the
road together, and left him at home alone. When they were well out of the
house, the first thing that he did was to drive the oxen out on the road,
whereupon they all ran home again to the man from whom he had stolen them, and
right glad was the husbandman to see them. Then he brought out all the horses
the robbers had, and loaded them with the most valuable things which he could
find&mdash;vessels of gold and of silver, and clothes and other magnificent
things&mdash;and then he told the old woman to greet the robbers from him and
thank them from him, and say that he had gone away, and that they would have a
great deal of difficulty in finding him again, and with that he drove the
horses out of the courtyard. After a long, long time he came to the road on
which he was travelling when he came to the robbers. And when he had got very
near home, and was in sight of the house where his father lived, he put on a
uniform which he had found among the things he had taken from the robbers, and
which was made just like a general&rsquo;s, and drove into the yard just as if
he were a great man. Then he entered the house and asked if he could find a
lodging there.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;No, indeed you can&rsquo;t!&rsquo; said his father. &lsquo;How could I
possibly be able to lodge such a great gentleman as you? It is all that I can
do to find clothes and bedding for myself, and wretched they are.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;You were always a hard man,&rsquo; said the youth, &lsquo;and hard you
are still if you refuse to let your own son come into your house.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Are you my son?&rsquo; said the man.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Do you not know me again then?&rsquo; said the youth.
</p>

<p>
Then he recognised him and said, &lsquo;But what trade have you taken to that
has made you such a great man in so short a time?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Oh, that I will tell you,&rsquo; answered the youth. &lsquo;You said
that I might take to anything I liked, so I apprenticed myself to some thieves
and robbers, and now I have served my time and have become Master Thief.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Now the Governor of the province lived by his father&rsquo;s cottage, and this
Governor had such a large house and so much money that he did not even know how
much it was, and he had a daughter too who was both pretty and dainty, and good
and wise. So the Master Thief was determined to have her to wife, and told his
father that he was to go to the Governor, and ask for his daughter for him.
&lsquo;If he asks what trade I follow, you may say that I am a Master
Thief,&rsquo; said he.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I think you must be crazy,&rsquo; said the man, &lsquo;for you
can&rsquo;t be in your senses if you think of anything so foolish.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;You must go to the Governor and beg for his daughter&mdash;there is no
help,&rsquo; said the youth.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;But I dare not go to the Governor and say this. He is so rich and has so
much wealth of all kinds,&rsquo; said the man.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;There is no help for it,&rsquo; said the Master Thief; &lsquo;go you
must, whether you like it or not. If I can&rsquo;t get you to go by using good
words, I will soon make you go with bad ones.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
But the man was still unwilling, so the Master Thief followed him, threatening
him with a great birch stick, till he went weeping and wailing through the door
to the Governor of the province.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Now, my man, and what&rsquo;s amiss with you?&rsquo; said the Governor.
</p>

<p>
So he told him that he had three sons who had gone away one day, and how he had
given them permission to go where they chose, and take to whatsoever work they
fancied. &lsquo;Now,&rsquo; he said, &lsquo;the youngest of them has come home,
and has threatened me till I have come to you to ask for your daughter for him,
and I am to say that he is a Master Thief,&rsquo; and again the man fell
a-weeping and lamenting.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Console yourself, my man,&rsquo; said the Governor, laughing. &lsquo;You
may tell him from me that he must first give me some proof of this. If he can
steal the joint off the spit in the kitchen on Sunday, when every one of us is
watching it, he shall have my daughter. Will you tell him that?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
The man did tell him, and the youth thought it would be easy enough to do it.
So he set himself to work to catch three hares alive, put them in a bag, clad
himself in some old rags so that he looked so poor and wretched that it was
quite pitiable to see him, and in this guise on Sunday forenoon he sneaked into
the passage with his bag, like any beggar boy. The Governor himself and every
one in the house was in the kitchen, keeping watch over the joint. While they
were doing this the youth let one of the hares slip out of his bag, and off it
set and began to run round the yard.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Just look at that hare,&rsquo; said the people in the kitchen, and
wanted to go out and catch it.
</p>

<p>
The Governor saw it too, but said, &lsquo;Oh, let it go! it&rsquo;s no use to
think of catching a hare when it&rsquo;s running away.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
It was not long before the youth let another hare out, and the people in the
kitchen saw this too, and thought that it was the same. So again they wanted to
go out and catch it, but the Governor again told them that it was of no use to
try.
</p>

<p>
Very soon afterwards, however, the youth let slip the third hare, and it set
off and ran round and round the courtyard. The people in the kitchen saw this
too, and believed that it was still the same hare that was running about, so
they wanted to go out and catch it.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;It&rsquo;s a remarkably fine hare!&rsquo; said the Governor. &lsquo;Come
and let us see if we can get hold of it.&rsquo; So out he went, and the others
with him, and away went the hare, and they after it, in real earnest.
</p>

<p>
In the meantime, however, the Master Thief took the joint and ran off with it,
and whether the Governor got any roast meat for his dinner that day I know not,
but I know that he had no roast hare, though he chased it till he was both hot
and tired. At noon came the Priest, and when the Governor had told him of the
trick played by the Master Thief there was no end to the ridicule he cast on
the Governor.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;For my part,&rsquo; said the Priest, &lsquo;I can&rsquo;t imagine myself
being made a fool of by such a fellow as that!&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Well, I advise you to be careful,&rsquo; said the Governor, &lsquo;for
he may be with you before you are at all aware.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
But the Priest repeated what he had said, and mocked the Governor for having
allowed himself to be made such a fool of.
</p>

<p>
Later in the afternoon the Master Thief came and wanted to have the
Governor&rsquo;s daughter as he had promised.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;You must first give some more samples of your skill,&rsquo; said the
Governor, trying to speak him fair, &lsquo;for what you did to-day was no such
very great thing after all. Couldn&rsquo;t you play off a really good trick on
the Priest? for he is sitting inside there and calling me a fool for having let
myself be taken in by such a fellow as you.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Well, it wouldn&rsquo;t be very hard to do that,&rsquo; said the Master
Thief. So he dressed himself up like a bird, and threw a great white sheet over
himself; broke off a goose&rsquo;s wings, and set them on his back; and in this
attire climbed into a great maple tree which stood in the Priest&rsquo;s
garden. So when the Priest returned home in the evening the youth began to cry,
&lsquo;Father Lawrence! Father Lawrence! &lsquo;for the Priest was called
Father Lawrence.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Who is calling me?&rsquo; said the Priest.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I am an angel sent to announce to thee that because of thy piety thou
shalt be taken away alive into heaven,&rsquo; said the Master Thief.
&lsquo;Wilt thou hold thyself in readiness to travel away next Monday night?
for then will I come and fetch thee, and bear thee away with me in a sack, and
thou must lay all thy gold and silver, and whatsoever thou may&rsquo;st
possess of this world&rsquo;s wealth, in a heap in thy best parlour.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
So Father Lawrence fell down on his knees before the angel and thanked him, and
the following Sunday he preached a farewell sermon, and gave out that an angel
had come down into the large maple tree in his garden, and had announced to him
that, because of his righteousness, he should be taken up alive into heaven,
and as he thus preached and told them this everyone in the church, old or
young, wept.
</p>

<p>
On Monday night the Master Thief once more came as an angel, and before the
Priest was put into the sack he fell on his knees and thanked him; but no
sooner was the Priest safely inside it than the Master Thief began to drag him
away over stocks and stones.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Oh! oh!&rsquo; cried the Priest in the sack. &lsquo;Where are you taking
me?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;This is the way to heaven. The way to heaven is not an easy one,&rsquo;
said the Master Thief, and dragged him along till he all but killed him.
</p>

<p>
At last he flung him into the Governor&rsquo;s goose-house, and the geese began
to hiss and peck at him, till he felt more dead than alive.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Oh! oh! oh! Where am I now?&rsquo; asked the Priest.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Now you are in Purgatory,&rsquo; said the Master Thief, and off he went
and took the gold and the silver and all the precious things which the Priest
had laid together in his best parlour.
</p>

<p>
Next morning, when the goose-girl came to let out the geese, she heard the
Priest bemoaning himself as he lay in the sack in the goose-house.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Oh, heavens! who is that, and what ails you?&rsquo; said she.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Oh,&rsquo; said the Priest, &lsquo;if you are an angel from heaven do
let me out and let me go back to earth again, for no place was ever so bad as
this&mdash;the little fiends nip me so with their tongs.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I am no angel,&rsquo; said the girl, and helped the Priest out of the
sack. &lsquo;I only look after the Governor&rsquo;s geese, that&rsquo;s what I
do, and they are the little fiends which have pinched your reverence.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;This is the Master Thief&rsquo;s doing! Oh, my gold and my silver and my
best clothes!&rsquo; shrieked the Priest, and, wild with rage, he ran home so
fast that the goose-girl thought he had suddenly gone mad.
</p>

<p>
When the Governor learnt what had happened to the Priest he laughed till he
nearly killed himself, but when the Master Thief came and wanted to have his
daughter according to promise, he once more gave him nothing but fine words,
and said, &lsquo;You must give me one more proof of your skill, so that I can
really judge of your worth. I have twelve horses in my stable, and I will put
twelve stable boys in it, one on each horse. If you are clever enough to steal
the horses from under them, I will see what I can do for you.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;What you set me to do can be done,&rsquo; said the Master Thief,
&lsquo;but am I certain to get your daughter when it is?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Yes; if you can do that I will do my best for you,&rsquo; said the
Governor.
</p>

<p>
So the Master Thief went to a shop, and bought enough brandy to fill two pocket
flasks, and he put a sleeping drink into one of these, but into the other he
poured brandy only. Then he engaged eleven men to lie that night in hiding
behind the Governor&rsquo;s stable. After this, by fair words and good payment,
he borrowed a ragged gown and a jerkin from an aged woman, and then, with a
staff in his hand and a poke on his back, he hobbled off as evening came on
towards the Governor&rsquo;s stable. The stable boys were just watering the
horses for the night, and it was quite as much as they could do to attend to
that.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;What on earth do you want here?&rsquo; said one of them to the old
woman.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Oh dear! oh dear! How cold it is!&rsquo; she said, sobbing, and
shivering with cold. &lsquo;Oh dear! oh dear! it&rsquo;s cold enough to freeze
a poor old body to death!&rsquo; and she shivered and shook again, and said,
&lsquo;For heaven&rsquo;s sake give me leave to stay here and sit just inside
the stable door.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;You will get nothing of the kind! Be off this moment! If the Governor
were to catch sight of you here, he would lead us a pretty dance,&rsquo; said
one.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Oh! what a poor helpless old creature!&rsquo; said another, who felt
sorry for her. &lsquo;That poor old woman can do no harm to anyone. She may sit
there and welcome.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
The rest of them thought that she ought not to stay, but while they were
disputing about this and looking after the horses, she crept farther and
farther into the stable, and at last sat down behind the door, and when once
she was inside no one took any more notice of her.
</p>

<p>
As the night wore on the stable boys found it rather cold work to sit still on
horseback.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Hutetu! But it is fearfully cold!&rsquo; said one, and began to beat his
arms backwards and forwards across his breast.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Yes, I am so cold that my teeth are chattering,&rsquo; said another.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;If one had but a little tobacco,&rsquo; said a third.
</p>

<p>
Well, one of them had a little, so they shared it among them, though there was
very little for each man, but they chewed it. This was some help to them, but
very soon they were just as cold as before.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Hutetu!&rsquo; said one of them, shivering again.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Hutetu!&rsquo; said the old woman, gnashing her teeth together till they
chattered inside her mouth; and then she got out the flask which contained
nothing but brandy, and her hands trembled so that she shook the bottle about,
and when she drank it made a great gulp in her throat.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;What is that you have in your flask, old woman?&rsquo; asked one of the
stable boys.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Oh, it&rsquo;s only a little drop of brandy, your honour,&rsquo; she
said.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Brandy! What! Let me have a drop! Let me have a drop!&rsquo; screamed
all the twelve at once.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Oh, but what I have is so little,&rsquo; whimpered the old woman.
&lsquo;It will not even wet your mouths.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
But they were determined to have it, and there was nothing to be done but give
it; so she took out the flask with the sleeping drink and put it to the lips of
the first of them; and now she shook no more, but guided the flask so that each
of them got just as much as he ought, and the twelfth had not done drinking
before the first was already sitting snoring. Then the Master Thief flung off
his beggar&rsquo;s rags, and took one stable boy after the other and gently set
him astride on the partitions which divided the stalls, and then he called his
eleven men who were waiting outside, and they rode off with the
Governor&rsquo;s horses.
</p>

<p>
In the morning when the Governor came to look after his stable boys they were
just beginning to come to again. They were driving their spurs into the
partition till the splinters flew about, and some of the boys fell off, and
some still hung on and sat looking like fools. &lsquo;Ah, well,&rsquo; said the
Governor, &lsquo;it is easy to see who has been here; but what a worthless set
of fellows you must be to sit here and let the Master Thief steal the horses
from under you!&rsquo; And they all got a beating for not having kept watch
better.
</p>

<p>
Later in the day the Master Thief came and related what he had done, and wanted
to have the Governor&rsquo;s daughter as had been promised. But the Governor
gave him a hundred dollars, and said that he must do something that was better
still.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Do you think you can steal my horse from under me when I am out riding
on it?&rsquo; said he.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Well, it might be done,&rsquo; said the Master Thief, &lsquo;if I were
absolutely certain that I should get your daughter.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
So the Governor said that he would see what he could do, and then he said that
on a certain day he would ride out to a great common where they drilled the
soldiers.
</p>

<p>
So the Master Thief immediately got hold of an old worn-out mare, and set
himself to work to make a collar for it of green withies and branches of broom;
bought a shabby old cart and a great cask, and then he told a poor old beggar
woman that he would give her ten dollars if she would get into the cask and
keep her mouth wide-open beneath the tap-hole, into which he was going to stick
his finger. No harm should happen to her, he said; she should only be driven
about a little, and if he took his finger out more than once, she should have
ten dollars more. Then he dressed himself in rags, dyed himself with soot, and
put on a wig and a great beard of goat&rsquo;s hair, so that it was impossible
to recognise him, and went to the parade ground, where the Governor had already
been riding about a long time.
</p>

<p>
When the Master Thief got there the mare went along so slowly and quietly that
the cart hardly seemed to move from the spot. The mare pulled it a little
forward, and then a little back, and then it stopped quite short. Then the mare
pulled a little forward again, and it moved with such difficulty that the
Governor had not the least idea that this was the Master Thief. He rode
straight up to him, and asked if he had seen anyone hiding anywhere about in a
wood that was close by.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;No,&rsquo; said the man, &lsquo;that have I not.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Hark you,&rsquo; said the Governor. &lsquo;If you will ride into that
wood, and search it carefully to see if you can light upon a fellow who is
hiding in there, you shall have the loan of my horse and a good present of
money for your trouble.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I am not sure that I can do it,&rsquo; said the man, &lsquo;for I have
to go to a wedding with this cask of mead which I have been to fetch, and the
tap has fallen out on the way, so now I have to keep my finger in the tap-hole
as I drive.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Oh, just ride off,&rsquo; said the Governor, &lsquo;and I will look
after the cask and the horse too.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
So the man said that if he would do that he would go, but he begged the
Governor to be very careful to put his finger into the tap-hole the moment he
took his out.
</p>

<p>
So the Governor said that he would do his very best, and the Master Thief got
on the Governor&rsquo;s horse.
</p>

<p>
But time passed, and it grew later and later, and still the man did not come
back, and at last the Governor grew so weary of keeping his finger in the
tap-hole that he took it out.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Now I shall have ten dollars more!&rsquo; cried the old woman inside the
cask; so he soon saw what kind of mead it was, and set out homewards. When he
had gone a very little way he met his servant bringing him the horse, for the
Master Thief had already taken it home.
</p>

<p>
The following day he went to the Governor and wanted to have his daughter
according to promise. But the Governor again put him off with fine words, and
only gave him three hundred dollars, saying that he must do one more
masterpiece of skill, and if he were but able to do that he should have her.
</p>

<p>
Well, the Master Thief thought he might if he could hear what it was.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Do you think you can steal the sheet off our bed, and my wife&rsquo;s
night-gown?&rsquo; said the Governor.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;That is by no means impossible,&rsquo; said the Master Thief. &lsquo;I
only wish I could get your daughter as easily.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
So late at night the Master Thief went and cut down a thief who was hanging on
the gallows, laid him on his own shoulders, and took him away with him. Then he
got hold of a long ladder, set it up against the Governor&rsquo;s bedroom
window, and climbed up and moved the dead man&rsquo;s head up and down, just as
if he were some one who was standing outside and peeping in.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;There&rsquo;s the Master Thief, mother!&rsquo; said the Governor,
nudging his wife. &lsquo;Now I&rsquo;ll just shoot him, that I will!&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
So he took up a rifle which he had laid at his bedside.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Oh no, you must not do that,&rsquo; said his wife; &lsquo;you yourself
arranged that he was to come here.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Yes, mother, I will shoot him,&rsquo; said he, and lay there aiming, and
then aiming again, for no sooner was the head up and he caught sight of it than
it was gone again. At last he got a chance and fired, and the dead body fell
with a loud thud to the ground, and down went the Master Thief too, as fast as
he could.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Well,&rsquo; said the Governor, &lsquo;I certainly am the chief man
about here, but people soon begin to talk, and it would be very unpleasant if
they were to see this dead body; the best thing that I can do is to go out and
bury him.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Just do what you think best, father,&rsquo; said his wife.
</p>

<p>
So the Governor got up and went downstairs, and as soon as he had gone out
through the door, the Master Thief stole in and went straight upstairs to the
woman.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Well, father dear,&rsquo; said she, for she thought it was her husband.
&lsquo;Have you got done already?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Oh yes, I only put him into a hole,&rsquo; said he, &lsquo;and raked a
little earth over him; that&rsquo;s all I have been able to do to-night, for it
is fearful weather outside. I will bury him better afterwards, but just let me
have the sheet to wipe myself with, for he was bleeding, and I have got covered
with blood with carrying him.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
So she gave him the sheet.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;You will have to let me have your night-gown too,&rsquo; he said,
&lsquo;for I begin to see that the sheet won&rsquo;t be enough.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Then she gave him her night-gown, but just then it came into his head that he
had forgotten to lock the door, and he was forced to go downstairs and do it
before he could lie down in bed again. So off he went with the sheet, and the
night-gown too.
</p>

<p>
An hour later the real Governor returned.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Well, what a time it has taken to lock the house door, father!&rsquo;
said his wife, &lsquo;and what have you done with the sheet and the
night-gown?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;What do you mean?&rsquo; asked the Governor.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Oh, I am asking you what you have done with the night-gown and sheet
that you got to wipe the blood off yourself with,&rsquo; said she.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Good heavens!&rsquo; said the Governor, &lsquo;has he actually got the
better of me again?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
When day came the Master Thief came too, and wanted to have the
Governor&rsquo;s daughter as had been promised, and the Governor dared do no
otherwise than give her to him, and much money besides, for he feared that if
he did not the Master Thief might steal the very eyes out of his head, and that
he himself would be ill spoken of by all men. The Master Thief lived well and
happily from that time forth, and whether he ever stole any more or not I
cannot tell you, but if he did it was but for pastime.<a href="#fn5" id="fnref5"><sup>[5]</sup></a>
</p>

<p class="footnote">
<a id="fn5"></a> <a href="#fnref5">[5]</a>
From P. C. Asbjørnsen.
</p>

</div><!--end chapter-->

<div class="chapter">

<h2><a id="chap07"></a>BROTHER AND SISTER</h2>

<p>
Brother took sister by the hand and said: &lsquo;Look here; we haven&rsquo;t
had one single happy hour since our mother died. That stepmother of ours beats
us regularly every day, and if we dare go near her she kicks us away. We never
get anything but hard dry crusts to eat&mdash;why, the dog under the table is
better off than we are. She does throw him a good morsel or two now and then.
Oh dear! if our own dear mother only knew all about it! Come along, and let us
go forth into the wide world together.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
So off they started through fields and meadows, over hedges and ditches, and
walked the whole day long, and when it rained sister said:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Heaven and our hearts are weeping together.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Towards evening they came to a large forest, and were so tired out with hunger
and their long walk, as well as all their trouble, that they crept into a
hollow tree and soon fell fast asleep.
</p>

<p>
Next morning, when they woke up, the sun was already high in the heavens and
was shining down bright and warm into the tree. Then said brother:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I&rsquo;m so thirsty, sister; if I did but know where to find a little
stream, I&rsquo;d go and have a drink. I do believe I hear one.&rsquo; He
jumped up, took sister by the hand, and they set off to hunt for the brook.
</p>

<p>
Now their cruel stepmother was in reality a witch, and she knew perfectly well
that the two children had run away. She had crept secretly after them, and had
cast her spells over all the streams in the forest.
</p>

<p>
Presently the children found a little brook dancing and glittering over the
stones, and brother was eager to drink of it, but as it rushed past sister
heard it murmuring:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Who drinks of me will be a tiger! who drinks of me will be a
tiger!&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
So she cried out, &lsquo;Oh! dear brother, pray don&rsquo;t drink, or
you&rsquo;ll be turned into a wild beast and tear me to pieces.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Brother was dreadfully thirsty, but he did not drink.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Very well,&rsquo; said he, &lsquo;I&rsquo;ll wait till we come to the
next spring.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
When they came to the second brook, sister heard it repeating too:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Who drinks of me will be a wolf! who drinks of me will be a wolf!&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
And she cried, &lsquo;Oh! brother, pray don&rsquo;t drink here either, or
you&rsquo;ll be turned into a wolf and eat me up.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Again brother did not drink, but he said:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Well, I&rsquo;ll wait a little longer till we reach the next stream, but
then, whatever you may say, I really must drink, for I can bear this thirst no
longer.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
And when they got to the third brook, sister heard it say as it rushed past:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Who drinks of me will be a roe! who drinks of me will be a roe!&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
And she begged, &lsquo;Ah! brother, don&rsquo;t drink yet, or you&rsquo;ll
become a roe and run away from me.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
But her brother was already kneeling by the brook and bending over it to drink,
and, sure enough, no sooner had his lips touched the water than he fell on the
grass transformed into a little Roebuck.
</p>

<p>
Sister cried bitterly over her poor bewitched brother, and the little Roe wept
too, and sat sadly by her side. At last the girl said:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Never mind, dear little fawn, I will never forsake you,&rsquo; and she
took off her golden garter and tied it round the Roe&rsquo;s neck.
</p>

<p>
Then she plucked rushes and plaited a soft cord of them, which she fastened to
the collar. When she had done this she led the Roe farther and farther, right
into the depths of the forest.
</p>

<p>
After they had gone a long, long way they came to a little house, and when the
girl looked into it she found it was quite empty, and she thought
&lsquo;perhaps we might stay and live here.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
So she hunted up leaves and moss to make a soft bed for the little Roe, and
every morning and evening she went out and gathered roots, nuts, and berries
for herself, and tender young grass for the fawn. And he fed from her hand, and
played round her and seemed quite happy. In the evening, when sister was tired,
she said her prayers and then laid her head on the fawn&rsquo;s back and fell
sound asleep with it as a pillow. And if brother had but kept his natural form,
really it would have been a most delightful kind of life.
</p>

<p>
They had been living for some time in the forest in this way, when it came to
pass that the King of that country had a great hunt through the woods. Then the
whole forest rang with such a blowing of horns, baying of dogs, and joyful
cries of huntsmen, that the little Roe heard it and longed to join in too.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Ah!&rsquo; said he to sister, &lsquo;do let me go off to the hunt! I
can&rsquo;t keep still any longer.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
And he begged and prayed till at last she consented.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;But,&rsquo; said she, &lsquo;mind you come back in the evening. I shall
lock my door fast for fear of those wild huntsmen; so, to make sure of my
knowing you, knock at the door and say, &ldquo;My sister dear, open; I&rsquo;m
here.&rdquo; If you don&rsquo;t speak I shan&rsquo;t open the door.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
So off sprang the little Roe, and he felt quite well and happy in the free open
air.
</p>

<p>
The King and his huntsmen soon saw the beautiful creature and started in
pursuit, but they could not come up with it, and whenever they thought they
were sure to catch it, it bounded off to one side into the bushes and
disappeared. When night came on it ran home, and knocking at the door of the
little house cried:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;My sister dear, open; I&rsquo;m here.&rsquo; The door opened, and he ran
in and rested all night on his soft mossy bed.
</p>

<p>
Next morning the hunt began again, and as soon as the little Roe heard the
horns and the &lsquo;Ho! ho!&rsquo; of the huntsmen, he could not rest another
moment, and said:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Sister, open the door, I must get out.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
So sister opened the door and said, &lsquo;Now mind and get back by nightfall,
and say your little rhyme.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
As soon as the King and his huntsmen saw the Roe with the golden collar they
all rode off after it, but it was far too quick and nimble for them. This went
on all day, but as evening came on the huntsmen had gradually encircled the
Roe, and one of them wounded it slightly in the foot, so that it limped and ran
off slowly.
</p>

<p>
Then the huntsman stole after it as far as the little house, and heard it call
out, &lsquo;My sister dear, open; I&rsquo;m here,&rsquo; and he saw the door
open and close immediately the fawn had run in.
</p>

<p>
The huntsman remembered all this carefully, and went off straight to the King
and told him all he had seen and heard.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;To-morrow we will hunt again,&rsquo; said the King.
</p>

<p>
Poor sister was terribly frightened when she saw how her little Fawn had been
wounded. She washed off the blood, bound up the injured foot with herbs, and
said: &lsquo;Now, dear, go and lie down and rest, so that your wound may
heal.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
The wound was really so slight that it was quite well next day, and the little
Roe did not feel it at all. No sooner did it hear the sounds of hunting in the
forest than it cried:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I can&rsquo;t stand this, I must be there too; I&rsquo;ll take care they
shan&rsquo;t catch me.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Sister began to cry, and said, &lsquo;They are certain to kill you, and then I
shall be left all alone in the forest and forsaken by everyone. I can&rsquo;t
and won&rsquo;t let you out.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Then I shall die of grief,&rsquo; replied the Roe, &lsquo;for when I
hear that horn I feel as if I must jump right out of my skin.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
So at last, when sister found there was nothing else to be done, she opened the
door with a heavy heart, and the Roe darted forth full of glee and health into
the forest.
</p>

<p>
As soon as the King saw the Roe, he said to his huntsman, &lsquo;Now then, give
chase to it all day till evening, but mind and be careful not to hurt
it.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
When the sun had set the King said to his huntsman, &lsquo;Now come and show me
the little house in the wood.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
And when he got to the house he knocked at the door and said, &lsquo;My sister
dear, open; I&rsquo;m here.&rsquo; Then the door opened and the King walked in,
and there stood the loveliest maiden he had ever seen.
</p>

<p>
The girl was much startled when instead of the little Roe she expected she saw
a man with a gold crown on his head walk in. But the King looked kindly at her,
held out his hand, and said, &lsquo;Will you come with me to my castle and be
my dear wife?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Oh yes!&rsquo; replied the maiden, &lsquo;but you must let my Roe come
too. I could not possibly forsake it.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;It shall stay with you as long as you live, and shall want for
nothing,&rsquo; the King promised.
</p>

<p>
In the meantime the Roe came bounding in, and sister tied the rush cord once
more to its collar, took the end in her hand, and so they left the little house
in the forest together.
</p>

<p>
The King lifted the lonely maiden on to his horse, and led her to his castle,
where the wedding was celebrated with the greatest splendour. The Roe was
petted and caressed, and ran about at will in the palace gardens.
</p>

<p>
Now all this time the wicked stepmother, who had been the cause of these poor
children&rsquo;s misfortunes and trying adventures, was feeling fully persuaded
that sister had been torn to pieces by wild beasts, and brother shot to death
in the shape of a Roe. When she heard how happy and prosperous they were, her
heart was filled with envy and hatred, and she could think of nothing but how
to bring some fresh misfortune on them. Her own daughter, who was as hideous as
night and had only one eye, reproached her by saying, &lsquo;It is I who ought
to have had this good luck and been Queen.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Be quiet, will you,&rsquo; said the old woman; &lsquo;when the time
comes I shall be at hand.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Now after some time it happened one day when the King was out hunting that the
Queen gave birth to a beautiful little boy. The old witch thought here was a
good chance for her; so she took the form of the lady in waiting, and, hurrying
into the room where the Queen lay in her bed, called out, &lsquo;The bath is
quite ready; it will help to make you strong again. Come, let us be quick, for
fear the water should get cold.&rsquo; Her daughter was at hand, too, and
between them they carried the Queen, who was still very weak, into the
bath-room and laid her in the bath; then they locked the door and ran away.
</p>

<p>
They took care beforehand to make a blazing hot fire under the bath, so that
the lovely young Queen might be suffocated.
</p>

<p>
As soon as they were sure this was the case, the old witch tied a cap on her
daughter&rsquo;s head and laid her in the Queen&rsquo;s bed. She managed, too,
to make her figure and general appearance look like the Queen&rsquo;s, but even
her power could not restore the eye she had lost; so she made her lie on the
side of the missing eye, in order to prevent the King&rsquo;s noticing
anything.
</p>

<p>
In the evening, when the King came home and heard the news of his son&rsquo;s
birth, he was full of delight, and insisted on going at once to his dear
wife&rsquo;s bedside to see how she was getting on. But the old witch cried
out, &lsquo;Take care and keep the curtains drawn; don&rsquo;t let the light
get into the Queen&rsquo;s eyes; she must be kept perfectly quiet.&rsquo; So
the King went away and never knew that it was a false Queen who lay in the bed.
</p>

<p>
When midnight came and everyone in the palace was sound asleep, the nurse who
alone watched by the baby&rsquo;s cradle in the nursery saw the door open
gently, and who should come in but the real Queen. She lifted the child from
its cradle, laid it on her arm, and nursed it for some time. Then she carefully
shook up the pillows of the little bed, laid the baby down and tucked the
coverlet in all round him. She did not forget the little Roe either, but went
to the corner where it lay, and gently stroked its back. Then she silently left
the room, and next morning when the nurse asked the sentries if they had seen
any one go into the castle that night, they all said, &lsquo;No, we saw no one
at all.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
For many nights the Queen came in the same way, but she never spoke a word, and
the nurse was too frightened to say anything about her visits.
</p>

<p>
After some little time had elapsed the Queen spoke one night, and said:
</p>

<p class="poem">
&lsquo;Is my child well? Is my Roe well?<br>
I&rsquo;ll come back twice and then farewell.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
The nurse made no answer, but as soon as the Queen had disappeared she went to
the King and told him all. The King exclaimed, &lsquo;Good heavens! what do you
say? I will watch myself to-night by the child&rsquo;s bed.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
When the evening came he went to the nursery, and at midnight the Queen
appeared and said:
</p>

<p class="poem">
&lsquo;Is my child well? Is my Roe well?<br>
I&rsquo;ll come back once and then farewell.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
And she nursed and petted the child as usual before she disappeared. The King
dared not trust himself to speak to her, but the following night he kept watch
again.
</p>

<p>
That night when the Queen came she said:
</p>

<p class="poem">
&lsquo;Is my child well? Is my Roe well?<br>
I&rsquo;ve come this once, and now farewell.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Then the King could restrain himself no longer, but sprang to her side and
cried, &lsquo;You can be no one but my dear wife!&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Yes,&rsquo; said she, &lsquo;I am your dear wife!&rsquo; and in the same
moment she was restored to life, and was as fresh and well and rosy as ever.
Then she told the King all the cruel things the wicked witch and her daughter
had done. The King had them both arrested at once and brought to trial, and
they were condemned to death. The daughter was led into the forest, where the
wild beasts tore her to pieces, and the old witch was burnt at the stake.
</p>

<p>
As soon as she reduced to ashes the spell was taken off the little Roe, and he
was restored to his natural shape once more, and so brother and sister lived
happily ever after.<a href="#fn6" id="fnref6"><sup>[6]</sup></a>
</p>

<p class="footnote">
<a id="fn6"></a> <a href="#fnref6">[6]</a>
Grimm.
</p>

</div><!--end chapter-->

<div class="chapter">

<h2><a id="chap08"></a>PRINCESS ROSETTE</h2>

<p>
Once upon a time there lived a King and Queen who had two beautiful sons and
one little daughter, who was so pretty that no one who saw her could help
loving her. When it was time for the christening of the Princess, the
Queen&mdash;as she always did&mdash;sent for all the fairies to be present at
the ceremony, and afterwards invited them to a splendid banquet.
</p>

<p>
When it was over, and they were preparing to go away, the Queen said to them:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Do not forget your usual good custom. Tell me what is going to happen to
Rosette.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
For that was the name they had given the Princess.
</p>

<p>
But the fairies said they had left their book of magic at home, and they would
come another day and tell her.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Ah!&rsquo; said the Queen, &lsquo;I know very well what that
means&mdash;you have nothing good to say; but at least I beg that you will not
hide anything from me.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
So, after a great deal of persuasion, they said:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Madam, we fear that Rosette may be the cause of great misfortunes to her
brothers; they may even meet with their death through her; that is all we have
been able to foresee about your dear little daughter. We are very sorry to have
nothing better to tell you.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Then they went away, leaving the Queen very sad, so sad that the King noticed
it, and asked her what was the matter.
</p>

<p>
The Queen said that she had been sitting too near the fire, and had burnt all
the flax that was upon her distaff.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Oh! is that all?&rsquo; said the King, and he went up into the garret
and brought her down more flax than she could spin in a hundred years. But the
Queen still looked sad, and the King asked her again what was the matter. She
answered that she had been walking by the river and had dropped one of her
green satin slippers into the water.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Oh! if that&rsquo;s all,&rsquo; said the King, and he sent to all the
shoe-makers in his kingdom, and they very soon made the Queen ten thousand
green satin slippers, but still she looked sad. So the King asked her again
what was the matter, and this time she answered that in eating her porridge too
hastily she had swallowed her wedding-ring. But it so happened that the King
knew better, for he had the ring himself, and he said:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Oh! you are not telling me the truth, for I have your ring here in my
purse.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Then the Queen was very much ashamed, and she saw that the King was vexed with
her; so she told him all that the fairies had predicted about Rosette, and
begged him to think how the misfortunes might be prevented.
</p>

<p>
Then it was the King&rsquo;s turn to look sad, and at last he said:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I see no way of saving our sons except by having Rosette&rsquo;s head
cut off while she is still little.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
But the Queen cried that she would far rather have her own head cut off, and
that he had better think of something else, for she would never consent to such
a thing. So they thought and thought, but they could not tell what to do, until
at last the Queen heard that in a great forest near the castle there was an old
hermit, who lived in a hollow tree, and that people came from far and near to
consult him; so she said:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I had better go and ask his advice; perhaps he will know what to do to
prevent the misfortunes which the fairies foretold.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
She set out very early the next morning, mounted upon a pretty little white
mule, which was shod with solid gold, and two of her ladies rode behind her on
beautiful horses. When they reached the forest they dismounted, for the trees
grew so thickly that the horses could not pass, and made their way on foot to
the hollow tree where the hermit lived. At first when he saw them coming he was
vexed, for he was not fond of ladies; but when he recognised the Queen, he
said:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;You are welcome, Queen. What do you come to ask of me?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Then the Queen told him all the fairies had foreseen for Rosette, and asked
what she should do, and the hermit answered that she must shut the Princess up
in a tower and never let her come out of it again. The Queen thanked and
rewarded him, and hastened back to the castle to tell the King. When he heard
the news he had a great tower built as quickly as possible, and there the
Princess was shut up, and the King and Queen and her two brothers went to see
her every day that she might not be dull. The eldest brother was called
&lsquo;the Great Prince,&rsquo; and the second &lsquo;the Little Prince.&rsquo;
They loved their sister dearly, for she was the sweetest, prettiest princess
who was ever seen, and the least little smile from her was worth more than a
hundred pieces of gold. When Rosette was fifteen years old the Great Prince
went to the King and asked if it would not soon be time for her to be married,
and the Little Prince put the same question to the Queen.
</p>

<p>
Their majesties were amused at them for thinking of it, but did not make any
reply, and soon after both the King and the Queen were taken ill, and died on
the same day. Everybody was sorry, Rosette especially, and all the bells in the
kingdom were tolled.
</p>

<p>
Then all the dukes and counsellors put the Great Prince upon a golden throne,
and crowned him with a diamond crown, and they all cried, &lsquo;Long live the
King!&rsquo; And after that there was nothing but feasting and rejoicing.
</p>

<p>
The new King and his brother said to one another:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Now that we are the masters, let us take our sister out of that dull
tower which she is so tired of.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
They had only to go across the garden to reach the tower, which was very high,
and stood up in a corner. Rosette was busy at her embroidery, but when she saw
her brothers she got up, and taking the King&rsquo;s hand cried:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Good morning, dear brother. Now that you are King, please take me out of
this dull tower, for I am so tired of it.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Then she began to cry, but the King kissed her and told her to dry her tears,
as that was just what they had come for, to take her out of the tower and bring
her to their beautiful castle, and the Prince showed her the pocketful of sugar
plums he had brought for her, and said:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Make haste, and let us get away from this ugly tower, and very soon the
King will arrange a grand marriage for you.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
When Rosette saw the beautiful garden, full of fruit and flowers, with green
grass and sparkling fountains, she was so astonished that not a word could she
say, for she had never in her life seen anything like it before. She looked
about her, and ran hither and thither gathering fruit and flowers, and her
little dog Frisk, who was bright green all over, and had but one ear, danced
before her, crying &lsquo;Bow-wow-wow,&rsquo; and turning head over heels in
the most enchanting way.
</p>

<p>
Everybody was amused at Frisk&rsquo;s antics, but all of a sudden he ran away
into a little wood, and the Princess was following him, when, to her great
delight, she saw a peacock, who was spreading his tail in the sunshine. Rosette
thought she had never seen anything so pretty. She could not take her eyes off
him, and there she stood entranced until the King and the Prince came up and
asked what was amusing her so much. She showed them the peacock, and asked what
it was, and they answered that it was a bird which people sometimes ate.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;What!&rsquo; said the Princess, &lsquo;do they dare to kill that
beautiful creature and eat it? I declare that I will never marry any one but
the King of the Peacocks, and when I am Queen I will take very good care that
nobody eats any of my subjects.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
At this the King was very much astonished.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;But, little sister,&rsquo; said he, &lsquo;where shall we find the King
of the Peacocks?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Oh! wherever you like, sire,&rsquo; she answered, &lsquo;but I will
never marry any one else.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
After this they took Rosette to the beautiful castle, and the peacock was
brought with her, and told to walk about on the terrace outside her windows, so
that she might always see him, and then the ladies of the court came to see the
Princess, and they brought her beautiful presents&mdash;dresses and ribbons and
sweetmeats, diamonds and pearls and dolls and embroidered slippers, and she was
so well brought up, and said, &lsquo;Thank you!&rsquo; so prettily, and was so
gracious, that everyone went away delighted with her.
</p>

<p>
Meanwhile the King and the Prince were considering how they should find the
King of the Peacocks, if there was such a person in the world. And first of all
they had a portrait made of the Princess, which was so like her that you really
would not have been surprised if it had spoken to you. Then they said to her:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Since you will not marry anyone but the King of the Peacocks, we are
going out together into the wide world to search for him. If we find him for
you we shall be very glad. In the meantime, mind you take good care of our
kingdom.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Rosette thanked them for all the trouble they were taking on her account, and
promised to take great care of the kingdom, and only to amuse herself by
looking at the peacock, and making Frisk dance while they were away.
</p>

<p>
So they set out, and asked everyone they met&mdash;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Do you know the King of the Peacocks?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
But the answer was always, &lsquo;No, no.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Then they went on and on, so far that no one has ever been farther, and at last
they came to the Kingdom of the Cockchafers.
</p>

<p>
They had never before seen such a number of cockchafers, and the buzzing was so
loud that the King was afraid he should be deafened by it. He asked the most
distinguished-looking cockchafer they met if he knew where they could find the
King of the Peacocks.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Sire,&rsquo; replied the cockchafer, &lsquo;his kingdom is thirty
thousand leagues from this; you have come the longest way.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;And how do you know that?&rsquo; said the King.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Oh!&rsquo; said the cockchafer, &lsquo;we all know you very well, since
we spend two or three months in your garden every year.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Thereupon the King and the Prince made great friends with him, and they all
walked arm-in-arm and dined together, and afterwards the cockchafer showed them
all the curiosities of his strange country, where the tiniest green leaf costs
a gold piece and more. Then they set out again to finish their journey, and
this time, as they knew the way, they were not long upon the road. It was easy
to guess that they had come to the right place, for they saw peacocks in every
tree, and their cries could be heard a long way off.
</p>

<p>
When they reached the city they found it full of men and women who were dressed
entirely in peacocks&rsquo; feathers, which were evidently thought prettier
than anything else.
</p>

<p>
They soon met the King, who was driving about in a beautiful little golden
carriage which glittered with diamonds, and was drawn at full speed by twelve
peacocks. The King and the Prince were delighted to see that the King of the
Peacocks was as handsome as possible. He had curly golden hair and was very
pale, and he wore a crown of peacocks&rsquo; feathers.
</p>

<p>
When he saw Rosette&rsquo;s brothers he knew at once that they were strangers,
and stopping his carriage he sent for them to speak to him. When they had
greeted him they said:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Sire, we have come from very far away to show you a beautiful
portrait.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
So saying they drew from their travelling bag the picture of Rosette.
</p>

<p>
The King looked at it in silence a long time, but at last he said:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I could not have believed that there was such a beautiful Princess in
the world!&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Indeed, she is really a hundred times as pretty as that,&rsquo; said her
brothers.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I think you must be making fun of me,&rsquo; replied the King of the
Peacocks.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Sire,&rsquo; said the Prince, &lsquo;my brother is a King, like
yourself. He is called &ldquo;the King,&rdquo; I am called &ldquo;the
Prince,&rdquo; and that is the portrait of our sister, the Princess Rosette. We
have come to ask if you would like to marry her. She is as good as she is
beautiful, and we will give her a bushel of gold pieces for her dowry.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Oh! with all my heart,&rsquo; replied the King, &lsquo;and I will make
her very happy. She shall have whatever she likes, and I shall love her dearly;
only I warn you that if she is not as pretty as you have told me, I will have
your heads cut off.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Oh! certainly, we quite agree to that,&rsquo; said the brothers in one
breath.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Very well. Off with you into prison, and stay there until the Princess
arrives,&rsquo; said the King of the Peacocks.
</p>

<p>
And the Princes were so sure that Rosette was far prettier than her portrait
that they went without a murmur. They were very kindly treated, and that they
might not feel dull the King came often to see them. As for Rosette&rsquo;s
portrait that was taken up to the palace, and the King did nothing but gaze at
it all day and all night.
</p>

<p>
As the King and the Prince had to stay in prison, they sent a letter to the
Princess telling her to pack up all her treasures as quickly as possible, and
come to them, as the King of the Peacocks was waiting to marry her; but they
did not say that they were in prison, for fear of making her uneasy.
</p>

<p>
When Rosette received the letter she was so delighted that she ran about
telling everyone that the King of the Peacocks was found, and she was going to
marry him.
</p>

<p>
Guns were fired, and fireworks let off. Everyone had as many cakes and
sweetmeats as he wanted. And for three days everybody who came to see the
Princess was presented with a slice of bread-and-jam, a nightingale&rsquo;s
egg, and some hippocras. After having thus entertained her friends, she
distributed her dolls among them, and left her brother&rsquo;s kingdom to the
care of the wisest old men of the city, telling them to take charge of
everything, not to spend any money, but save it all up until the King should
return, and above all, not to forget to feed her peacock. Then she set out,
only taking with her her nurse, and the nurse&rsquo;s daughter, and the little
green dog Frisk.
</p>

<p>
They took a boat and put out to sea, carrying with them the bushel of gold
pieces, and enough dresses to last the Princess ten years if she wore two every
day, and they did nothing but laugh and sing. The nurse asked the boatman:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Can you take us, can you take us to the kingdom of the peacocks?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
But he answered:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Oh no! oh no!&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Then she said:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;You must take us, you must take us.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
And he answered:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Very soon, very soon.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Then the nurse said:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Will you take us? will you take us?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
And the boatman answered:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Yes, yes.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Then she whispered in his ear:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Do you want to make your fortune?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
And he said:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Certainly I do.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I can tell you how to get a bag of gold,&rsquo; said she.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I ask nothing better,&rsquo; said the boatman.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Well,&rsquo; said the nurse, &lsquo;to-night, when the Princess is
asleep, you must help me to throw her into the sea, and when she is drowned I
will put her beautiful clothes upon my daughter, and we will take her to the
King of the Peacocks, who will be only too glad to marry her, and as your
reward you shall have your boat full of diamonds.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
The boatman was very much surprised at this proposal, and said:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;But what a pity to drown such a pretty Princess!&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
However, at last the nurse persuaded him to help her, and when the night came
and the Princess was fast asleep as usual, with Frisk curled up on his own
cushion at the foot of her bed, the wicked nurse fetched the boatman and her
daughter, and between them they picked up the Princess, feather bed, mattress,
pillows, blankets and all, and threw her into the sea, without even waking her.
Now, luckily, the Princess&rsquo;s bed was entirely stuffed with phoenix
feathers, which are very rare, and have the property of always floating upon
water, so Rosette went on swimming about as if she had been in a boat. After a
little while she began to feel very cold, and turned round so often that she
woke Frisk, who started up, and, having a very good nose, smelt the soles and
herrings so close to him that he began to bark. He barked so long and so loud
that he woke all the other fish, who came swimming up round the
Princess&rsquo;s bed, and poking at it with their great heads. As for her, she
said to herself:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;How our boat does rock upon the water! I am really glad that I am not
often as uncomfortable as I have been to-night.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
The wicked nurse and the boatman, who were by this time quite a long way off,
heard Frisk barking, and said to each other:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;That horrid little animal and his mistress are drinking our health in
sea-water now. Let us make haste to land, for we must be quite near the city of
the King of the Peacocks.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
The King had sent a hundred carriages to meet them, drawn by every kind of
strange animal. There were lions, bears, wolves, stags, horses, buffaloes,
eagles, and peacocks. The carriage intended for the Princess Rosette had six
blue monkeys, which could turn summer-saults, and dance on a tight-rope, and do
many other charming tricks. Their harness was all of crimson velvet with gold
buckles, and behind the carriage walked sixty beautiful ladies chosen by the
King to wait upon Rosette and amuse her.
</p>

<p>
The nurse had taken all the pains imaginable to deck out her daughter. She put
on her Rosette&rsquo;s prettiest frock, and covered her with diamonds from head
to foot. But she was so ugly that nothing could make her look nice, and what
was worse, she was sulky and ill-tempered, and did nothing but grumble all the
time.
</p>

<p>
When she stepped from the boat and the escort sent by the King of the Peacocks
caught sight of her, they were so surprised that they could not say a single
word.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Now then, look alive,&rsquo; cried the false Princess. &lsquo;If you
don&rsquo;t bring me something to eat I will have all your heads cut
off!&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Then they whispered one to another:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Here&rsquo;s a pretty state of things! she is as wicked as she is ugly.
What a bride for our poor King! She certainly was not worth bringing from the
other end of the world!&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
But she went on ordering them all about, and for no fault at all would give
slaps and pinches to everyone she could reach.
</p>

<p>
As the procession was so long it advanced but slowly, and the nurse&rsquo;s
daughter sat up in her carriage trying to look like a Queen. But the peacocks,
who were sitting upon every tree waiting to salute her, and who had made up
their minds to cry, &lsquo;Long live our beautiful Queen!&rsquo; when they
caught sight of the false bride could not help crying instead:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Oh! how ugly she is!&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Which offended her so much that she said to the guards:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Make haste and kill all these insolent peacocks who have dared to insult
me.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
But the peacocks only flew away, laughing at her.
</p>

<p>
The rogue of a boatman, who noticed all this, said softly to the nurse:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;This is a bad business for us, gossip; your daughter ought to have been
prettier.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
But she answered:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Be quiet, stupid, or you will spoil everything.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Now they told the King that the Princess was approaching.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Well,&rsquo; said he, &lsquo;did her brothers tell me truly? Is she
prettier than her portrait?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Sire,&rsquo; they answered, &lsquo;if she were as pretty that would do
very well.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;That&rsquo;s true,&rsquo; said the King; &lsquo;I for one shall be quite
satisfied if she is. Let us go and meet her.&rsquo; For they knew by the uproar
that she had arrived, but they could not tell what all the shouting was about.
The King thought he could hear the words:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;How ugly she is! How ugly she is!&rsquo; and he fancied they must refer
to some dwarf the Princess was bringing with her. It never occurred to him that
they could apply to the bride herself.
</p>

<p>
The Princess Rosette&rsquo;s portrait was carried at the head of the
procession, and after it walked the King surrounded by his courtiers. He was
all impatience to see the lovely Princess, but when he caught sight of the
nurse&rsquo;s daughter he was furiously angry, and would not advance another
step. For she was really ugly enough to have frightened anybody.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;What!&rsquo; he cried, &lsquo;have the two rascals who are my prisoners
dared to play me such a trick as this? Do they propose that I shall marry this
hideous creature? Let her be shut up in my great tower, with her nurse and
those who brought her here; and as for them, I will have their heads cut
off.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Meanwhile the King and the Prince, who knew that their sister must have
arrived, had made themselves smart, and sat expecting every minute to be
summoned to greet her. So when the gaoler came with soldiers, and carried them
down into a black dungeon which swarmed with toads and bats, and where they
were up to their necks in water, nobody could have been more surprised and
dismayed than they were.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;This is a dismal kind of wedding,&rsquo; they said; &lsquo;what can have
happened that we should be treated like this? They must mean to kill us.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
And this idea annoyed them very much. Three days passed before they heard any
news, and then the King of the Peacocks came and berated them through a hole in
the wall.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;You have called yourselves King and Prince,&rsquo; he cried, &lsquo;to
try and make me marry your sister, but you are nothing but beggars, not worth
the water you drink. I mean to make short work with you, and the sword is being
sharpened that will cut off your heads!&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;King of the Peacocks,&rsquo; answered the King angrily, &lsquo;you had
better take care what you are about. I am as good a King as yourself, and have
a splendid kingdom and robes and crowns, and plenty of good red gold to do what
I like with. You are pleased to jest about having our heads cut off; perhaps
you think we have stolen something from you?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
At first the King of the Peacocks was taken aback by this bold speech, and had
half a mind to send them all away together; but his Prime Minister declared
that it would never do to let such a trick as that pass unpunished, everybody
would laugh at him; so the accusation was drawn up against them, that they were
impostors, and that they had promised the King a beautiful Princess in marriage
who, when she arrived, proved to be an ugly peasant girl.
</p>

<p>
This accusation was read to the prisoners, who cried out that they had spoken
the truth, that their sister was indeed a Princess more beautiful than the day,
and that there was some mystery about all this which they could not fathom.
Therefore they demanded seven days in which to prove their innocence. The King
of the Peacocks was so angry that he would hardly even grant them this favour,
but at last he was persuaded to do so.
</p>

<p>
While all this was going on at court, let us see what had been happening to the
real Princess. When the day broke she and Frisk were equally astonished at
finding themselves alone upon the sea, with no boat and no one to help them.
The Princess cried and cried, until even the fishes were sorry for her.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Alas!&rsquo; she said, &lsquo;the King of the Peacocks must have ordered
me to be thrown into the sea because he had changed his mind and did not want
to marry me. But how strange of him, when I should have loved him so much, and
we should have been so happy together!&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
And then she cried harder than ever, for she could not help still loving him.
So for two days they floated up and down the sea, wet and shivering with the
cold, and so hungry that when the Princess saw some oysters she caught them,
and she and Frisk both ate some, though they didn&rsquo;t like them at all.
When night came the Princess was so frightened that she said to Frisk:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Oh! Do please keep on barking for fear the soles should come and eat us
up!&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Now it happened that they had floated close in to the shore, where a poor old
man lived all alone in a little cottage. When he heard Frisk&rsquo;s barking he
thought to himself:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;There must have been a shipwreck!&rsquo; (for no dogs ever passed that
way by any chance), and he went out to see if he could be of any use. He soon
saw the Princess and Frisk floating up and down, and Rosette, stretching out
her hands to him, cried:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Oh! Good old man, do save me, or I shall die of cold and hunger!&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
When he heard her cry out so piteously he was very sorry for her, and ran back
into his house to fetch a long boat-hook. Then he waded into the water up to
his chin, and after being nearly drowned once or twice he at last succeeded in
getting hold of the Princess&rsquo;s bed and dragging it on shore.
</p>

<p>
Rosette and Frisk were joyful enough to find themselves once more on dry land,
and the Princess thanked the old man heartily; then, wrapping herself up in her
blankets, she daintily picked her way up to the cottage on her little bare
feet. There the old man lighted a fire of straw, and then drew from an old box
his wife&rsquo;s dress and shoes, which the Princess put on, and thus roughly
clad looked as charming as possible, and Frisk danced his very best to amuse
her.
</p>

<p>
The old man saw that Rosette must be some great lady, for her bed coverings
were all of satin and gold. He begged that she would tell him all her history,
as she might safely trust him. The Princess told him everything, weeping
bitterly again at the thought that it was by the King&rsquo;s orders that she
had been thrown overboard.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;And now, my daughter, what is to be done?&rsquo; said the old man.
&lsquo;You are a great Princess, accustomed to fare daintily, and I have
nothing to offer you but black bread and radishes, which will not suit you at
all. Shall I go and tell the King of the Peacocks that you are here? If he sees
you he will certainly wish to marry you.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Oh no!&rsquo; cried Rosette, &lsquo;he must be wicked, since he tried to
drown me. Don&rsquo;t let us tell him, but if you have a little basket give it
to me.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
The old man gave her a basket, and tying it round Frisk&rsquo;s neck she said
to him: &lsquo;Go and find out the best cooking-pot in the town and bring the
contents to me.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Away went Frisk, and as there was no better dinner cooking in all the town than
the King&rsquo;s, he adroitly took the cover off the pot and brought all it
contained to the Princess, who said:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Now go back to the pantry, and bring the best of everything you find
there.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
So Frisk went back and filled his basket with white bread, and red wine, and
every kind of sweetmeat, until it was almost too heavy for him to carry.
</p>

<p>
When the King of the Peacocks wanted his dinner there was nothing in the pot
and nothing in the pantry. All the courtiers looked at one another in dismay,
and the King was terribly cross.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Oh well! &lsquo;he said, &lsquo;if there is no dinner I cannot dine, but
take care that plenty of things are roasted for supper.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
When evening came the Princess said to Frisk:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Go into the town and find out the best kitchen, and bring me all the
nicest morsels that are being roasted upon the spit.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Frisk did as he was told, and as he knew of no better kitchen than the
King&rsquo;s, he went in softly, and when the cook&rsquo;s back was turned took
everything that was upon the spit, As it happened it was all done to a turn,
and looked so good that it made him hungry only to see it. He carried his
basket to the Princess, who at once sent him back to the pantry to bring all
the tarts and sugar plums that had been prepared for the King&rsquo;s supper.
</p>

<p>
The King, as he had had no dinner, was very hungry and wanted his supper early,
but when he asked for it, lo and behold it was all gone, and he had to go to
bed half-starved and in a terrible temper. The next day the same thing
happened, and the next, so that for three days the King got nothing at all to
eat, because just when the dinner or the supper was ready to be served it
mysteriously disappeared. At last the Prime Minister began to be afraid that
the King would be starved to death, so he resolved to hide himself in some dark
corner of the kitchen, and never take his eyes off the cooking-pot. His
surprise was great when he presently saw a little green dog with one ear slip
softly into the kitchen, uncover the pot, transfer all its contents to his
basket, and run off. The Prime Minister followed hastily, and tracked him all
through the town to the cottage of the good old man; then he ran back to the
King and told him that he had found out where all his dinners and suppers went.
The King, who was very much astonished, said he should like to go and see for
himself. So he set out, accompanied by the Prime Minister and a guard of
archers, and arrived just in time to find the old man and the Princess
finishing his dinner.
</p>

<p>
The King ordered that they should be seized and bound with ropes, and Frisk
also.
</p>

<p>
When they were brought back to the palace some one told the King, who said:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;To-day is the last day of the respite granted to those impostors; they
shall have their heads cut off at the same time as these stealers of my
dinner.&rsquo; Then the old man went down on his knees before the King and
begged for time to tell him everything. While he spoke the King for the first
time looked attentively at the Princess, because he was sorry to see how she
cried, and when he heard the old man saying that her name was Rosette, and that
she had been treacherously thrown into the sea, he turned head over heels three
times without stopping, in spite of being quite weak from hunger, and ran to
embrace her, and untied the ropes which bound her with his own hands, declaring
that he loved her with all his heart.
</p>

<p>
Messengers were sent to bring the Princes out of prison, and they came very
sadly, believing that they were to be executed at once: the nurse and her
daughter and the boatman were brought also. As soon as they came in Rosette ran
to embrace her brothers, while the traitors threw themselves down before her
and begged for mercy. The King and the Princess were so happy that they freely
forgave them, and as for the good old man he was splendidly rewarded, and spent
the rest of his days in the palace. The King of the Peacocks made ample amends
to the King and Prince for the way in which they had been treated, and did
everything in his power to show how sorry he was.
</p>

<p>
The nurse restored to Rosette all her dresses and jewels, and the bushel of
gold pieces; the wedding was held at once, and they all lived happily ever
after&mdash;even to Frisk, who enjoyed the greatest luxury, and never had
anything worse than the wing of a partridge for dinner all the rest of his
life.<a href="#fn7" id="fnref7"><sup>[7]</sup></a>
</p>

<p class="footnote">
<a id="fn7"></a> <a href="#fnref7">[7]</a>
Madame d&rsquo;Aulnoy.
</p>

</div><!--end chapter-->

<div class="chapter">

<h2><a id="chap09"></a>THE ENCHANTED PIG</h2>

<p>
Once upon a time there lived a King who had three daughters. Now it happened
that he had to go out to battle, so he called his daughters and said to them:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;My dear children, I am obliged to go to the wars. The enemy is
approaching us with a large army. It is a great grief to me to leave you all.
During my absence take care of yourselves and be good girls; behave well and
look after everything in the house. You may walk in the garden, and you may go
into all the rooms in the palace, except the room at the back in the right-hand
corner; into that you must not enter, for harm would befall you.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;You may keep your mind easy, father,&rsquo; they replied. &lsquo;We have
never been disobedient to you. Go in peace, and may heaven give you a glorious
victory!&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
When everything was ready for his departure, the King gave them the keys of all
the rooms and reminded them once more of what he had said. His daughters kissed
his hands with tears in their eyes, and wished him prosperity, and he gave the
eldest the keys.
</p>

<p>
Now when the girls found themselves alone they felt so sad and dull that they
did not know what to do. So, to pass the time, they decided to work for part of
the day, to read for part of the day, and to enjoy themselves in the garden for
part of the day. As long as they did this all went well with them. But this
happy state of things did not last long. Every day they grew more and more
curious, and you will see what the end of that was.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Sisters,&rsquo; said the eldest Princess, &lsquo;all day long we sew,
spin, and read. We have been several days quite alone, and there is no corner
of the garden that we have not explored. We have been in all the rooms of our
father&rsquo;s palace, and have admired the rich and beautiful furniture: why
should not we go into the room that our father forbad us to enter?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Sister,&rsquo; said the youngest, &lsquo;I cannot think how you can
tempt us to break our father&rsquo;s command. When he told us not to go into
that room he must have known what he was saying, and have had a good reason for
saying it.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Surely the sky won&rsquo;t fall about our heads if we <i>do</i> go
in,&rsquo; said the second Princess. &lsquo;Dragons and such like monsters that
would devour us will not be hidden in the room. And how will our father ever
find out that we have gone in?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
While they were speaking thus, encouraging each other, they had reached the
room; the eldest fitted the key into the lock, and snap! the door stood open.
</p>

<p>
The three girls entered, and what do you think they saw?
</p>

<p>
The room was quite empty, and without any ornament, but in the middle stood a
large table, with a gorgeous cloth, and on it lay a big open book.
</p>

<p>
Now the Princesses were curious to know what was written in the book,
especially the eldest, and this is what she read:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;The eldest daughter of this King will marry a prince from the
East.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Then the second girl stepped forward, and turning over the page she read:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;The second daughter of this King will marry a prince from the
West.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
The girls were delighted, and laughed and teased each other.
</p>

<p>
But the youngest Princess did not want to go near the table or to open the
book. Her elder sisters however left her no peace, and will she, nill she, they
dragged her up to the table, and in fear and trembling she turned over the page
and read:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;The youngest daughter of this King will be married to a pig from the
North.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Now if a thunderbolt had fallen upon her from heaven it would not have
frightened her more.
</p>

<p>
She almost died of misery, and if her sisters had not held her up, she would
have sunk to the ground and cut her head open.
</p>

<p>
When she came out of the fainting fit into which she had fallen in her terror,
her sisters tried to comfort her, saying:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;How can you believe such nonsense? When did it ever happen that a
king&rsquo;s daughter married a pig?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;What a baby you are!&rsquo; said the other sister; &lsquo;has not our
father enough soldiers to protect you, even if the disgusting creature did come
to woo you?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
The youngest Princess would fain have let herself be convinced by her
sisters&rsquo; words, and have believed what they said, but her heart was
heavy. Her thoughts kept turning to the book, in which stood written that great
happiness waited her sisters, but that a fate was in store for her such as had
never before been known in the world.
</p>

<p>
Besides, the thought weighed on her heart that she had been guilty of
disobeying her father. She began to get quite ill, and in a few days she was so
changed that it was difficult to recognise her; formerly she had been rosy and
merry, now she was pale and nothing gave her any pleasure. She gave up playing
with her sisters in the garden, ceased to gather flowers to put in her hair,
and never sang when they sat together at their spinning and sewing.
</p>

<p>
In the meantime the King won a great victory, and having completely defeated
and driven off the enemy, he hurried home to his daughters, to whom his
thoughts had constantly turned. Everyone went out to meet him with cymbals and
fifes and drums, and there was great rejoicing over his victorious return. The
King&rsquo;s first act on reaching home was to thank Heaven for the victory he
had gained over the enemies who had risen against him. He then entered his
palace, and the three Princesses stepped forward to meet him. His joy was great
when he saw that they were all well, for the youngest did her best not to
appear sad.
</p>

<p>
In spite of this, however, it was not long before the King noticed that his
third daughter was getting very thin and sad-looking. And all of a sudden he
felt as if a hot iron were entering his soul, for it flashed through his mind
that she had disobeyed his word. He felt sure he was right; but to be quite
certain he called his daughters to him, questioned them, and ordered them to
speak the truth. They confessed everything, but took good care not to say which
had led the other two into temptation.
</p>

<p>
The King was so distressed when he heard it that he was almost overcome by
grief. But he took heart and tried to comfort his daughters, who looked
frightened to death. He saw that what had happened had happened, and that a
thousand words would not alter matters by a hair&rsquo;s-breadth.
</p>

<p>
Well, these events had almost been forgotten when one fine day a prince from
the East appeared at the Court and asked the King for the hand of his eldest
daughter. The King gladly gave his consent. A great wedding banquet was
prepared, and after three days of feasting the happy pair were accompanied to
the frontier with much ceremony and rejoicing.
</p>

<p>
After some time the same thing befell the second daughter, who was wooed and
won by a prince from the West.
</p>

<p>
Now when the young Princess saw that everything fell out exactly as had been
written in the book, she grew very sad. She refused to eat, and would not put
on her fine clothes nor go out walking, and declared that she would rather die
than become a laughing-stock to the world. But the King would not allow her to
do anything so wrong, and he comforted her in all possible ways.
</p>

<p>
So the time passed, till lo and behold! one fine day an enormous pig from the
North walked into the palace, and going straight up to the King said,
&lsquo;Hail! oh King. May your life be as prosperous and bright as sunrise on a
clear day!&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I am glad to see you well, friend,&rsquo; answered the King, &lsquo;but
what wind has brought you hither?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I come a-wooing,&rsquo; replied the Pig.
</p>

<p>
Now the King was astonished to hear so fine a speech from a Pig, and at once it
occurred to him that something strange was the matter. He would gladly have
turned the Pig&rsquo;s thoughts in another direction, as he did not wish to
give him the Princess for a wife; but when he heard that the Court and the
whole street were full of all the pigs in the world he saw that there was no
escape, and that he must give his consent. The Pig was not satisfied with mere
promises, but insisted that the wedding should take place within a week, and
would not go away till the King had sworn a royal oath upon it.
</p>

<p>
The King then sent for his daughter, and advised her to submit to fate, as
there was nothing else to be done. And he added:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;My child, the words and whole behaviour of this Pig are quite unlike
those of other pigs. I do not myself believe that he always was a pig. Depend
upon it some magic or witchcraft has been at work. Obey him, and do everything
that he wishes, and I feel sure that Heaven will shortly send you
release.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;If you wish me to do this, dear father, I will do it,&rsquo; replied the
girl.
</p>

<p>
In the meantime the wedding-day drew near. After the marriage, the Pig and his
bride set out for his home in one of the royal carriages. On the way they
passed a great bog, and the Pig ordered the carriage to stop, and got out and
rolled about in the mire till he was covered with mud from head to foot; then
he got back into the carriage and told his wife to kiss him. What was the poor
girl to do? She bethought herself of her father&rsquo;s words, and, pulling out
her pocket handkerchief, she gently wiped the Pig&rsquo;s snout and kissed it.
</p>

<p>
By the time they reached the Pig&rsquo;s dwelling, which stood in a thick wood,
it was quite dark. They sat down quietly for a little, as they were tired after
their drive; then they had supper together, and lay down to rest. During the
night the Princess noticed that the Pig had changed into a man. She was not a
little surprised, but remembering her father&rsquo;s words, she took courage,
determined to wait and see what would happen.
</p>

<p>
And now she noticed that every night the Pig became a man, and every morning he
was changed into a Pig before she awoke. This happened several nights running,
and the Princess could not understand it at all. Clearly her husband must be
bewitched. In time she grew quite fond of him, he was so kind and gentle.
</p>

<p>
One fine day as she was sitting alone she saw an old witch go past. She felt
quite excited, as it was so long since she had seen a human being, and she
called out to the old woman to come and talk to her. Among other things the
witch told her that she understood all magic arts, and that she could foretell
the future, and knew the healing powers of herbs and plants.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I shall be grateful to you all my life, old dame,&rsquo; said the
Princess, &lsquo;if you will tell me what is the matter with my husband. Why is
he a Pig by day and a human being by night?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I was just going to tell you that one thing, my dear, to show you what a
good fortune-teller I am. If you like, I will give you a herb to break the
spell.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;If you will only give it to me,&rsquo; said the Princess, &lsquo;I will
give you anything you choose to ask for, for I cannot bear to see him in this
state.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Here, then, my dear child,&rsquo; said the witch, &lsquo;take this
thread, but do not let him know about it, for if he did it would lose its
healing power. At night, when he is asleep, you must get up very quietly, and
fasten the thread round his left foot as firmly as possible; and you will see
in the morning he will not have changed back into a Pig, but will still be a
man. I do not want any reward. I shall be sufficiently repaid by knowing that
you are happy. It almost breaks my heart to think of all you have suffered, and
I only wish I had known it sooner, as I should have come to your rescue at
once.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
When the old witch had gone away the Princess hid the thread very carefully,
and at night she got up quietly, and with a beating heart she bound the thread
round her husband&rsquo;s foot. Just as she was pulling the knot tight there
was a crack, and the thread broke, for it was rotten.
</p>

<p>
Her husband awoke with a start, and said to her, &lsquo;Unhappy woman, what
have you done? Three days more and this unholy spell would have fallen from me,
and now, who knows how long I may have to go about in this disgusting shape? I
must leave you at once, and we shall not meet again until you have worn out
three pairs of iron shoes and blunted a steel staff in your search for
me.&rsquo; So saying he disappeared.
</p>

<p>
Now, when the Princess was left alone she began to weep and moan in a way that
was pitiful to hear; but when she saw that her tears and groans did her no
good, she got up, determined to go wherever fate should lead her.
</p>

<p>
On reaching a town, the first thing she did was to order three pairs of iron
sandals and a steel staff, and having made these preparations for her journey,
she set out in search of her husband. On and on she wandered over nine seas and
across nine continents; through forests with trees whose stems were as thick as
beer-barrels; stumbling and knocking herself against the fallen branches, then
picking herself up and going on; the boughs of the trees hit her face, and the
shrubs tore her hands, but on she went, and never looked back. At last, wearied
with her long journey and worn out and overcome with sorrow, but still with
hope at her heart, she reached a house.
</p>

<p>
Now who do you think lived there? The Moon.
</p>

<p>
The Princess knocked at the door, and begged to be let in that she might rest a
little. The mother of the Moon, when she saw her sad plight, felt a great pity
for her, and took her in and nursed and tended her. And while she was here the
Princess had a little baby.
</p>

<p>
One day the mother of the Moon asked her:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;How was it possible for you, a mortal, to get hither to the house of the
Moon?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Then the poor Princess told her all that happened to her, and added &lsquo;I
shall always be thankful to Heaven for leading me hither, and grateful to you
that you took pity on me and on my baby, and did not leave us to die. Now I beg
one last favour of you; can your daughter, the Moon, tell me where my husband
is?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;She cannot tell you that, my child,&rsquo; replied the goddess,
&lsquo;but, if you will travel towards the East until you reach the dwelling of
the Sun, he may be able to tell you something.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Then she gave the Princess a roast chicken to eat, and warned her to be very
careful not to lose any of the bones, because they might be of great use to
her.
</p>

<p>
When the Princess had thanked her once more for her hospitality and for her
good advice, and had thrown away one pair of shoes that were worn out, and had
put on a second pair, she tied up the chicken bones in a bundle, and taking her
baby in her arms and her staff in her hand, she set out once more on her
wanderings.
</p>

<p>
On and on and on she went across bare sandy deserts, where the roads were so
heavy that for every two steps that she took forwards she fell back one; but
she struggled on till she had passed these dreary plains; next she crossed high
rocky mountains, jumping from crag to crag and from peak to peak. Sometimes she
would rest for a little on a mountain, and then start afresh always farther and
farther on. She had to cross swamps and to scale mountain peaks covered with
flints, so that her feet and knees and elbows were all torn and bleeding, and
sometimes she came to a precipice across which she could not jump, and she had
to crawl round on hands and knees, helping herself along with her staff. At
length, wearied to death, she reached the palace in which the Sun lived. She
knocked and begged for admission. The mother of the Sun opened the door, and
was astonished at beholding a mortal from the distant earthly shores, and wept
with pity when she heard of all she had suffered. Then, having promised to ask
her son about the Princess&rsquo;s husband, she hid her in the cellar, so that
the Sun might notice nothing on his return home, for he was always in a bad
temper when he came in at night. The next day the Princess feared that things
would not go well with her, for the Sun had noticed that some one from the
other world had been in the palace. But his mother had soothed him with soft
words, assuring him that this was not so. So the Princess took heart when she
saw how kindly she was treated, and asked:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;But how in the world is it possible for the Sun to be angry? He is so
beautiful and so good to mortals.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;This is how it happens,&rsquo; replied the Sun&rsquo;s mother. &lsquo;In
the morning when he stands at the gates of paradise he is happy, and smiles on
the whole world, but during the day he gets cross, because he sees all the evil
deeds of men, and that is why his heat becomes so scorching; but in the evening
he is both sad and angry, for he stands at the gates of death; that is his
usual course. From there he comes back here.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
She then told the Princess that she had asked about her husband, but that her
son had replied that he knew nothing about him, and that her only hope was to
go and inquire of the Wind.
</p>

<p>
Before the Princess left the mother of the Sun gave her a roast chicken to eat,
and advised her to take great care of the bones, which she did, wrapping them
up in a bundle. She then threw away her second pair of shoes, which were quite
worn out, and with her child on her arm and her staff in her hand, she set
forth on her way to the Wind.
</p>

<p>
In these wanderings she met with even greater difficulties than before, for she
came upon one mountain of flints after another, out of which tongues of fire
would flame up; she passed through woods which had never been trodden by human
foot, and had to cross fields of ice and avalanches of snow. The poor woman
nearly died of these hardships, but she kept a brave heart, and at length she
reached an enormous cave in the side of a mountain. This was where the Wind
lived. There was a little door in the railing in front of the cave, and here
the Princess knocked and begged for admission. The mother of the Wind had pity
on her and took her in, that she might rest a little. Here too she was hidden
away, so that the Wind might not notice her.
</p>

<p>
The next morning the mother of the Wind told her that her husband was living in
a thick wood, so thick that no axe had been able to cut a way through it; here
he had built himself a sort of house by placing trunks of trees together and
fastening them with withes and here he lived alone, shunning human kind.
</p>

<p>
After the mother of the Wind had given the Princess a chicken to eat, and had
warned her to take care of the bones, she advised her to go by the Milky Way,
which at night lies across the sky, and to wander on till she reached her goal.
</p>

<p>
Having thanked the old woman with tears in her eyes for her hospitality, and
for the good news she had given her, the Princess set out on her journey and
rested neither night nor day, so great was her longing to see her husband
again. On and on she walked until her last pair of shoes fell in pieces. So she
threw them away and went on with bare feet, not heeding the bogs nor the thorns
that wounded her, nor the stones that bruised her. At last she reached a
beautiful green meadow on the edge of a wood. Her heart was cheered by the
sight of the flowers and the soft cool grass, and she sat down and rested for a
little. But hearing the birds chirping to their mates among the trees made her
think with longing of her husband, and she wept bitterly, and taking her child
in her arms, and her bundle of chicken bones on her shoulder, she entered the
wood.
</p>

<p>
For three days and three nights she struggled through it, but could find
nothing. She was quite worn out with weariness and hunger, and even her staff
was no further help to her, for in her many wanderings it had become quite
blunted. She almost gave up in despair, but made one last great effort, and
suddenly in a thicket she came upon the sort of house that the mother of the
Wind had described. It had no windows, and the door was up in the roof. Round
the house she went, in search of steps, but could find none. What was she to
do? How was she to get in? She thought and thought, and tried in vain to climb
up to the door. Then suddenly she be-thought her of the chicken bones that she
had dragged all that weary way, and she said to herself: &lsquo;They would not
all have told me to take such good care of these bones if they had not had some
good reason for doing so. Perhaps now, in my hour of need, they may be of use
to me.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
So she took the bones out of her bundle, and having thought for a moment, she
placed the two ends together. To her surprise they stuck tight; then she added
the other bones, till she had two long poles the height of the house; these she
placed against the wall, at a distance of a yard from one another. Across them
she placed the other bones, piece by piece, like the steps of a ladder. As soon
as one step was finished she stood upon it and made the next one, and then the
next, till she was close to the door. But just as she got near the top she
noticed that there were no bones left for the last rung of the ladder. What was
she to do? Without that last step the whole ladder was useless. She must have
lost one of the bones. Then suddenly an idea came to her. Taking a knife she
chopped off her little finger, and placing it on the last step, it stuck as the
bones had done. The ladder was complete, and with her child on her arm she
entered the door of the house. Here she found everything in perfect order.
Having taken some food, she laid the child down to sleep in a trough that was
on the floor, and sat down herself to rest.
</p>

<p>
When her husband, the Pig, came back to his house, he was startled by what he
saw. At first he could not believe his eyes, and stared at the ladder of bones,
and at the little finger on the top of it. He felt that some fresh magic must
be at work, and in his terror he almost turned away from the house; but then a
better idea came to him, and he changed himself into a dove, so that no
witchcraft could have power over him, and flew into the room without touching
the ladder. Here he found a woman rocking a child. At the sight of her, looking
so changed by all that she had suffered for his sake, his heart was moved by
such love and longing and by so great a pity that he suddenly became a man.
</p>

<p>
The Princess stood up when she saw him, and her heart beat with fear, for she
did not know him. But when he had told her who he was, in her great joy she
forgot all her sufferings, and they seemed as nothing to her. He was a very
handsome man, as straight as a fir tree. They sat down together and she told
him all her adventures, and he wept with pity at the tale. And then he told her
his own history.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I am a King&rsquo;s son. Once when my father was fighting against some
dragons, who were the scourge of our country, I slew the youngest dragon. His
mother, who was a witch, cast a spell over me and changed me into a Pig. It was
she who in the disguise of an old woman gave you the thread to bind round my
foot. So that instead of the three days that had to run before the spell was
broken, I was forced to remain a Pig for three more years. Now that we have
suffered for each other, and have found each other again, let us forget the
past.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
And in their joy they kissed one another.
</p>

<p>
Next morning they set out early to return to his father&rsquo;s kingdom. Great
was the rejoicing of all the people when they saw him and his wife; his father
and his mother embraced them both, and there was feasting in the palace for
three days and three nights.
</p>

<p>
Then they set out to see her father. The old King nearly went out of his mind
with joy at beholding his daughter again. When she had told him all her
adventures, he said to her:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Did not I tell you that I was quite sure that that creature who wooed
and won you as his wife had not been born a Pig? You see, my child, how wise
you were in doing what I told you.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
And as the King was old and had no heirs, he put them on the throne in his
place. And they ruled as only kings rule who have suffered many things. And if
they are not dead they are still living and ruling happily.<a href="#fn8" id="fnref8"><sup>[8]</sup></a>
</p>

<p class="footnote">
<a id="fn8"></a> <a href="#fnref8">[8]</a>
Rumänische Märchen übersetzt von Nite Kremnitz.
</p>

</div><!--end chapter-->

<div class="chapter">

<h2><a id="chap10"></a>THE NORKA</h2>

<p>
Once upon a time there lived a King and Queen. They had three sons, two of them
with their wits about them, but the third a simpleton. Now the King had a deer
park in which were quantities of wild animals of different kinds. Into that
park there used to come a huge beast&mdash;Norka was its name&mdash;and do
fearful mischief, devouring some of the animals every night. The King did all
he could, but he was unable to destroy it. So at last he called his sons
together and said, &lsquo;Whoever will destroy the Norka, to him will I give
the half of my kingdom.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Well, the eldest son undertook the task. As soon as it was night, he took his
weapons and set out. But before he reached the park, he went into a traktir (or
tavern), and there he spent the whole night in revelry. When he came to his
senses it was too late; the day had already dawned. He felt himself disgraced
in the eyes of his father, but there was no help for it. The next day the
second son went, and did just the same. Their father scolded them both soundly,
and there was an end of it.
</p>

<p>
Well, on the third day the youngest son undertook the task. They all laughed
him to scorn, because he was so stupid, feeling sure he wouldn&rsquo;t do
anything. But he took his arms, and went straight into the park, and sat down
on the grass in such a position that the moment he went asleep his weapons
would prick him, and he would awake.
</p>

<p>
Presently the midnight hour sounded. The earth began to shake, and the Norka
came rushing up, and burst right through the fence into the park, so huge was
it. The Prince pulled himself together, leapt to his feet, crossed himself, and
went straight at the beast. It fled back, and the Prince ran after it. But he
soon saw that he couldn&rsquo;t catch it on foot, so he hastened to the stable,
laid his hands on the best horse there, and set off in pursuit. Presently he
came up with the beast, and they began a fight. They fought and fought; the
Prince gave the beast three wounds. At last they were both utterly exhausted,
so they lay down to take a short rest. But the moment the Prince closed his
eyes, up jumped the beast and took to flight. The Prince&rsquo;s horse awoke
him; up he jumped in a moment, and set off again in pursuit, caught up the
beast, and again began fighting with it. Again the Prince gave the beast three
wounds, and then he and the beast lay down again to rest. Thereupon away fled
the beast as before. The Prince caught it up, and again gave it three wounds.
But all of a sudden, just as the Prince began chasing it for the fourth time,
the beast fled to a great white stone, tilted it up, and escaped into the other
world, crying out to the Prince: &lsquo;Then only will you overcome me, when
you enter here.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
The Prince went home, told his father all that had happened, and asked him to
have a leather rope plaited, long enough to reach to the other world. His
father ordered this to be done. When the rope was made, the Prince called for
his brothers, and he and they, having taken servants with them, and everything
that was needed for a whole year, set out for the place where the beast had
disappeared under the stone. When they got there, they built a palace on the
spot, and lived in it for some time. But when everything was ready, the
youngest brother said to the others: &lsquo;Now, brothers, who is going to lift
this stone?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Neither of them could so much as stir it, but as soon as he touched it, away it
flew to a distance, though it was ever so big&mdash;big as a hill. And when he
had flung the stone aside, he spoke a second time to his brothers, saying:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Who is going into the other world, to overcome the Norka?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Neither of them offered to do so. Then he laughed at them for being such
cowards, and said:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Well, brothers, farewell! Lower me into the other world, and don&rsquo;t
go away from here, but as soon as the cord is jerked, pull it up.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
His brothers lowered him accordingly, and when he had reached the other world,
underneath the earth, he went on his way. He walked and walked. Presently he
espied a horse with rich trappings, and it said to him:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Hail, Prince Ivan! Long have I awaited thee!&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
He mounted the horse and rode on&mdash;rode and rode, until he saw standing
before him a palace made of copper. He entered the courtyard, tied up his
horse, and went indoors. In one of the rooms a dinner was laid out. He sat down
and dined, and then went into a bedroom. There he found a bed, on which he lay
down to rest. Presently there came in a lady, more beautiful than can be
imagined anywhere but in a fairy tale, who said:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Thou who art in my house, name thyself! If thou art an old man, thou
shalt be my father; if a middle-aged man, my brother; but if a young man, thou
shalt be my husband dear. And if thou art a woman, and an old one, thou shalt
be my grandmother; if middle-aged, my mother; and if a girl, thou shalt be my
own sister.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Thereupon he came forth. And when she saw him she was delighted with him, and
said:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Wherefore, O Prince Ivan&mdash;my husband dear shalt thou
be!&mdash;wherefore hast thou come hither?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Then he told her all that had happened, and she said:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;That beast which thou wishest to overcome is my brother. He is staying
just now with my second sister, who lives not far from here in a silver palace.
I bound up three of the wounds which thou didst give him.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Well, after this they drank, and enjoyed themselves, and held sweet converse
together, and then the Prince took leave of her, and went on to the second
sister, the one who lived in the silver palace, and with her also he stayed
awhile. She told him that her brother Norka was then at her youngest
sister&rsquo;s. So he went on to the youngest sister, who lived in a golden
palace. She told him that her brother was at that time asleep on the blue sea,
and she gave him a sword of steel and a draught of the Water of Strength, and
she told him to cut off her brother&rsquo;s head at a single stroke. And when
he had heard these things, he went his way.
</p>

<p>
And when the Prince came to the blue sea, he looked&mdash;there slept the Norka
on a stone in the middle of the sea; and when it snored, the water was agitated
for seven miles around. The Prince crossed himself, went up to it, and smote it
on the head with his sword. The head jumped off, saying the while, &lsquo;Well,
I&rsquo;m done for now!&rsquo; and rolled far away into the sea.
</p>

<p>
After killing the beast, the Prince went back again, picking up all the three
sisters by the way, with the intention of taking them out into the upper world:
for they all loved him and would not be separated from him. Each of them turned
her palace into an egg&mdash;for they were all enchantresses&mdash;and they
taught him how to turn the eggs into palaces, and back again, and they handed
over the eggs to him. And then they all went to the place from which they had
to be hoisted into the upper world. And when they came to where the rope was,
the Prince took hold of it and made the maidens fast to it. Then he jerked away
at the rope and his brothers began to haul it up. And when they had hauled it
up, and had set eyes on the wondrous maidens, they went aside and said:
&lsquo;Let&rsquo;s lower the rope, pull our brother part of the way up, and
then cut the rope. Perhaps he&rsquo;ll be killed; but then if he isn&rsquo;t,
he&rsquo;ll never give us these beauties as wives.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
So when they had agreed on this, they lowered the rope. But their brother was
no fool; he guessed what they were at, so he fastened the rope to a stone, and
then gave it a pull. His brothers hoisted the stone to a great height, and then
cut the rope. Down fell the stone and broke in pieces; the Prince poured forth
tears and went away. Well, he walked and walked. Presently a storm arose; the
lightning flashed, the thunder roared, the rain fell in torrents. He went up to
a tree in order to take shelter under it, and on that tree he saw some young
birds which were being thoroughly drenched. So he took off his coat and covered
them over with it, and he himself sat down under the tree. Presently there came
flying a bird&mdash;such a big one that the light was blotted out by it. It had
been dark there before, but now it became darker still. Now this was the mother
of those small birds which the Prince had covered up. And when the bird had
come flying up, she perceived that her little ones were covered over, and she
said, &lsquo;Who has wrapped up my nestlings?&rsquo; and presently, seeing the
Prince, she added: &lsquo;Didst thou do that? Thanks! In return, ask of me
anything thou desirest. I will do anything for thee.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Then carry me into the other world,&rsquo; he replied.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Make me a large vessel with a partition in the middle,&rsquo; she said;
&lsquo;catch all sorts of game, and put them into one half of it, and into the
other half pour water; so that there may be meat and drink for me.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
All this the Prince did. Then the bird&mdash;having taken the vessel on her
back, with the Prince sitting in the middle of it&mdash;began to fly. And after
flying some distance she brought him to his journey&rsquo;s end, took leave of
him, and flew away back. But he went to the house of a certain tailor, and
engaged himself as his servant. So much the worse for wear was he, so
thoroughly had he altered in appearance, that nobody would have suspected him
of being a Prince.
</p>

<p>
Having entered into the service of this master, the Prince began to ask what
was going on in that country. And his master replied: &lsquo;Our two
Princes&mdash;for the third one has disappeared&mdash;have brought away brides
from the other world, and want to marry them, but those brides refuse. For they
insist on having all their wedding-clothes made for them first, exactly like
those which they used to have in the other world, and that without being
measured for them. The King has called all the workmen together, but not one of
them will undertake to do it.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
The Prince, having heard all this, said, &lsquo;Go to the King, master, and
tell him that you will provide everything that&rsquo;s in your line.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;However can I undertake to make clothes of that sort? I work for quite
common folks,&rsquo; says his master.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Go along, master! I will answer for everything,&rsquo; says the Prince.
</p>

<p>
So the tailor went. The King was delighted that at least one good workman had
been found, and gave him as much money as ever he wanted. When his tailor had
settled everything, he went home. And the Prince said to him:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Now then, pray to God, and lie down to sleep; to-morrow all will be
ready.&rsquo; And the tailor followed his lad&rsquo;s advice, and went to bed.
</p>

<p>
Midnight sounded. The Prince arose, went out of the city into the fields, took
out of his pocket the eggs which the maidens had given him, and, as they had
taught him, turned them into three palaces. Into each of these he entered, took
the maidens&rsquo; robes, went out again, turned the palaces back into eggs,
and went home. And when he got there he hung up the robes on the wall, and lay
down to sleep.
</p>

<p>
Early in the morning his master awoke, and behold! there hung such robes as he
had never seen before, all shining with gold and silver and precious stones. He
was delighted, and he seized them and carried them off to the King. When the
Princesses saw that the clothes were those which had been theirs in the other
world, they guessed that Prince Ivan was in this world, so they exchanged
glances with each other, but they held their peace. And the master, having
handed over the clothes, went home, but he no longer found his dear journeyman
there. For the Prince had gone to a shoemaker&rsquo;s, and him too he sent to
work for the King; and in the same way he went the round of all the artificers,
and they all proffered him thanks, inasmuch as through him they were enriched
by the King.
</p>

<p>
By the time the princely workman had gone the round of all the artificers, the
Princesses had received what they had asked for; all their clothes were just
like what they had been in the other world. Then they wept bitterly because the
Prince had not come, and it was impossible for them to hold out any longer; it
was necessary that they should be married. But when they were ready for the
wedding, the youngest bride said to the King:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Allow me, my father, to go and give alms to the beggars.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
He gave her leave, and she went and began bestowing alms upon them, and
examining them closely. And when she had come to one of them, and was going to
give him some money, she caught sight of the ring which she had given to the
Prince in the other world, and her sisters&rsquo; rings too&mdash;for it really
was he. So she seized him by the hand, and brought him into the hall, and said
to the King:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Here is he who brought us out of the other world. His brothers forbade
us to say that he was alive, threatening to slay us if we did.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Then the King was wroth with those sons, and punished them as he thought best.
And afterwards three weddings were celebrated.
</p>

</div><!--end chapter-->

<div class="chapter">

<h2><a id="chap11"></a>THE WONDERFUL BIRCH</h2>

<p>
Once upon a time there were a man and a woman, who had an only daughter. Now it
happened that one of their sheep went astray, and they set out to look for it,
and searched and searched, each in a different part of the wood. Then the good
wife met a witch, who said to her:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;If you spit, you miserable creature, if you spit into the sheath of my
knife, or if you run between my legs, I shall change you into a black
sheep.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
The woman neither spat, nor did she run between her legs, but yet the witch
changed her into a sheep. Then she made herself look exactly like the woman,
and called out to the good man:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Ho, old man, halloa! I have found the sheep already!&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
The man thought the witch was really his wife, and he did not know that his
wife was the sheep; so he went home with her, glad at heart because his sheep
was found. When they were safe at home the witch said to the man:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Look here, old man, we must really kill that sheep lest it run away to
the wood again.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
The man, who was a peaceable quiet sort of fellow, made no objections, but
simply said:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Good, let us do so.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
The daughter, however, had overheard their talk, and she ran to the flock and
lamented aloud:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Oh, dear little mother, they are going to slaughter you!&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Well, then, if they do slaughter me,&rsquo; was the black sheep&rsquo;s
answer, &lsquo;eat you neither the meat nor the broth that is made of me, but
gather all my bones, and bury them by the edge of the field.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Shortly after this they took the black sheep from the flock and slaughtered it.
The witch made pease-soup of it, and set it before the daughter. But the girl
remembered her mother&rsquo;s warning. She did not touch the soup, but she
carried the bones to the edge of the field and buried them there; and there
sprang up on the spot a birch tree&mdash;a very lovely birch tree.
</p>

<p>
Some time had passed away&mdash;who can tell how long they might have been
living there?&mdash;when the witch, to whom a child had been born in the
meantime, began to take an ill-will to the man&rsquo;s daughter, and to torment
her in all sorts of ways.
</p>

<p>
Now it happened that a great festival was to be held at the palace, and the
King had commanded that all the people should be invited, and that this
proclamation should be made:
</p>

<p class="poem">
        &lsquo;Come, people all!<br>
Poor and wretched, one and all!<br>
Blind and crippled though ye be,<br>
Mount your steeds or come by sea.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
And so they drove into the King&rsquo;s feast all the outcasts, and the maimed,
and the halt, and the blind. In the good man&rsquo;s house, too, preparations
were made to go to the palace. The witch said to the man:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Go you on in front, old man, with our youngest; I will give the elder
girl work to keep her from being dull in our absence.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
So the man took the child and set out. But the witch kindled a fire on the
hearth, threw a potful of barleycorns among the cinders, and said to the girl:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;If you have not picked the barley out of the ashes, and put it all back
in the pot before nightfall, I shall eat you up!&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Then she hastened after the others, and the poor girl stayed at home and wept.
She tried to be sure to pick up the grains of barley, but she soon saw how
useless her labour was; and so she went in her sore trouble to the birch tree
on her mother&rsquo;s grave, and cried and cried, because her mother lay dead
beneath the sod and could help her no longer. In the midst of her grief she
suddenly heard her mother&rsquo;s voice speak from the grave, and say to her:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Why do you weep, little daughter?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;The witch has scattered barleycorns on the hearth, and bid me pick them
out of the ashes,&rsquo; said the girl; &lsquo;that is why I weep, dear little
mother.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Do not weep,&rsquo; said her mother consolingly. &lsquo;Break off one of
my branches, and strike the hearth with it crosswise, and all will be put
right.&rsquo; The girl did so. She struck the hearth with the birchen branch,
and lo! the barleycorns flew into the pot, and the hearth was clean. Then she
went back to the birch tree and laid the branch upon the grave. Then her mother
bade her bathe on one side of the stem, dry herself on another, and dress on
the third. When the girl had done all that, she had grown so lovely that no one
on earth could rival her. Splendid clothing was given to her, and a horse, with
hair partly of gold, partly of silver, and partly of something more precious
still. The girl sprang into the saddle, and rode as swift as an arrow to the
palace. As she turned into the courtyard of the castle the King&rsquo;s son
came out to meet her, tied her steed to a pillar, and led her in. He never left
her side as they passed through the castle rooms; and all the people gazed at
her, and wondered who the lovely maiden was, and from what castle she came; but
no one knew her&mdash;no one knew anything about her. At the banquet the Prince
invited her to sit next him in the place of honour; but the witch&rsquo;s
daughter gnawed the bones under the table. The Prince did not see her, and
thinking it was a dog, he gave her such a push with his foot that her arm was
broken. Are you not sorry for the witch&rsquo;s daughter? It was not her fault
that her mother was a witch.
</p>

<p>
Towards evening the good man&rsquo;s daughter thought it was time to go home;
but as she went, her ring caught on the latch of the door, for the King&rsquo;s
son had had it smeared with tar. She did not take time to pull it off, but,
hastily unfastening her horse from the pillar, she rode away beyond the castle
walls as swift as an arrow. Arrived at home, she took off her clothes by the
birch tree, left her horse standing there, and hastened to her place behind the
stove. In a short time the man and the woman came home again too, and the witch
said to the girl:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Ah! you poor thing, there you are to be sure! You don&rsquo;t know what
fine times we have had at the palace! The King&rsquo;s son carried my daughter
about, but the poor thing fell and broke her arm.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
The girl knew well how matters really stood, but she pretended to know nothing
about it, and sat dumb behind the stove.
</p>

<p>
The next day they were invited again to the King&rsquo;s banquet.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Hey! old man,&rsquo; said the witch, &lsquo;get on your clothes as quick
as you can; we are bidden to the feast. Take you the child; I will give the
other one work, lest she weary.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
She kindled the fire, threw a potful of hemp seed among the ashes, and said to
the girl:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;If you do not get this sorted, and all the seed back into the pot, I
shall kill you!&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
The girl wept bitterly; then she went to the birch tree, washed herself on one
side of it and dried herself on the other; and this time still finer clothes
were given to her, and a very beautiful steed. She broke off a branch of the
birch tree, struck the hearth with it, so that the seeds flew into the pot, and
then hastened to the castle.
</p>

<p>
Again the King&rsquo;s son came out to meet her, tied her horse to a pillar,
and led her into the banqueting hall. At the feast the girl sat next him in the
place of honour, as she had done the day before. But the witch&rsquo;s daughter
gnawed bones under the table, and the Prince gave her a push by mistake, which
broke her leg&mdash;he had never noticed her crawling about among the
people&rsquo;s feet. She was <i>very</i> unlucky!
</p>

<p>
The good man&rsquo;s daughter hastened home again betimes, but the King&rsquo;s
son had smeared the door-posts with tar, and the girl&rsquo;s golden circlet
stuck to it. She had not time to look for it, but sprang to the saddle and rode
like an arrow to the birch tree. There she left her horse and her fine clothes,
and said to her mother:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I have lost my circlet at the castle; the door-post was tarred, and it
stuck fast.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;And even had you lost two of them,&rsquo; answered her mother, &lsquo;I
would give you finer ones.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Then the girl hastened home, and when her father came home from the feast with
the witch, she was in her usual place behind the stove. Then the witch said to
her:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;You poor thing! what is there to see here compared with what <i>we</i>
have seen at the palace? The King&rsquo;s son carried my daughter from one room
to another; he let her fall, &lsquo;tis true, and my child&rsquo;s foot was
broken.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
The man&rsquo;s daughter held her peace all the time, and busied herself about
the hearth.
</p>

<p>
The night passed, and when the day began to dawn, the witch awakened her
husband, crying:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Hi! get up, old man! We are bidden to the royal banquet.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
So the old man got up. Then the witch gave him the child, saying:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Take you the little one; I will give the other girl work to do, else she
will weary at home alone.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
She did as usual. This time it was a dish of milk she poured upon the ashes,
saying:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;If you do not get all the milk into the dish again before I come home,
you will suffer for it.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
How frightened the girl was this time! She ran to the birch tree, and by its
magic power her task was accomplished; and then she rode away to the palace as
before. When she got to the courtyard she found the Prince waiting for her. He
led her into the hall, where she was highly honoured; but the witch&rsquo;s
daughter sucked the bones under the table, and crouching at the people&rsquo;s
feet she got an eye knocked out, poor thing! Now no one knew any more than
before about the good man&rsquo;s daughter, no one knew whence she came; but
the Prince had had the threshold smeared with tar, and as she fled her gold
slippers stuck to it. She reached the birch tree, and laying aside her finery,
she said:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Alas I dear little mother, I have lost my gold slippers!&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Let them be,&rsquo; was her mother&rsquo;s reply; &lsquo;if you need
them I shall give you finer ones.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Scarcely was she in her usual place behind the stove when her father came home
with the witch. Immediately the witch began to mock her, saying:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Ah! you poor thing, there is nothing for you to see here, and
<i>we</i>&mdash;ah: what great things we have seen at the palace! My little
girl was carried about again, but had the ill-luck to fall and get her eye
knocked out. You stupid thing, you, what do you know about anything?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Yes, indeed, what can I know?&rsquo; replied the girl; &lsquo;I had
enough to do to get the hearth clean.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Now the Prince had kept all the things the girl had lost, and he soon set about
finding the owner of them. For this purpose a great banquet was given on the
fourth day, and all the people were invited to the palace. The witch got ready
to go too. She tied a wooden beetle on where her child&rsquo;s foot should have
been, a log of wood instead of an arm, and stuck a bit of dirt in the empty
socket for an eye, and took the child with her to the castle. When all the
people were gathered together, the King&rsquo;s son stepped in among the crowd
and cried:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;The maiden whose finger this ring slips over, whose head this golden
hoop encircles, and whose foot this shoe fits, shall be my bride.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
What a great trying on there was now among them all! The things would fit no
one, however.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;The cinder wench is not here,&rsquo; said the Prince at last; &lsquo;go
and fetch her, and let her try on the things.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
So the girl was fetched, and the Prince was just going to hand the ornaments to
her, when the witch held him back, saying:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Don&rsquo;t give them to her; she soils everything with cinders; give
them to my daughter rather.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Well, then the Prince gave the witch&rsquo;s daughter the ring, and the woman
filed and pared away at her daughter&rsquo;s finger till the ring fitted. It
was the same with the circlet and the shoes of gold. The witch would not allow
them to be handed to the cinder wench; she worked at her own daughter&rsquo;s
head and feet till she got the things forced on. What was to be done now? The
Prince had to take the witch&rsquo;s daughter for his bride whether he would or
no; he sneaked away to her father&rsquo;s house with her, however, for he was
ashamed to hold the wedding festivities at the palace with so strange a bride.
Some days passed, and at last he had to take his bride home to the palace, and
he got ready to do so. Just as they were taking leave, the kitchen wench sprang
down from her place by the stove, on the pretext of fetching something from the
cowhouse, and in going by she whispered in the Prince&rsquo;s ear as he stood
in the yard:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Alas! dear Prince, do not rob me of my silver and my gold.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Thereupon the King&rsquo;s son recognised the cinder wench; so he took both the
girls with him, and set out. After they had gone some little way they came to
the bank of a river, and the Prince threw the witch&rsquo;s daughter across to
serve as a bridge, and so got over with the cinder wench. There lay the
witch&rsquo;s daughter then, like a bridge over the river, and could not stir,
though her heart was consumed with grief. No help was near, so she cried at
last in her anguish:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;May there grow a golden hemlock out of my body! perhaps my mother will
know me by that token.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Scarcely had she spoken when a golden hemlock sprang up from her, and stood
upon the bridge.
</p>

<p>
Now, as soon as the Prince had got rid of the witch&rsquo;s daughter he greeted
the cinder wench as his bride, and they wandered together to the birch tree
which grew upon the mother&rsquo;s grave. There they received all sorts of
treasures and riches, three sacks full of gold, and as much silver, and a
splendid steed, which bore them home to the palace. There they lived a long
time together, and the young wife bore a son to the Prince. Immediately word
was brought to the witch that her daughter had borne a son&mdash;for they all
believed the young King&rsquo;s wife to be the witch&rsquo;s daughter.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;So, so,&rsquo; said the witch to herself; &lsquo;I had better away with
my gift for the infant, then.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
And so saying she set out. Thus it happened that she came to the bank of the
river, and there she saw the beautiful golden hemlock growing in the middle of
the bridge, and when she began to cut it down to take to her grandchild, she
heard a voice moaning:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Alas! dear mother, do not cut me so!&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Are you here?&rsquo; demanded the witch.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Indeed I am, dear little mother,&rsquo; answered the daughter.
&lsquo;They threw me across the river to make a bridge of me.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
In a moment the witch had the bridge shivered to atoms, and then she hastened
away to the palace. Stepping up to the young Queen&rsquo;s bed, she began to
try her magic arts upon her, saying:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Spit, you wretch, on the blade of my knife; bewitch my knife&rsquo;s
blade for me, and I shall change you into a reindeer of the forest.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Are you there again to bring trouble upon me?&rsquo; said the young
woman.
</p>

<p>
She neither spat nor did anything else, but still the witch changed her into a
reindeer, and smuggled her own daughter into her place as the Prince&rsquo;s
wife. But now the child grew restless and cried, because it missed its
mother&rsquo;s care. They took it to the court, and tried to pacify it in every
conceivable way, but its crying never ceased.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;What makes the child so restless?&rsquo; asked the Prince, and he went
to a wise widow woman to ask her advice.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Ay, ay, your own wife is not at home,&rsquo; said the widow woman;
&lsquo;she is living like a reindeer in the wood; you have the witch&rsquo;s
daughter for a wife now, and the witch herself for a mother-in-law.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Is there any way of getting my own wife back from the wood again?&rsquo;
asked the Prince.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Give me the child,&rsquo; answered the widow woman. &lsquo;I&rsquo;ll
take it with me to-morrow when I go to drive the cows to the wood. I&rsquo;ll
make a rustling among the birch leaves and a trembling among the
aspens&mdash;perhaps the boy will grow quiet when he hears it.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Yes, take the child away, take it to the wood with you to quiet
it,&rsquo; said the Prince, and led the widow woman into the castle.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;How now? you are going to send the child away to the wood?&rsquo; said
the witch in a suspicious tone, and tried to interfere.
</p>

<p>
But the King&rsquo;s son stood firm by what he had commanded, and said:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Carry the child about the wood; perhaps that will pacify it.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
So the widow woman took the child to the wood. She came to the edge of a marsh,
and seeing a herd of reindeer there, she began all at once to sing&mdash;
</p>

<p class="poem">
&lsquo;Little Bright-eyes, little Redskin,<br>
Come nurse the child you bore!<br>
    That bloodthirsty monster,<br>
    That man-eater grim,<br>
Shall nurse him, shall tend him no more.<br>
    They may threaten and force as they will,<br>
    He turns from her, shrinks from her still,&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
and immediately the reindeer drew near, and nursed and tended the child the
whole day long; but at nightfall it had to follow the herd, and said to the
widow woman:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Bring me the child to-morrow, and again the following day; after that I
must wander with the herd far away to other lands.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
The following morning the widow woman went back to the castle to fetch the
child. The witch interfered, of course, but the Prince said:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Take it, and carry it about in the open air; the boy is quieter at
night, to be sure, when he has been in the wood all day.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
So the widow took the child in her arms, and carried it to the marsh in the
forest. There she sang as on the preceding day&mdash;
</p>

<p class="poem">
&lsquo;Little Bright-eyes, little Redskin,<br>
Come nurse the child you bore!<br>
    That bloodthirsty monster,<br>
    That man-eater grim,<br>
Shall nurse him, shall tend him no more.<br>
    They may threaten and force as they will,<br>
    He turns from her, shrinks from her still,&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
and immediately the reindeer left the herd and came to the child, and tended it
as on the day before. And so it was that the child throve, till not a finer boy
was to be seen anywhere. But the King&rsquo;s son had been pondering over all
these things, and he said to the widow woman:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Is there no way of changing the reindeer into a human being
again?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I don&rsquo;t rightly know,&rsquo; was her answer. &lsquo;Come to the
wood with me, however; when the woman puts off her reindeer skin I shall comb
her head for her; whilst I am doing so you must burn the skin.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Thereupon they both went to the wood with the child; scarcely were they there
when the reindeer appeared and nursed the child as before. Then the widow woman
said to the reindeer:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Since you are going far away to-morrow, and I shall not see you again,
let me comb your head for the last time, as a remembrance of you.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Good; the young woman stript off the reindeer skin, and let the widow woman do
as she wished. In the meantime the King&rsquo;s son threw the reindeer skin
into the fire unobserved.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;What smells of singeing here?&rsquo; asked the young woman, and looking
round she saw her own husband. &lsquo;Woe is me! you have burnt my skin. Why
did you do that?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;To give you back your human form again.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Alack-a-day! I have nothing to cover me now, poor creature that I
am!&rsquo; cried the young woman, and transformed herself first into a distaff,
then into a wooden beetle, then into a spindle, and into all imaginable shapes.
But all these shapes the King&rsquo;s son went on destroying till she stood
before him in human form again.
</p>

<p>
Alas! wherefore take me home with you again,&rsquo; cried the young woman,
&lsquo;since the witch is sure to eat me up?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;She will not eat you up,&rsquo; answered her husband; and they started
for home with the child.
</p>

<p>
But when the witch wife saw them she ran away with her daughter, and if she has
not stopped she is running still, though at a great age. And the Prince, and
his wife, and the baby lived happy ever afterwards.<a href="#fn9" id="fnref9"><sup>[9]</sup></a>
</p>

<p class="footnote">
<a id="fn9"></a> <a href="#fnref9">[9]</a>
From the Russo-Karelian.
</p>

</div><!--end chapter-->

<div class="chapter">

<h2><a id="chap12"></a>JACK AND THE BEANSTALK</h2>

<h3>JACK SELLS THE COW</h3>

<p>
Once upon a time there was a poor widow who lived in a little cottage with her
only son Jack.
</p>

<p>
Jack was a giddy, thoughtless boy, but very kind-hearted and affectionate.
There had been a hard winter, and after it the poor woman had suffered from
fever and ague. Jack did no work as yet, and by degrees they grew dreadfully
poor. The widow saw that there was no means of keeping Jack and herself from
starvation but by selling her cow; so one morning she said to her son, &lsquo;I
am too weak to go myself, Jack, so you must take the cow to market for me, and
sell her.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Jack liked going to market to sell the cow very much; but as he was on the way,
he met a butcher who had some beautiful beans in his hand. Jack stopped to look
at them, and the butcher told the boy that they were of great value, and
persuaded the silly lad to sell the cow for these beans.
</p>

<p>
When he brought them home to his mother instead of the money she expected for
her nice cow, she was very vexed and shed many tears, scolding Jack for his
folly. He was very sorry, and mother and son went to bed very sadly that night;
their last hope seemed gone.
</p>

<p>
At daybreak Jack rose and went out into the garden.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;At least,&rsquo; he thought, &lsquo;I will sow the wonderful beans.
Mother says that they are just common scarlet-runners, and nothing else; but I
may as well sow them.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
So he took a piece of stick, and made some holes in the ground, and put in the
beans.
</p>

<p>
That day they had very little dinner, and went sadly to bed, knowing that for
the next day there would be none and Jack, unable to sleep from grief and
vexation, got up at day-dawn and went out into the garden.
</p>

<p>
What was his amazement to find that the beans had grown up in the night, and
climbed up and up till they covered the high cliff that sheltered the cottage,
and disappeared above it! The stalks had twined and twisted themselves together
till they formed quite a ladder.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;It would be easy to climb it,&rsquo; thought Jack.
</p>

<p>
And, having thought of the experiment, he at once resolved to carry it out, for
Jack was a good climber. However, after his late mistake about the cow, he
thought he had better consult his mother first.
</p>

<h3>WONDERFUL GROWTH OF THE BEANSTALK</h3>

<p>
So Jack called his mother, and they both gazed in silent wonder at the
Beanstalk, which was not only of great height, but was thick enough to bear
Jack&rsquo;s weight.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I wonder where it ends,&rsquo; said Jack to his mother; &lsquo;I think I
will climb up and see.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
His mother wished him not to venture up this strange ladder, but Jack coaxed
her to give her consent to the attempt, for he was certain there must be
something wonderful in the Beanstalk; so at last she yielded to his wishes.
</p>

<p>
Jack instantly began to climb, and went up and up on the ladder-like bean till
everything he had left behind him&mdash;the cottage, the village, and even the
tall church tower&mdash;looked quite little, and still he could not see the top
of the Beanstalk.
</p>

<p>
Jack felt a little tired, and thought for a moment that he would go back again;
but he was a very persevering boy, and he knew that the way to succeed in
anything is not to give up. So after resting for a moment he went on.
</p>

<p>
After climbing higher and higher, till he grew afraid to look down for fear he
should be giddy, Jack at last reached the top of the Beanstalk, and found
himself in a beautiful country, finely wooded, with beautiful meadows covered
with sheep. A crystal stream ran through the pastures; not far from the place
where he had got off the Beanstalk stood a fine, strong castle.
</p>

<p>
Jack wondered very much that he had never heard of or seen this castle before;
but when he reflected on the subject, he saw that it was as much separated from
the village by the perpendicular rock on which it stood as if it were in
another land.
</p>

<p>
While Jack was standing looking at the castle, a very strange-looking woman
came out of the wood, and advanced towards him.
</p>

<p>
She wore a pointed cap of quilted red satin turned up with ermine, her hair
streamed loose over her shoulders, and she walked with a staff. Jack took off
his cap and made her a bow.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;If you please, ma&rsquo;am,&rsquo; said he, &lsquo;is this your
house?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;No,&rsquo; said the old lady. &lsquo;Listen, and I will tell you the
story of that castle.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Once upon a time there was a noble knight, who lived in this castle,
which is on the borders of Fairyland. He had a fair and beloved wife and
several lovely children: and as his neighbours, the little people, were very
friendly towards him, they bestowed on him many excellent and precious gifts.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Rumour whispered of these treasures; and a monstrous giant, who lived at
no great distance, and who was a very wicked being, resolved to obtain
possession of them.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;So he bribed a false servant to let him inside the castle, when the
knight was in bed and asleep, and he killed him as he lay. Then he went to the
part of the castle which was the nursery, and also killed all the poor little
ones he found there.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Happily for her, the lady was not to be found. She had gone with her
infant son, who was only two or three months old, to visit her old nurse, who
lived in the valley; and she had been detained all night there by a storm.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;The next morning, as soon as it was light, one of the servants at the
castle, who had managed to escape, came to tell the poor lady of the sad fate
of her husband and her pretty babes. She could scarcely believe him at first,
and was eager at once to go back and share the fate of her dear ones; but the
old nurse, with many tears, besought her to remember that she had still a
child, and that it was her duty to preserve her life for the sake of the poor
innocent.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;The lady yielded to this reasoning, and consented to remain at her
nurse&rsquo;s house as the best place of concealment; for the servant told her
that the giant had vowed, if he could find her, he would kill both her and her
baby. Years rolled on. The old nurse died, leaving her cottage and the few
articles of furniture it contained to her poor lady, who dwelt in it, working
as a peasant for her daily bread. Her spinning-wheel and the milk of a cow,
which she had purchased with the little money she had with her, sufficed for
the scanty subsistence of herself and her little son. There was a nice little
garden attached to the cottage, in which they cultivated peas, beans, and
cabbages, and the lady was not ashamed to go out at harvest time, and glean in
the fields to supply her little son&rsquo;s wants.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Jack, that poor lady is your mother. This castle was once your
father&rsquo;s, and must again be yours.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Jack uttered a cry of surprise.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;My mother! oh, madam, what ought I to do? My poor father! My dear
mother!&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Your duty requires you to win it back for your mother. But the task is a
very difficult one, and full of peril, Jack. Have you courage to undertake
it?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I fear nothing when I am doing right,&rsquo; said Jack.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Then,&rsquo; said the lady in the red cap, &lsquo;you are one of those
who slay giants. You must get into the castle, and if possible possess yourself
of a hen that lays golden eggs, and a harp that talks. Remember, all the giant
possesses is really yours.&rsquo; As she ceased speaking, the lady of the red
hat suddenly disappeared, and of course Jack knew she was a fairy.
</p>

<p>
Jack determined at once to attempt the adventure; so he advanced, and blew the
horn which hung at the castle portal. The door was opened in a minute or two by
a frightful giantess, with one great eye in the middle of her forehead.
</p>

<p>
As soon as Jack saw her he turned to run away, but she caught him, and dragged
him into the castle.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Ho, ho!&rsquo; she laughed terribly. &lsquo;You didn&rsquo;t expect to
see me here, that is clear! No, I shan&rsquo;t let you go again. I am weary of
my life. I am so overworked, and I don&rsquo;t see why I should not have a page
as well as other ladies. And you shall be my boy. You shall clean the knives,
and black the boots, and make the fires, and help me generally when the giant
is out. When he is at home I must hide you, for he has eaten up all my pages
hitherto, and you would be a dainty morsel, my little lad.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
While she spoke she dragged Jack right into the castle. The poor boy was very
much frightened, as I am sure you and I would have been in his place. But he
remembered that fear disgraces a man; so he struggled to be brave and make the
best of things.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I am quite ready to help you, and do all I can to serve you,
madam,&rsquo; he said, &lsquo;only I beg you will be good enough to hide me
from your husband, for I should not like to be eaten at all.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;That&rsquo;s a good boy,&rsquo; said the Giantess, nodding her head;
&lsquo;it is lucky for you that you did not scream out when you saw me, as the
other boys who have been here did, for if you had done so my husband would have
awakened and have eaten you, as he did them, for breakfast. Come here, child;
go into my wardrobe: he never ventures to open <i>that;</i> you will be safe
there.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
And she opened a huge wardrobe which stood in the great hall, and shut him into
it. But the keyhole was so large that it admitted plenty of air, and he could
see everything that took place through it. By-and-by he heard a heavy tramp on
the stairs, like the lumbering along of a great cannon, and then a voice like
thunder cried out;
</p>

<p class="poem">
&lsquo;Fe, fa, fi-fo-fum,<br>
I smell the breath of an Englishman.<br>
Let him be alive or let him be dead,<br>
I&rsquo;ll grind his bones to make my bread.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Wife,&rsquo; cried the Giant, &lsquo;there is a man in the castle. Let
me have him for breakfast.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;You are grown old and stupid,&rsquo; cried the lady in her loud tones.
&lsquo;It is only a nice fresh steak off an elephant, that I have cooked for
you, which you smell. There, sit down and make a good breakfast.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
And she placed a huge dish before him of savoury steaming meat, which greatly
pleased him, and made him forget his idea of an Englishman being in the castle.
When he had breakfasted he went out for a walk; and then the Giantess opened
the door, and made Jack come out to help her. He helped her all day. She fed
him well, and when evening came put him back in the wardrobe.
</p>

<h3>THE HEN THAT LAYS GOLDEN EGGS.</h3>

<p>
The Giant came in to supper. Jack watched him through the keyhole, and was
amazed to see him pick a wolf&rsquo;s bone, and put half a fowl at a time into
his capacious mouth.
</p>

<p>
When the supper was ended he bade his wife bring him his hen that laid the
golden eggs.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;It lays as well as it did when it belonged to that paltry knight,&rsquo;
he said; &lsquo;indeed I think the eggs are heavier than ever.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
The Giantess went away, and soon returned with a little brown hen, which she
placed on the table before her husband. &lsquo;And now, my dear,&rsquo; she
said, &lsquo;I am going for a walk, if you don&rsquo;t want me any
longer.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Go,&rsquo; said the Giant; &lsquo;I shall be glad to have a nap
by-and-by.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Then he took up the brown hen and said to her:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Lay!&rsquo; And she instantly laid a golden egg.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Lay!&rsquo; said the Giant again. And she laid another.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Lay!&rsquo; he repeated the third time. And again a golden egg lay on
the table.
</p>

<p>
Now Jack was sure this hen was that of which the fairy had spoken.
</p>

<p>
By-and-by the Giant put the hen down on the floor, and soon after went fast
asleep, snoring so loud that it sounded like thunder.
</p>

<p>
Directly Jack perceived that the Giant was fast asleep, he pushed open the door
of the wardrobe and crept out; very softly he stole across the room, and,
picking up the hen, made haste to quit the apartment. He knew the way to the
kitchen, the door of which he found was left ajar; he opened it, shut and
locked it after him, and flew back to the Beanstalk, which he descended as fast
as his feet would move.
</p>

<p>
When his mother saw him enter the house she wept for joy, for she had feared
that the fairies had carried him away, or that the Giant had found him. But
Jack put the brown hen down before her, and told her how he had been in the
Giant&rsquo;s castle, and all his adventures. She was very glad to see the hen,
which would make them rich once more.
</p>

<h3>THE MONEY BAGS.</h3>

<p>
Jack made another journey up the Beanstalk to the Giant&rsquo;s castle one day
while his mother had gone to market; but first he dyed his hair and disguised
himself. The old woman did not know him again, and dragged him in as she had
done before, to help her to do the work; but she heard her husband coming, and
hid him in the wardrobe, not thinking that it was the same boy who had stolen
the hen. She bade him stay quite still there, or the Giant would eat him.
</p>

<p>
Then the Giant came in saying:
</p>

<p class="poem">
&lsquo;Fe, fa, fi-fo-fum,<br>
I smell the breath of an Englishman.<br>
Let him be alive or let him be dead,<br>
I&rsquo;ll grind his bones to make my bread.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Nonsense!&rsquo; said the wife, &lsquo;it is only a roasted bullock that
I thought would be a tit-bit for your supper; sit down and I will bring it up
at once.&rsquo; The Giant sat down, and soon his wife brought up a roasted
bullock on a large dish, and they began their supper. Jack was amazed to see
them pick the bones of the bullock as if it had been a lark. As soon as they
had finished their meal, the Giantess rose and said:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Now, my dear, with your leave I am going up to my room to finish the
story I am reading. If you want me call for me.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;First,&rsquo; answered the Giant, &lsquo;bring me my money bags, that I
may count my golden pieces before I sleep.&rsquo; The Giantess obeyed. She went
and soon returned with two large bags over her shoulders, which she put down by
her husband.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;There,&rsquo; she said; &lsquo;that is all that is left of the
knight&rsquo;s money. When you have spent it you must go and take another
baron&rsquo;s castle.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;That he shan&rsquo;t, if I can help it,&rsquo; thought Jack.
</p>

<p>
The Giant, when his wife was gone, took out heaps and heaps of golden pieces,
and counted them, and put them in piles, till he was tired of the amusement.
Then he swept them all back into their bags, and leaning back in his chair fell
fast asleep, snoring so loud that no other sound was audible.
</p>

<p>
Jack stole softly out of the wardrobe, and taking up the bags of money (which
were his very own, because the Giant had stolen them from his father), he ran
off, and with great difficulty descending the Beanstalk, laid the bags of gold
on his mother&rsquo;s table. She had just returned from town, and was crying at
not finding Jack.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;There, mother, I have brought you the gold that my father lost.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Oh, Jack! you are a very good boy, but I wish you would not risk your
precious life in the Giant&rsquo;s castle. Tell me how you came to go there
again.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
And Jack told her all about it.
</p>

<p>
Jack&rsquo;s mother was very glad to get the money, but she did not like him to
run any risk for her.
</p>

<p>
But after a time Jack made up his mind to go again to the Giant&rsquo;s castle.
</p>

<h3>THE TALKING HARP.</h3>

<p>
So he climbed the Beanstalk once more, and blew the horn at the Giant&rsquo;s
gate. The Giantess soon opened the door; she was very stupid, and did not know
him again, but she stopped a minute before she took him in. She feared another
robbery; but Jack&rsquo;s fresh face looked so innocent that she could not
resist him, and so she bade him come in, and again hid him away in the
wardrobe.
</p>

<p>
By-and-by the Giant came home, and as soon as he had crossed the threshold he
roared out:
</p>

<p class="poem">
&lsquo;Fe, fa, fi-fo-fum,<br>
I smell the breath of an Englishman.<br>
Let him be alive or let him be dead,<br>
I&rsquo;ll grind his bones to make my bread.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;You stupid old Giant,&rsquo; said his wife, &lsquo;you only smell a nice
sheep, which I have grilled for your dinner.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
And the Giant sat down, and his wife brought up a whole sheep for his dinner.
When he had eaten it all up, he said:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Now bring me my harp, and I will have a little music while you take your
walk.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
The Giantess obeyed, and returned with a beautiful harp. The framework was all
sparkling with diamonds and rubies, and the strings were all of gold.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;This is one of the nicest things I took from the knight,&rsquo; said the
Giant. &lsquo;I am very fond of music, and my harp is a faithful
servant.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
So he drew the harp towards him, and said:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Play!&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
And the harp played a very soft, sad air.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Play something merrier!&rsquo; said the Giant.
</p>

<p>
And the harp played a merry tune.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Now play me a lullaby,&rsquo; roared the Giant; and the harp played a
sweet lullaby, to the sound of which its master fell asleep.
</p>

<p>
Then Jack stole softly out of the wardrobe, and went into the huge kitchen to
see if the Giantess had gone out; he found no one there, so he went to the door
and opened it softly, for he thought he could not do so with the harp in his
hand.
</p>

<p>
Then he entered the Giant&rsquo;s room and seized the harp and ran away with
it; but as he jumped over the threshold the harp called out:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;M<small>ASTER</small>! M<small>ASTER</small>!&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
And the Giant woke up.
</p>

<p>
With a tremendous roar he sprang from his seat, and in two strides had reached
the door.
</p>

<p>
But Jack was very nimble. He fled like lightning with the harp, talking to it
as he went (for he saw it was a fairy), and telling it he was the son of its
old master, the knight.
</p>

<p>
Still the Giant came on so fast that he was quite close to poor Jack, and had
stretched out his great hand to catch him. But, luckily, just at that moment he
stepped upon a loose stone, stumbled, and fell flat on the ground, where he lay
at his full length.
</p>

<p>
This accident gave Jack time to get on the Beanstalk and hasten down it; but
just as he reached their own garden he beheld the Giant descending after him.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Mother! Mother!&rsquo; cried Jack, &lsquo;make haste and give me the
axe.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
His mother ran to him with a hatchet in her hand, and Jack with one tremendous
blow cut through all the Beanstalks except one.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Now, mother, stand out of the way!&rsquo; said he.
</p>

<h3>THE GIANT BREAKS HIS NECK.</h3>

<p>
Jack&rsquo;s mother shrank back, and it was well she did so, for just as the
Giant took hold of the last branch of the Beanstalk, Jack cut the stem quite
through and darted from the spot.
</p>

<p>
Down came the Giant with a terrible crash, and as he fell on his head, he broke
his neck, and lay dead at the feet of the woman he had so much injured.
</p>

<p>
Before Jack and his mother had recovered from their alarm and agitation, a
beautiful lady stood before them.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Jack,&rsquo; said she, &lsquo;you have acted like a brave knight&rsquo;s
son, and deserve to have your inheritance restored to you. Dig a grave and bury
the Giant, and then go and kill the Giantess.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;But,&rsquo; said Jack, &lsquo;I could not kill anyone unless I were
fighting with him; and I could not draw my sword upon a woman. Moreover, the
Giantess was very kind to me.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
The Fairy smiled on Jack.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I am very much pleased with your generous feeling,&rsquo; she said.
&lsquo;Nevertheless, return to the castle, and act as you will find
needful.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Jack asked the Fairy if she would show him the way to the castle, as the
Beanstalk was now down. She told him that she would drive him there in her
chariot, which was drawn by two peacocks. Jack thanked her, and sat down in the
chariot with her.
</p>

<p>
The Fairy drove him a long distance round, till they reached a village which
lay at the bottom of the hill. Here they found a number of miserable-looking
men assembled. The Fairy stopped her carriage and addressed them:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;My friends,&rsquo; said she, &lsquo;the cruel giant who oppressed you
and ate up all your flocks and herds is dead, and this young gentleman was the
means of your being delivered from him, and is the son of your kind old master,
the knight.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
The men gave a loud cheer at these words, and pressed forward to say that they
would serve Jack as faithfully as they had served his father. The Fairy bade
them follow her to the castle, and they marched thither in a body, and Jack
blew the horn and demanded admittance.
</p>

<p>
The old Giantess saw them coming from the turret loop-hole. She was very much
frightened, for she guessed that something had happened to her husband; and as
she came downstairs very fast she caught her foot in her dress, and fell from
the top to the bottom and broke her neck.
</p>

<p>
When the people outside found that the door was not opened to them, they took
crowbars and forced the portal. Nobody was to be seen, but on leaving the hall
they found the body of the Giantess at the foot of the stairs.
</p>

<p>
Thus Jack took possession of the castle. The Fairy went and brought his mother
to him, with the hen and the harp. He had the Giantess buried, and endeavoured
as much as lay in his power to do right to those whom the Giant had robbed.
</p>

<p>
Before her departure for fairyland, the Fairy explained to Jack that she had
sent the butcher to meet him with the beans, in order to try what sort of lad
he was.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;If you had looked at the gigantic Beanstalk and only stupidly wondered
about it,&rsquo; she said, &lsquo;I should have left you where misfortune had
placed you, only restoring her cow to your mother. But you showed an inquiring
mind, and great courage and enterprise, therefore you deserve to rise; and when
you mounted the Beanstalk you climbed the Ladder of Fortune.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
She then took her leave of Jack and his mother.
</p>

</div><!--end chapter-->

<div class="chapter">

<h2><a id="chap13"></a>THE LITTLE GOOD MOUSE</h2>

<p>
Once upon a time there lived a King and Queen who loved each other so much that
they were never happy unless they were together. Day after day they went out
hunting or fishing; night after night they went to balls or to the opera; they
sang, and danced, and ate sugar-plums, and were the gayest of the gay, and all
their subjects followed their example so that the kingdom was called the Joyous
Land. Now in the next kingdom everything was as different as it could possibly
be. The King was sulky and savage, and never enjoyed himself at all. He looked
so ugly and cross that all his subjects feared him, and he hated the very sight
of a cheerful face; so if he ever caught anyone smiling he had his head cut off
that very minute. This kingdom was very appropriately called the Land of Tears.
Now when this wicked King heard of the happiness of the Jolly King, he was so
jealous that he collected a great army and set out to fight him, and the news
of his approach was soon brought to the King and Queen. The Queen, when she
heard of it, was frightened out of her wits, and began to cry bitterly.
&lsquo;Sire,&rsquo; she said, &lsquo;let us collect all our riches and run away
as far as ever we can, to the other side of the world.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
But the King answered:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Fie, madam! I am far too brave for that. It is better to die than to be
a coward.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Then he assembled all his armed men, and after bidding the Queen a tender
farewell, he mounted his splendid horse and rode away. When he was lost to
sight the Queen could do nothing but weep, and wring her hands, and cry.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Alas! If the King is killed, what will become of me and of my little
daughter?&rsquo; and she was so sorrowful that she could neither eat nor sleep.
</p>

<p>
The King sent her a letter every day, but at last, one morning, as she looked
out of the palace window, she saw a messenger approaching in hot haste.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;What news, courier? What news?&rsquo; cried the Queen, and he answered:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;The battle is lost and the King is dead, and in another moment the enemy
will be here.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
The poor Queen fell back insensible, and all her ladies carried her to bed, and
stood round her weeping and wailing. Then began a tremendous noise and
confusion, and they knew that the enemy had arrived, and very soon they heard
the King himself stamping about the palace seeking the Queen. Then her ladies
put the little Princess into her arms, and covered her up, head and all, in the
bedclothes, and ran for their lives, and the poor Queen lay there shaking, and
hoping she would not be found. But very soon the wicked King clattered into the
room, and in a fury because the Queen would not answer when he called to her,
he tore back her silken coverings and tweaked off her lace cap, and when all
her lovely hair came tumbling down over her shoulders, he wound it three times
round his hand and threw her over his shoulder, where he carried her like a
sack of flour.
</p>

<p>
The poor Queen held her little daughter safe in her arms and shrieked for
mercy, but the wicked King only mocked her, and begged her to go on shrieking,
as it amused him, and so mounted his great black horse, and rode back to his
own country. When he got there he declared that he would have the Queen and the
little Princess hanged on the nearest tree; but his courtiers said that seemed
a pity, for when the baby grew up she would be a very nice wife for the
King&rsquo;s only son.
</p>

<p>
The King was rather pleased with this idea, and shut the Queen up in the
highest room of a tall tower, which was very tiny, and miserably furnished with
a table and a very hard bed upon the floor. Then he sent for a fairy who lived
near his kingdom, and after receiving her with more politeness than he
generally showed, and entertaining her at a sumptuous feast, he took her up to
see the Queen. The fairy was so touched by the sight of her misery that when
she kissed her hand she whispered:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Courage, madam! I think I see a way to help you.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
The Queen, a little comforted by these words, received her graciously, and
begged her to take pity upon the poor little Princess, who had met with such a
sudden reverse of fortune. But the King got very cross when he saw them
whispering together, and cried harshly:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Make an end of these fine speeches, madam. I brought you here to tell me
if the child will grow up pretty and fortunate.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Then the Fairy answered that the Princess would be as pretty, and clever, and
well brought up as it was possible to be, and the old King growled to the Queen
that it was lucky for her that it was so, as they would certainly have been
hanged if it were otherwise. Then he stamped off, taking the Fairy with him,
and leaving the poor Queen in tears.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;How can I wish my little daughter to grow up pretty if she is to be
married to that horrid little dwarf, the King&rsquo;s son,&rsquo; she said to
herself, &lsquo;and yet, if she is ugly we shall both be killed. If I could
only hide her away somewhere, so that the cruel King could never find
her.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
As the days went on, the Queen and the little Princess grew thinner and
thinner, for their hard-hearted gaoler gave them every day only three boiled
peas and a tiny morsel of black bread, so they were always terribly hungry. At
last, one evening, as the Queen sat at her spinning-wheel&mdash;for the King
was so avaricious that she was made to work day and night&mdash;she saw a tiny,
pretty little mouse creep out of a hole, and said to it:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Alas, little creature! what are you coming to look for here? I only have
three peas for my day&rsquo;s provision, so unless you wish to fast you must go
elsewhere.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
But the mouse ran hither and thither, and danced and capered so prettily, that
at last the Queen gave it her last pea, which she was keeping for her supper,
saying: &lsquo;Here, little one, eat it up; I have nothing better to offer you,
but I give this willingly in return for the amusement I have had from
you.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
She had hardly spoken when she saw upon the table a delicious little roast
partridge, and two dishes of preserved fruit. &lsquo;Truly,&rsquo; said she,
&lsquo;a kind action never goes unrewarded; &lsquo;and she and the little
Princess ate their supper with great satisfaction, and then the Queen gave what
was left to the little mouse, who danced better than ever afterwards. The next
morning came the gaoler with the Queen&rsquo;s allowance of three peas, which
he brought in upon a large dish to make them look smaller; but as soon as he
set it down the little mouse came and ate up all three, so that when the Queen
wanted her dinner there was nothing left for her. Then she was quite provoked,
and said:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;What a bad little beast that mouse must be! If it goes on like this I
shall be starved.&rsquo; But when she glanced at the dish again it was covered
with all sorts of nice things to eat, and the Queen made a very good dinner,
and was gayer than usual over it. But afterwards as she sat at her
spinning-wheel she began to consider what would happen if the little Princess
did not grow up pretty enough to please the King, and she said to herself:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Oh! if I could only think of some way of escaping.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
As she spoke she saw the little mouse playing in a corner with some long
straws. The Queen took them and began to plait them, saying:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;If only I had straws enough I would make a basket with them, and let my
baby down in it from the window to any kind passer-by who would take care of
her.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
By the time the straws were all plaited the little mouse had dragged in more
and more, until the Queen had plenty to make her basket, and she worked at it
day and night, while the little mouse danced for her amusement; and at dinner
and supper time the Queen gave it the three peas and the bit of black bread,
and always found something good in the dish in their place. She really could
not imagine where all the nice things came from. At last one day when the
basket was finished, the Queen was looking out of the window to see how long a
cord she must make to lower it to the bottom of the tower, when she noticed a
little old woman who was leaning upon her stick and looking up at her.
Presently she said:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I know your trouble, madam. If you like I will help you.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Oh! my dear friend,&rsquo; said the Queen. &lsquo;If you really wish to
be of use to me you will come at the time that I will appoint, and I will let
down my poor little baby in a basket. If you will take her, and bring her up
for me, when I am rich I will reward you splendidly.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I don&rsquo;t care about the reward,&rsquo; said the old woman,
&lsquo;but there is one thing I should like. You must know that I am very
particular about what I eat, and if there is one thing that I fancy above all
others, it is a plump, tender little mouse. If there is such a thing in your
garret just throw it down to me, and in return I will promise that your little
daughter shall be well taken care of.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
The Queen when she heard this began to cry, but made no answer, and the old
woman after waiting a few minutes asked her what was the matter.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Why,&rsquo; said the Queen, &lsquo;there is only one mouse in this
garret, and that is such a dear, pretty little thing that I cannot bear to
think of its being killed.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;What!&rsquo; cried the old woman, in a rage. &lsquo;Do you care more for
a miserable mouse than for your own baby? Good-bye, madam! I leave you to enjoy
its company, and for my own part I thank my stars that I can get plenty of mice
without troubling you to give them to me.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
And she hobbled off grumbling and growling. As to the Queen, she was so
disappointed that, in spite of finding a better dinner than usual, and seeing
the little mouse dancing in its merriest mood, she could do nothing but cry.
That night when her baby was fast asleep she packed it into the basket, and
wrote on a slip of paper, &lsquo;This unhappy little girl is called
Delicia!&rsquo; This she pinned to its robe, and then very sadly she was
shutting the basket, when in sprang the little mouse and sat on the
baby&rsquo;s pillow.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Ah! little one,&rsquo; said the Queen, &lsquo;it cost me dear to save
your life. How shall I know now whether my Delicia is being taken care of or
no? Anyone else would have let the greedy old woman have you, and eat you up,
but I could not bear to do it.&rsquo; Whereupon the Mouse answered:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Believe me, madam, you will never repent of your kindness.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
The Queen was immensely astonished when the Mouse began to speak, and still
more so when she saw its little sharp nose turn to a beautiful face, and its
paws to hands and feet; then it suddenly grew tall, and the Queen recognised
the Fairy who had come with the wicked King to visit her.
</p>

<p>
The Fairy smiled at her astonished look, and said:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I wanted to see if you were faithful and capable of feeling a real
friendship for me, for you see we fairies are rich in everything but friends,
and those are hard to find.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;It is not possible that <i>you</i> should want for friends, you charming
creature,&rsquo; said the Queen, kissing her.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Indeed it is so,&rsquo; the Fairy said. &lsquo;For those who are only
friendly with me for their own advantage, I do not count at all. But when you
cared for the poor little mouse you could not have known there was anything to
be gained by it, and to try you further I took the form of the old woman whom
you talked to from the window, and then I was convinced that you really loved
me.&rsquo; Then, turning to the little Princess, she kissed her rosy lips three
times, saying:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Dear little one, I promise that you shall be richer than your father,
and shall live a hundred years, always pretty and happy, without fear of old
age and wrinkles.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
The Queen, quite delighted, thanked the Fairy gratefully, and begged her to
take charge of the little Delicia and bring her up as her own daughter. This
she agreed to do, and then they shut the basket and lowered it carefully, baby
and all, to the ground at the foot of the tower. The Fairy then changed herself
back into the form of a mouse, and this delayed her a few seconds, after which
she ran nimbly down the straw rope, but only to find when she got to the bottom
that the baby had disappeared.
</p>

<p>
In the greatest terror she ran up again to the Queen, crying:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;All is lost! my enemy Cancaline has stolen the Princess away. You must
know that she is a cruel fairy who hates me, and as she is older than I am and
has more power, I can do nothing against her. I know no way of rescuing Delicia
from her clutches.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
When the Queen heard this terrible news she was heart-broken, and begged the
Fairy to do all she could to get the poor little Princess back again. At this
moment in came the gaoler, and when he missed the little Princess he at once
told the King, who came in a great fury asking what the Queen had done with
her. She answered that a fairy, whose name she did not know, had come and
carried her off by force. Upon this the King stamped upon the ground, and cried
in a terrible voice:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;You shall be hung! I always told you you should.&rsquo; And without
another word he dragged the unlucky Queen out into the nearest wood, and
climbed up into a tree to look for a branch to which he could hang her. But
when he was quite high up, the Fairy, who had made herself invisible and
followed them, gave him a sudden push, which made him lose his footing and fall
to the ground with a crash and break four of his teeth, and while he was trying
to mend them the fairy carried the Queen off in her flying chariot to a
beautiful castle, where she was so kind to her that but for the loss of Delicia
the Queen would have been perfectly happy. But though the good little mouse did
her very utmost, they could not find out where Cancaline had hidden the little
Princess.
</p>

<p>
Thus fifteen years went by, and the Queen had somewhat recovered from her
grief, when the news reached her that the son of the wicked King wished to
marry the little maiden who kept the turkeys, and that she had refused him; the
wedding-dresses had been made, nevertheless, and the festivities were to be so
splendid that all the people for leagues round were flocking in to be present
at them. The Queen felt quite curious about a little turkey-maiden who did not
wish to be a Queen, so the little mouse conveyed herself to the poultry-yard to
find out what she was like.
</p>

<p>
She found the turkey-maiden sitting upon a big stone, barefooted, and miserably
dressed in an old, coarse linen gown and cap; the ground at her feet was all
strewn with robes of gold and silver, ribbons and laces, diamonds and pearls,
over which the turkeys were stalking to and fro, while the King&rsquo;s ugly,
disagreeable son stood opposite her, declaring angrily that if she would not
marry him she should be killed.
</p>

<p>
The Turkey-maiden answered proudly:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I never will marry you! you are too ugly and too much like your cruel
father. Leave me in peace with my turkeys, which I like far better than all
your fine gifts.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
The little mouse watched her with the greatest admiration, for she was as
beautiful as the spring; and as soon as the wicked Prince was gone, she took
the form of an old peasant woman and said to her:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Good day, my pretty one! you have a fine flock of turkeys there.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
The young Turkey-maiden turned her gentle eyes upon the old woman, and
answered:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Yet they wish me to leave them to become a miserable Queen! what is your
advice upon the matter?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;My child,&rsquo; said the Fairy, &lsquo;a crown is a very pretty thing,
but you know neither the price nor the weight of it.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I know so well that I have refused to wear one,&rsquo; said the little
maiden, &lsquo;though I don&rsquo;t know who was my father, or who was my
mother, and I have not a friend in the world.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;You have goodness and beauty, which are of more value than ten
kingdoms,&rsquo; said the wise Fairy. &lsquo;But tell me, child, how came you
here, and how is it you have neither father, nor mother, nor friend?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;A Fairy called Cancaline is the cause of my being here,&rsquo; answered
she, &lsquo;for while I lived with her I got nothing but blows and harsh words,
until at last I could bear it no longer, and ran away from her without knowing
where I was going, and as I came through a wood the wicked Prince met me, and
offered to give me charge of the poultry-yard. I accepted gladly, not knowing
that I should have to see him day by day. And now he wants to marry me, but
that I will never consent to.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Upon hearing this the Fairy became convinced that the little Turkey-maiden was
none other than the Princess Delicia.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;What is your name, my little one?&rsquo; said she.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I am called Delicia, if it please you,&rsquo; she answered.
</p>

<p>
Then the Fairy threw her arms round the Princess&rsquo;s neck, and nearly
smothered her with kisses, saying:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Ah, Delicia! I am a very old friend of yours, and I am truly glad to
find you at last; but you might look nicer than you do in that old gown, which
is only fit for a kitchen-maid. Take this pretty dress and let us see the
difference it will make.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
So Delicia took off the ugly cap, and shook out all her fair shining hair, and
bathed her hands and face in clear water from the nearest spring till her
cheeks were like roses, and when she was adorned with the diamonds and the
splendid robe the Fairy had given her, she looked the most beautiful Princess
in the world, and the Fairy with great delight cried:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Now you look as you ought to look, Delicia: what do you think about it
yourself?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
And Delicia answered:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I feel as if I were the daughter of some great king.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;And would you be glad if you were?&rsquo; said the Fairy.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Indeed I should,&rsquo; answered she.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Ah, well,&rsquo; said the Fairy, &lsquo;to-morrow I may have some
pleasant news for you.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
So she hurried back to her castle, where the Queen sat busy with her
embroidery, and cried:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Well, madam! will you wager your thimble and your golden needle that I
am bringing you the best news you could possibly hear?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Alas!&rsquo; sighed the Queen, &lsquo;since the death of the Jolly King
and the loss of my Delicia, all the news in the world is not worth a pin to me.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;There, there, don&rsquo;t be melancholy,&rsquo; said the Fairy. &lsquo;I
assure you the Princess is quite well, and I have never seen her equal for
beauty. She might be a Queen to-morrow if she chose;&rsquo; and then she told
all that had happened, and the Queen first rejoiced over the thought of
Delicia&rsquo;s beauty, and then wept at the idea of her being a Turkey-maiden.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I will not hear of her being made to marry the wicked King&rsquo;s
son,&rsquo; she said. &lsquo;Let us go at once and bring her here.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
In the meantime the wicked Prince, who was very angry with Delicia, had sat
himself down under a tree, and cried and howled with rage and spite until the
King heard him, and cried out from the window:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;What is the matter with you, that you are making all this
disturbance?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
The Prince replied:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;It is all because our Turkey-maiden will not love me!&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Won&rsquo;t love you? eh!&rsquo; said the King. &lsquo;We&rsquo;ll very
soon see about that!&rsquo; So he called his guards and told them to go and
fetch Delicia. &lsquo;See if I don&rsquo;t make her change her mind pretty
soon!&rsquo; said the wicked King with a chuckle.
</p>

<p>
Then the guards began to search the poultry-yard, and could find nobody there
but Delicia, who, with her splendid dress and her crown of diamonds, looked
such a lovely Princess that they hardly dared to speak to her. But she said to
them very politely:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Pray tell me what you are looking for here?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Madam,&rsquo; they answered, &lsquo;we are sent for an insignificant
little person called Delicia.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Alas!&rsquo; said she, &lsquo;that is my name. What can you want with
me?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
So the guards tied her hands and feet with thick ropes, for fear she might run
away, and brought her to the King, who was waiting with his son.
</p>

<p>
When he saw her he was very much astonished at her beauty, which would have
made anyone less hard-hearted sorry for her. But the wicked King only laughed
and mocked at her, and cried: &lsquo;Well, little fright, little toad! why
don&rsquo;t you love my son, who is far too handsome and too good for you? Make
haste and begin to love him this instant, or you shall be tarred and
feathered.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Then the poor little Princess, shaking with terror, went down on her knees,
crying:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Oh, don&rsquo;t tar and feather me, please! It would be so
uncomfortable. Let me have two or three days to make up my mind, and then you
shall do as you like with me.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
The wicked Prince would have liked very much to see her tarred and feathered,
but the King ordered that she should be shut up in a dark dungeon. It was just
at this moment that the Queen and the Fairy arrived in the flying chariot, and
the Queen was dreadfully distressed at the turn affairs had taken, and said
miserably that she was destined to be unfortunate all her days. But the Fairy
bade her take courage.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I&rsquo;ll pay them out yet,&rsquo; said she, nodding her head with an
air of great determination.
</p>

<p>
That very same night, as soon as the wicked King had gone to bed, the Fairy
changed herself into the little mouse, and creeping up on to his pillow nibbled
his ear, so that he squealed out quite loudly and turned over on his other
side; but that was no good, for the little mouse only set to work and gnawed
away at the second ear until it hurt more than the first one.
</p>

<p>
Then the King cried &lsquo;Murder!&rsquo; and &lsquo;Thieves!&rsquo; and all
his guards ran to see what was the matter, but they could find nothing and
nobody, for the little mouse had run off to the Prince&rsquo;s room and was
serving him in exactly the same way. All night long she ran from one to the
other, until at last, driven quite frantic by terror and want of sleep, the
King rushed out of the palace crying:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Help! help! I am pursued by rats.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
The Prince when he heard this got up also, and ran after the King, and they had
not gone far when they both fell into the river and were never heard of again.
</p>

<p>
Then the good Fairy ran to tell the Queen, and they went together to the black
dungeon where Delicia was imprisoned. The Fairy touched each door with her
wand, and it sprang open instantly, but they had to go through forty before
they came to the Princess, who was sitting on the floor looking very dejected.
But when the Queen rushed in, and kissed her twenty times in a minute, and
laughed, and cried, and told Delicia all her history, the Princess was wild
with delight. Then the Fairy showed her all the wonderful dresses and jewels
she had brought for her, and said:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Don&rsquo;t let us waste time; we must go and harangue the
people.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
So she walked first, looking very serious and dignified, and wearing a dress
the train of which was at least ten ells long. Behind her came the Queen
wearing a blue velvet robe embroidered with gold, and a diamond crown that was
brighter than the sun itself. Last of all walked Delicia, who was so beautiful
that it was nothing short of marvellous.
</p>

<p>
They proceeded through the streets, returning the salutations of all they met,
great or small, and all the people turned and followed them, wondering who
these noble ladies could be.
</p>

<p>
When the audience hall was quite full, the Fairy said to the subjects of the
Wicked King that if they would accept Delicia, who was the daughter of the
Jolly King, as their Queen, she would undertake to find a suitable husband for
her, and would promise that during their reign there should be nothing but
rejoicing and merry-making, and all dismal things should be entirely banished.
Upon this the people cried with one accord, &lsquo;We will, we will! we have
been gloomy and miserable too long already.&rsquo; And they all took hands and
danced round the Queen, and Delicia, and the good Fairy, singing: &lsquo;Yes,
yes; we will, we will!&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Then there were feasts and fireworks in every street in the town, and early the
next morning the Fairy, who had been all over the world in the night, brought
back with her, in her flying chariot, the most handsome and good-tempered
Prince she could find anywhere. He was so charming that Delicia loved him from
the moment their eyes met, and as for him, of course he could not help thinking
himself the luckiest Prince in the world. The Queen felt that she had really
come to the end of her misfortunes at last, and they all lived happily ever
after.<a href="#fn10" id="fnref10"><sup>[10]</sup></a>
</p>

<p class="footnote">
<a id="fn10"></a> <a href="#fnref10">[10]</a>
<i>La bonne petite Souris</i>, par Madame d&rsquo;Aulnoy.
</p>

</div><!--end chapter-->

<div class="chapter">

<h2><a id="chap14"></a>GRACIOSA AND PERCINET</h2>

<p>
Once upon a time there lived a King and Queen who had one charming daughter.
She was so graceful and pretty and clever that she was called Graciosa, and the
Queen was so fond of her that she could think of nothing else.
</p>

<p>
Every day she gave the Princess a lovely new frock of gold brocade, or satin,
or velvet, and when she was hungry she had bowls full of sugar-plums, and at
least twenty pots of jam. Everybody said she was the happiest Princess in the
world. Now there lived at this same court a very rich old duchess whose name
was Grumbly. She was more frightful than tongue can tell; her hair was red as
fire, and she had but one eye, and that not a pretty one! Her face was as broad
as a full moon, and her mouth was so large that everybody who met her would
have been afraid they were going to be eaten up, only she had no teeth. As she
was as cross as she was ugly, she could not bear to hear everyone saying how
pretty and how charming Graciosa was; so she presently went away from the court
to her own castle, which was not far off. But if anybody who went to see her
happened to mention the charming Princess, she would cry angrily:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;It&rsquo;s not true that she is lovely. I have more beauty in my little
finger than she has in her whole body.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Soon after this, to the great grief of the Princess, the Queen was taken ill
and died, and the King became so melancholy that for a whole year he shut
himself up in his palace. At last his physicians, fearing that he would fall
ill, ordered that he should go out and amuse himself; so a hunting party was
arranged, but as it was very hot weather the King soon got tired, and said he
would dismount and rest at a castle which they were passing.
</p>

<p>
This happened to be the Duchess Grumbly&rsquo;s castle, and when she heard that
the King was coming she went out to meet him, and said that the cellar was the
coolest place in the whole castle if he would condescend to come down into it.
So down they went together, and the King seeing about two hundred great casks
ranged side by side, asked if it was only for herself that she had this immense
store of wine.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Yes, sire,&rsquo; answered she, &lsquo;it is for myself alone, but I
shall be most happy to let you taste some of it. Which do you like, canary, St.
Julien, champagne, hermitage sack, raisin, or cider?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Well,&rsquo; said the King, &lsquo;since you are so kind as to ask me, I
prefer champagne to anything else.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Then Duchess Grumbly took up a little hammer and tapped upon the cask twice,
and out came at least a thousand crowns.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;What&rsquo;s the meaning of this?&rsquo; said she smiling.
</p>

<p>
Then she tapped the next cask, and out came a bushel of gold pieces.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I don&rsquo;t understand this at all,&rsquo; said the Duchess, smiling
more than before.
</p>

<p>
Then she went on to the third cask, tap, tap, and out came such a stream of
diamonds and pearls that the ground was covered with them.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Ah!&rsquo; she cried, &lsquo;this is altogether beyond my comprehension,
sire. Someone must have stolen my good wine and put all this rubbish in its
place.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Rubbish, do you call it, Madam Grumbly?&rsquo; cried the King.
&lsquo;Rubbish! why there is enough there to buy ten kingdoms.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Well,&rsquo; said she, &lsquo;you must know that all those casks are
full of gold and jewels, and if you like to marry me it shall all be
yours.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Now the King loved money more than anything else in the world, so he cried
joyfully:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Marry you? why with all my heart! to-morrow if you like.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;But I make one condition,&rsquo; said the Duchess; &lsquo;I must have
entire control of your daughter to do as I please with her.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Oh certainly, you shall have your own way; let us shake hands upon the
bargain,&rsquo; said the King.
</p>

<p>
So they shook hands and went up out of the cellar of treasure together, and the
Duchess locked the door and gave the key to the King.
</p>

<p>
When he got back to his own palace Graciosa ran out to meet him, and asked if
he had had good sport.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I have caught a dove,&rsquo; answered he.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Oh! do give it to me,&rsquo; said the Princess, &lsquo;and I will keep
it and take care of it.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I can hardly do that,&rsquo; said he, &lsquo;for, to speak more plainly,
I mean that I met the Duchess Grumbly, and have promised to marry her.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;And you call her a dove?&rsquo; cried the Princess. &lsquo;<i>I</i>
should have called her a screech owl.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Hold your tongue,&rsquo; said the King, very crossly. &lsquo;I intend
you to behave prettily to her. So now go and make yourself fit to be seen, as I
am going to take you to visit her.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
So the Princess went very sorrowfully to her own room, and her nurse, seeing
her tears, asked what was vexing her.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Alas! who would not be vexed?&rsquo; answered she, &lsquo;for the King
intends to marry again, and has chosen for his new bride my enemy, the hideous
Duchess Grumbly.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Oh, well!&rsquo; answered the nurse, &lsquo;you must remember that you
are a Princess, and are expected to set a good example in making the best of
whatever happens. You must promise me not to let the Duchess see how much you
dislike her.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
At first the Princess would not promise, but the nurse showed her so many good
reasons for it that in the end she agreed to be amiable to her step-mother.
</p>

<p>
Then the nurse dressed her in a robe of pale green and gold brocade, and combed
out her long fair hair till it floated round her like a golden mantle, and put
on her head a crown of roses and jasmine with emerald leaves.
</p>

<p>
When she was ready nobody could have been prettier, but she still could not
help looking sad.
</p>

<p>
Meanwhile the Duchess Grumbly was also occupied in attiring herself. She had
one of her shoe heels made an inch or so higher than the other, that she might
not limp so much, and put in a cunningly made glass eye in the place of the one
she had lost. She dyed her red hair black, and painted her face. Then she put
on a gorgeous robe of lilac satin lined with blue, and a yellow petticoat
trimmed with violet ribbons, and because she had heard that queens always rode
into their new dominions, she ordered a horse to be made ready for her to ride.
</p>

<p>
While Graciosa was waiting until the King should be ready to set out, she went
down all alone through the garden into a little wood, where she sat down upon a
mossy bank and began to think. And her thoughts were so doleful that very soon
she began to cry, and she cried, and cried, and forgot all about going back to
the palace, until she suddenly saw a handsome page standing before her. He was
dressed in green, and the cap which he held in his hand was adorned with white
plumes. When Graciosa looked at him he went down on one knee, and said to her:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Princess, the King awaits you.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
The Princess was surprised, and, if the truth must be told, very much delighted
at the appearance of this charming page, whom she could not remember to have
seen before. Thinking he might belong to the household of the Duchess, she
said:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;How long have you been one of the King&rsquo;s pages?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I am not in the service of the King, madam,&rsquo; answered he,
&lsquo;but in yours.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;In mine?&rsquo; said the Princess with great surprise. &lsquo;Then how
is it that I have never seen you before?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Ah, Princess!&rsquo; said he, &lsquo;I have never before dared to
present myself to you, but now the King&rsquo;s marriage threatens you with so
many dangers that I have resolved to tell you at once how much I love you
already, and I trust that in time I may win your regard. I am Prince Percinet,
of whose riches you may have heard, and whose fairy gift will, I hope, be of
use to you in all your difficulties, if you will permit me to accompany you
under this disguise.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Ah, Percinet!&rsquo; cried the Princess, &lsquo;is it really you? I have
so often heard of you and wished to see you. If you will indeed be my friend, I
shall not be afraid of that wicked old Duchess any more.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
So they went back to the palace together, and there Graciosa found a beautiful
horse which Percinet had brought for her to ride. As it was very spirited he
led it by the bridle, and this arrangement enabled him to turn and look at the
Princess often, which he did not fail to do. Indeed, she was so pretty that it
was a real pleasure to look at her. When the horse which the Duchess was to
ride appeared beside Graciosa&rsquo;s, it looked no better than an old cart
horse, and as to their trappings, there was simply no comparison between them,
as the Princess&rsquo;s saddle and bridle were one glittering mass of diamonds.
The King had so many other things to think of that he did not notice this, but
all his courtiers were entirely taken up with admiring the Princess and her
charming Page in green, who was more handsome and distinguished-looking than
all the rest of the court put together.
</p>

<p>
When they met the Duchess Grumbly she was seated in an open carriage trying in
vain to look dignified. The King and the Princess saluted her, and her horse
was brought forward for her to mount. But when she saw Graciosa&rsquo;s she
cried angrily:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;If that child is to have a better horse than mine, I will go back to my
own castle this very minute. What is the good of being a Queen if one is to be
slighted like this?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Upon this the King commanded Graciosa to dismount and to beg the Duchess to
honour her by mounting her horse. The Princess obeyed in silence, and the
Duchess, without looking at her or thanking her, scrambled up upon the
beautiful horse, where she sat looking like a bundle of clothes, and eight
officers had to hold her up for fear she should fall off.
</p>

<p>
Even then she was not satisfied, and was still grumbling and muttering, so they
asked her what was the matter.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I wish that Page in green to come and lead the horse, as he did when
Graciosa rode it,&rsquo; said she very sharply.
</p>

<p>
And the King ordered the Page to come and lead the Queen&rsquo;s horse.
Percinet and the Princess looked at one another, but said never a word, and
then he did as the King commanded, and the procession started in great pomp.
The Duchess was greatly elated, and as she sat there in state would not have
wished to change places even with Graciosa. But at the moment when it was least
expected the beautiful horse began to plunge and rear and kick, and finally to
run away at such a pace that it was impossible to stop him.
</p>

<p>
At first the Duchess clung to the saddle, but she was very soon thrown off and
fell in a heap among the stones and thorns, and there they found her, shaken to
a jelly, and collected what was left of her as if she had been a broken glass.
Her bonnet was here and her shoes there, her face was scratched, and her fine
clothes were covered with mud. Never was a bride seen in such a dismal plight.
They carried her back to the palace and put her to bed, but as soon as she
recovered enough to be able to speak, she began to scold and rage, and declared
that the whole affair was Graciosa&rsquo;s fault, that she had contrived it on
purpose to try and get rid of her, and that if the King would not have her
punished, she would go back to her castle and enjoy her riches by herself.
</p>

<p>
At this the King was terribly frightened, for he did not at all want to lose
all those barrels of gold and jewels. So he hastened to appease the Duchess,
and told her she might punish Graciosa in any way she pleased.
</p>

<p>
Thereupon she sent for Graciosa, who turned pale and trembled at the summons,
for she guessed that it promised nothing agreeable for her. She looked all
about for Percinet, but he was nowhere to be seen; so she had no choice but to
go to the Duchess Grumbly&rsquo;s room. She had hardly got inside the door when
she was seized by four waiting women, who looked so tall and strong and cruel
that the Princess shuddered at the sight of them, and still more when she saw
them arming themselves with great bundles of rods, and heard the Duchess call
out to them from her bed to beat the Princess without mercy. Poor Graciosa
wished miserably that Percinet could only know what was happening and come to
rescue her. But no sooner did they begin to beat her than she found, to her
great relief, that the rods had changed to bundles of peacock&rsquo;s feathers,
and though the Duchess&rsquo;s women went on till they were so tired that they
could no longer raise their arms from their sides, yet she was not hurt in the
least. However, the Duchess thought she must be black and blue after such a
beating; so Graciosa, when she was released, pretended to feel very bad, and
went away into her own room, where she told her nurse all that had happened,
and then the nurse left her, and when the Princess turned round there stood
Percinet beside her. She thanked him gratefully for helping her so cleverly,
and they laughed and were very merry over the way they had taken in the Duchess
and her waiting-maids; but Percinet advised her still to pretend to be ill for
a few days, and after promising to come to her aid whenever she needed him, he
disappeared as suddenly as he had come.
</p>

<p>
The Duchess was so delighted at the idea that Graciosa was really ill, that she
herself recovered twice as fast as she would have done otherwise, and the
wedding was held with great magnificence. Now as the King knew that, above all
other things, the Queen loved to be told that she was beautiful, he ordered
that her portrait should be painted, and that a tournament should be held, at
which all the bravest knights of his court should maintain against all comers
that Grumbly was the most beautiful princess in the world.
</p>

<p>
Numbers of knights came from far and wide to accept the challenge, and the
hideous Queen sat in great state in a balcony hung with cloth of gold to watch
the contests, and Graciosa had to stand up behind her, where her loveliness was
so conspicuous that the combatants could not keep their eyes off her. But the
Queen was so vain that she thought all their admiring glances were for herself,
especially as, in spite of the badness of their cause, the King&rsquo;s knights
were so brave that they were the victors in every combat.
</p>

<p>
However, when nearly all the strangers had been defeated, a young unknown
knight presented himself. He carried a portrait, enclosed in a bow encrusted
with diamonds, and he declared himself willing to maintain against them all
that the Queen was the ugliest creature in the world, and that the Princess
whose portrait he carried was the most beautiful.
</p>

<p>
So one by one the knights came out against him, and one by one he vanquished
them all, and then he opened the box, and said that, to console them, he would
show them the portrait of his Queen of Beauty, and when he did so everyone
recognised the Princess Graciosa. The unknown knight then saluted her
gracefully and retired, without telling his name to anybody. But Graciosa had
no difficulty in guessing that it was Percinet.
</p>

<p>
As to the Queen, she was so furiously angry that she could hardly speak; but
she soon recovered her voice, and overwhelmed Graciosa with a torrent of
reproaches.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;What!&rsquo; she said, &lsquo;do you dare to dispute with me for the
prize of beauty, and expect me to endure this insult to my knights? But I will
not bear it, proud Princess. I will have my revenge.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I assure you, Madam,&rsquo; said the Princess, &lsquo;that I had nothing
to do with it and am quite willing that you shall be declared Queen of Beauty
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Ah! you are pleased to jest, popinjay!&rsquo; said the Queen, &lsquo;but
it will be my turn soon!&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
The King was speedily told what had happened, and how the Princess was in
terror of the angry Queen, but he only said: &lsquo;The Queen must do as she
pleases. Graciosa belongs to her!&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
The wicked Queen waited impatiently until night fell, and then she ordered her
carriage to be brought. Graciosa, much against her will, was forced into it,
and away they drove, and never stopped until they reached a great forest, a
hundred leagues from the palace. This forest was so gloomy, and so full of
lions, tigers, bears and wolves, that nobody dared pass through it even by
daylight, and here they set down the unhappy Princess in the middle of the
black night, and left her in spite of all her tears and entreaties. The
Princess stood quite still at first from sheer bewilderment, but when the last
sound of the retreating carriages died away in the distance she began to run
aimlessly hither and thither, sometimes knocking herself against a tree,
sometimes tripping over a stone, fearing every minute that she would be eaten
up by the lions. Presently she was too tired to advance another step, so she
threw herself down upon the ground and cried miserably:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Oh, Percinet! where are you? Have you forgotten me altogether?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
She had hardly spoken when all the forest was lighted up with a sudden glow.
Every tree seemed to be sending out a soft radiance, which was clearer than
moonlight and softer than daylight, and at the end of a long avenue of trees
opposite to her the Princess saw a palace of clear crystal which blazed like
the sun. At that moment a slight sound behind her made her start round, and
there stood Percinet himself.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Did I frighten you, my Princess?&rsquo; said he. &lsquo;I come to bid
you welcome to our fairy palace, in the name of the Queen, my mother, who is
prepared to love you as much as I do.&rsquo; The Princess joyfully mounted with
him into a little sledge, drawn by two stags, which bounded off and drew them
swiftly to the wonderful palace, where the Queen received her with the greatest
kindness, and a splendid banquet was served at once. Graciosa was so happy to
have found Percinet, and to have escaped from the gloomy forest and all its
terrors, that she was very hungry and very merry, and they were a gay party.
After supper they went into another lovely room, where the crystal walls were
covered with pictures, and the Princess saw with great surprise that her own
history was represented, even down to the moment when Percinet found her in the
forest.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Your painters must indeed be diligent,&rsquo; she said, pointing out the
last picture to the Prince.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;They are obliged to be, for I will not have anything forgotten that
happens to you,&rsquo; he answered.
</p>

<p>
When the Princess grew sleepy, twenty-four charming maidens put her to bed in
the prettiest room she had ever seen, and then sang to her so sweetly that
Graciosa&rsquo;s dreams were all of mermaids, and cool sea waves, and caverns,
in which she wandered with Percinet; but when she woke up again her first
thought was that, delightful as this fairy palace seemed to her, yet she could
not stay in it, but must go back to her father. When she had been dressed by
the four-and-twenty maidens in a charming robe which the Queen had sent for
her, and in which she looked prettier than ever, Prince Percinet came to see
her, and was bitterly disappointed when she told him what she had been
thinking. He begged her to consider again how unhappy the wicked Queen would
make her, and how, if she would but marry him, all the fairy palace would be
hers, and his one thought would be to please her. But, in spite of everything
he could say, the Princess was quite determined to go back, though he at last
persuaded her to stay eight days, which were so full of pleasure and amusement
that they passed like a few hours. On the last day, Graciosa, who had often
felt anxious to know what was going on in her father&rsquo;s palace, said to
Percinet that she was sure that he could find out for her, if he would, what
reason the Queen had given her father for her sudden disappearance. Percinet at
first offered to send his courier to find out, but the Princess said:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Oh! isn&rsquo;t there a quicker way of knowing than that?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Very well,&rsquo; said Percinet, &lsquo;you shall see for
yourself.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
So up they went together to the top of a very high tower, which, like the rest
of the castle, was built entirely of rock-crystal.
</p>

<p>
There the Prince held Graciosa&rsquo;s hand in his, and made her put the tip of
her little finger into her mouth, and look towards the town, and immediately
she saw the wicked Queen go to the King, and heard her say to him, &lsquo;That
miserable Princess is dead, and no great loss either. I have ordered that she
shall be buried at once.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
And then the Princess saw how she dressed up a log of wood and had it buried,
and how the old King cried, and all the people murmured that the Queen had
killed Graciosa with her cruelties, and that she ought to have her head cut
off. When the Princess saw that the King was so sorry for her pretended death
that he could neither eat nor drink, she cried:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Ah, Percinet! take me back quickly if you love me.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
And so, though he did not want to at all, he was obliged to promise that he
would let her go.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;You may not regret me, Princess,&rsquo; he said sadly, &lsquo;for I fear
that you do not love me well enough; but I foresee that you will more than once
regret that you left this fairy palace where we have been so happy.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
But, in spite of all he could say, she bade farewell to the Queen, his mother,
and prepared to set out; so Percinet, very unwillingly, brought the little
sledge with the stags and she mounted beside him. But they had hardly gone
twenty yards when a tremendous noise behind her made Graciosa look back, and
she saw the palace of crystal fly into a million splinters, like the spray of a
fountain, and vanish.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Oh, Percinet!&rsquo; she cried, &lsquo;what has happened? The palace is
gone.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Yes,&rsquo; he answered, &lsquo;my palace is a thing of the past; you
will see it again, but not until after you have been buried.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Now you are angry with me,&rsquo; said Graciosa in her most coaxing
voice, &lsquo;though after all I am more to be pitied than you are.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
When they got near the palace the Prince made the sledge and themselves
invisible, so the Princess got in unobserved, and ran up to the great hall
where the King was sitting all by himself. At first he was very much startled
by Graciosa&rsquo;s sudden appearance, but she told him how the Queen had left
her out in the forest, and how she had caused a log of wood to be buried. The
King, who did not know what to think, sent quickly and had it dug up, and sure
enough it was as the Princess had said. Then he caressed Graciosa, and made her
sit down to supper with him, and they were as happy as possible. But someone
had by this time told the wicked Queen that Graciosa had come back, and was at
supper with the King, and in she flew in a terrible fury. The poor old King
quite trembled before her, and when she declared that Graciosa was not the
Princess at all, but a wicked impostor, and that if the King did not give her
up at once she would go back to her own castle and never see him again, he had
not a word to say, and really seemed to believe that it was not Graciosa after
all. So the Queen in great triumph sent for her waiting women, who dragged the
unhappy Princess away and shut her up in a garret; they took away all her
jewels and her pretty dress, and gave her a rough cotton frock, wooden shoes,
and a little cloth cap. There was some straw in a corner, which was all she had
for a bed, and they gave her a very little bit of black bread to eat. In this
miserable plight Graciosa did indeed regret the fairy palace, and she would
have called Percinet to her aid, only she felt sure he was still vexed with her
for leaving him, and thought that she could not expect him to come.
</p>

<p>
Meanwhile the Queen had sent for an old Fairy, as malicious as herself, and
said to her:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;You must find me some task for this fine Princess which she cannot
possibly do, for I mean to punish her, and if she does not do what I order, she
will not be able to say that I am unjust.&rsquo; So the old Fairy said she
would think it over, and come again the next day. When she returned she brought
with her a skein of thread, three times as big as herself; it was so fine that
a breath of air would break it, and so tangled that it was impossible to see
the beginning or the end of it.
</p>

<p>
The Queen sent for Graciosa, and said to her:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Do you see this skein? Set your clumsy fingers to work upon it, for I
must have it disentangled by sunset, and if you break a single thread it will
be the worse for you.&rsquo; So saying she left her, locking the door behind
her with three keys.
</p>

<p>
The Princess stood dismayed at the sight of the terrible skein. If she did but
turn it over to see where to begin, she broke a thousand threads, and not one
could she disentangle. At last she threw it into the middle of the floor,
crying:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Oh, Percinet! this fatal skein will be the death of me if you will not
forgive me and help me once more.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
And immediately in came Percinet as easily as if he had all the keys in his own
possession.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Here I am, Princess, as much as ever at your service,&rsquo; said he,
&lsquo;though really you are not very kind to me.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Then he just stroked the skein with his wand, and all the broken threads joined
themselves together, and the whole skein wound itself smoothly off in the most
surprising manner, and the Prince, turning to Graciosa, asked if there was
nothing else that she wished him to do for her, and if the time would never
come when she would wish for him for his own sake.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Don&rsquo;t be vexed with me, Percinet,&rsquo; she said. &lsquo;I am
unhappy enough without that.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;But why should you be unhappy, my Princess?&rsquo; cried he. &lsquo;Only
come with me and we shall be as happy as the day is long together.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;But suppose you get tired of me?&rsquo; said Graciosa.
</p>

<p>
The Prince was so grieved at this want of confidence that he left her without
another word.
</p>

<p>
The wicked Queen was in such a hurry to punish Graciosa that she thought the
sun would never set; and indeed it was before the appointed time that she came
with her four Fairies, and as she fitted the three keys into the locks she
said:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I&rsquo;ll venture to say that the idle minx has not done anything at
all&mdash;she prefers to sit with her hands before her to keep them
white.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
But, as soon as she entered, Graciosa presented her with the ball of thread in
perfect order, so that she had no fault to find, and could only pretend to
discover that it was soiled, for which imaginary fault she gave Graciosa a blow
on each cheek, that made her white and pink skin turn green and yellow. And
then she sent her back to be locked into the garret once more.
</p>

<p>
Then the Queen sent for the Fairy again and scolded her furiously.
&lsquo;Don&rsquo;t make such a mistake again; find me something that it will be
quite impossible for her to do,&rsquo; she said.
</p>

<p>
So the next day the Fairy appeared with a huge barrel full of the feathers of
all sorts of birds. There were nightingales, canaries, goldfinches, linnets,
tomtits, parrots, owls, sparrows, doves, ostriches, bustards, peacocks, larks,
partridges, and everything else that you can think of. These feathers were all
mixed up in such confusion that the birds themselves could not have chosen out
their own. &lsquo;Here,&rsquo; said the Fairy, &lsquo;is a little task which it
will take all your prisoner&rsquo;s skill and patience to accomplish. Tell her
to pick out and lay in a separate heap the feathers of each bird. She would
need to be a fairy to do it.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
The Queen was more than delighted at the thought of the despair this task would
cause the Princess. She sent for her, and with the same threats as before
locked her up with the three keys, ordering that all the feathers should be
sorted by sunset. Graciosa set to work at once, but before she had taken out a
dozen feathers she found that it was perfectly impossible to know one from
another.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Ah! well,&rsquo; she sighed, &lsquo;the Queen wishes to kill me, and if
I must die I must. I cannot ask Percinet to help me again, for if he really
loved me he would not wait till I called him, he would come without
that.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I am here, my Graciosa,&rsquo; cried Percinet, springing out of the
barrel where he had been hiding. &lsquo;How can you still doubt that I love you
with all my heart?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Then he gave three strokes of his wand upon the barrel, and all the feathers
flew out in a cloud and settled down in neat little separate heaps all round
the room.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;What should I do without you, Percinet?&rsquo; said Graciosa gratefully.
But still she could not quite make up her mind to go with him and leave her
father&rsquo;s kingdom for ever; so she begged him to give her more time to
think of it, and he had to go away disappointed once more.
</p>

<p>
When the wicked Queen came at sunset she was amazed and infuriated to find the
task done. However, she complained that the heaps of feathers were badly
arranged, and for that the Princess was beaten and sent back to her garret.
Then the Queen sent for the Fairy once more, and scolded her until she was
fairly terrified, and promised to go home and think of another task for
Graciosa, worse than either of the others.
</p>

<p>
At the end of three days she came again, bringing with her a box.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Tell your slave,&rsquo; said he, &lsquo;to carry this wherever you
please, but on no account to open it. She will not be able to help doing so,
and then you will be quite satisfied with the result.&rsquo; So the Queen came
to Graciosa, and said:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Carry this box to my castle, and place it upon the table in my own room.
But I forbid you on pain of death to look at what it contains.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Graciosa set out, wearing her little cap and wooden shoes and the old cotton
frock, but even in this disguise she was so beautiful that all the passers-by
wondered who she could be. She had not gone far before the heat of the sun and
the weight of the box tired her so much that she sat down to rest in the shade
of a little wood which lay on one side of a green meadow. She was carefully
holding the box upon her lap when she suddenly felt the greatest desire to open
it.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;What could possibly happen if I did?&rsquo; she said to herself.
&lsquo;I should not take anything out. I should only just see what was
there.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
And without farther hesitation she lifted the cover.
</p>

<p>
Instantly out came swarms of little men and women, no taller than her finger,
and scattered themselves all over the meadow, singing and dancing, and playing
the merriest games, so that at first Graciosa was delighted and watched them
with much amusement. But presently, when she was rested and wished to go on her
way, she found that, do what she would, she could not get them back into their
box. If she chased them in the meadow they fled into the wood, and if she
pursued them into the wood they dodged round trees and behind sprigs of moss,
and with peals of elfin laughter scampered back again into the meadow.
</p>

<p>
At last, weary and terrified, she sat down and cried.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;It is my own fault,&rsquo; she said sadly. &lsquo;Percinet, if you can
still care for such an imprudent Princess, do come and help me once
more.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Immediately Percinet stood before her.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Ah, Princess!&rsquo; he said, &lsquo;but for the wicked Queen I fear you
would never think of me at all.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Indeed I should,&rsquo; said Graciosa; &lsquo;I am not so ungrateful as
you think. Only wait a little and I believe I shall love you quite
dearly.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Percinet was pleased at this, and with one stroke of his wand compelled all the
wilful little people to come back to their places in the box, and then
rendering the Princess invisible he took her with him in his chariot to the
castle.
</p>

<p>
When the Princess presented herself at the door, and said that the Queen had
ordered her to place the box in her own room, the governor laughed heartily at
the idea.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;No, no, my little shepherdess,&rsquo; said he, &lsquo;that is not the
place for you. No wooden shoes have ever been over that floor yet.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Then Graciosa begged him to give her a written message telling the Queen that
he had refused to admit her. This he did, and she went back to Percinet, who
was waiting for her, and they set out together for the palace. You may imagine
that they did not go the shortest way, but the Princess did not find it too
long, and before they parted she had promised that if the Queen was still cruel
to her, and tried again to play her any spiteful trick, she would leave her and
come to Percinet for ever.
</p>

<p>
When the Queen saw her returning she fell upon the Fairy, whom she had kept
with her, and pulled her hair, and scratched her face, and would really have
killed her if a Fairy could be killed. And when the Princess presented the
letter and the box she threw them both upon the fire without opening them, and
looked very much as if she would like to throw the Princess after them.
However, what she really did do was to have a great hole as deep as a well dug
in her garden, and the top of it covered with a flat stone. Then she went and
walked near it, and said to Graciosa and all her ladies who were with her:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I am told that a great treasure lies under that stone; let us see if we
can lift it.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
So they all began to push and pull at it, and Graciosa among the others, which
was just what the Queen wanted; for as soon as the stone was lifted high
enough, she gave the Princess a push which sent her down to the bottom of the
well, and then the stone was let fall again, and there she was a prisoner.
Graciosa felt that now indeed she was hopelessly lost, surely not even Percinet
could find her in the heart of the earth.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;This is like being buried alive,&rsquo; she said with a shudder.
&lsquo;Oh, Percinet! if you only knew how I am suffering for my want of trust
in you! But how could I be sure that you would not be like other men and tire
of me from the moment you were sure I loved you?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
As she spoke she suddenly saw a little door open, and the sunshine blazed into
the dismal well. Graciosa did not hesitate an instant, but passed through into
a charming garden. Flowers and fruit grew on every side, fountains plashed, and
birds sang in the branches overhead, and when she reached a great avenue of
trees and looked up to see where it would lead her, she found herself close to
the palace of crystal. Yes! there was no mistaking it, and the Queen and
Percinet were coming to meet her.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Ah, Princess!&rsquo; said the Queen, &lsquo;don&rsquo;t keep this poor
Percinet in suspense any longer. You little guess the anxiety he has suffered
while you were in the power of that miserable Queen.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
The Princess kissed her gratefully, and promised to do as she wished in
everything, and holding out her hand to Percinet, with a smile, she said:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Do you remember telling me that I should not see your palace again until
I had been buried? I wonder if you guessed then that, when that happened, I
should tell you that I love you with all my heart, and will marry you whenever
you like?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Prince Percinet joyfully took the hand that was given him, and, for fear the
Princess should change her mind, the wedding was held at once with the greatest
splendour, and Graciosa and Percinet lived happily ever after.<a href="#fn11" id="fnref11"><sup>[11]</sup></a>
</p>

<p class="footnote">
<a id="fn11"></a> <a href="#fnref11">[11]</a>
<i>Gracieuse et Percinet</i>. Mdme. d&rsquo;Aulnoy.
</p>

</div><!--end chapter-->

<div class="chapter">

<h2><a id="chap15"></a>THE THREE PRINCESSES OF WHITELAND</h2>

<p>
There was once upon a time a fisherman, who lived hard by a palace and fished
for the King&rsquo;s table. One day he was out fishing, but caught nothing at
all. Let him do what he might with rod and line, there was never even so much
as a sprat on his hook; but when the day was well nigh over, a head rose up out
of the water, and said: &lsquo;If you will give me what your wife shows you
when you go home, you shall catch fish enough.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
So the man said &lsquo;Yes&rsquo; in a moment, and then he caught fish in
plenty; but when he got home at night, and his wife showed him a baby which had
just been born, and fell a-weeping and wailing when he told her of the promise
which he had given, he was very unhappy.
</p>

<p>
All this was soon told to the King up at the palace, and when he heard what
sorrow the woman was in, and the reason of it, he said that he himself would
take the child and see if he could not save it. The baby was a boy, and the
King took him at once and brought him up as his own son until the lad grew up.
Then one day he begged to have leave to go out with his father to fish; he had
a strong desire to do this, he said. The King was very unwilling to permit it,
but at last the lad got leave. He stayed with his father, and all went
prosperously and well with them the whole day, until they came back to land in
the evening. Then the lad found that he had lost his pocket-handkerchief, and
would go out in the boat after it; but no sooner had he got into the boat than
it began to move off with him so quickly that the water foamed all round about,
and all that the lad did to keep the boat back with the oars was done to no
purpose, for it went on and on the whole night through, and at last he came to
a white strand that lay far, far away. There he landed, and when he had walked
on for some distance he met an old man with a long white beard.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;What is the name of this country?&rsquo; said the youth.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Whiteland,&rsquo; answered the man, and then he begged the youth to tell
him whence he came and what he was going to do, and the youth did so.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Well, then,&rsquo; said the man, &lsquo;if you walk on farther along the
seashore here, you will come to three princesses who are standing in the earth
so that their heads alone are out of it. Then the first of them will call
you&mdash;she is the eldest&mdash;and will beg you very prettily to come to her
and help her, and the second will do the same, but you must not go near either
of them. Hurry past, as if you neither saw nor heard them; but you shall go to
the third and do what she bids you; it will bring you good fortune.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
When the youth came to the first princess, she called to him and begged him to
come to her very prettily, but he walked on as if he did not even see her, and
he passed by the second in the same way, but he went up to the third.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;If thou wilt do what I tell thee, thou shalt choose among us
three,&rsquo; said the Princess.
</p>

<p>
So the lad said that he was most willing, and she told him that three Trolls
had planted them all three there in the earth, but that formerly they had dwelt
in the castle which he could see at some distance in the wood.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Now,&rsquo; she said, &lsquo;thou shalt go into the castle, and let the
Trolls beat thee one night for each of us, and if thou canst but endure that,
thou wilt set us free.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Yes,&rsquo; answered the lad, &lsquo;I will certainly try to do
so.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;When thou goest in,&rsquo; continued the Princess, &lsquo;two lions will
stand by the doorway, but if thou only goest straight between them they will do
thee no harm; go straight forward into a small dark chamber; there thou shalt
lie down. Then the Troll will come and beat thee, but thou shalt take the flask
which is hanging on the wall, and anoint thyself wheresoever he has wounded
thee, after which thou shalt be as well as before. Then lay hold of the sword
which is hanging by the side of the flask, and smite the Troll dead.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
So he did what the Princess had told him. He walked straight in between the
lions just as if he did not see them, and then into the small chamber, and lay
down on the bed.
</p>

<p>
The first night a Troll came with three heads and three rods, and beat the lad
most unmercifully; but he held out until the Troll was done with him, and then
he took the flask and rubbed himself. Having done this, he grasped the sword
and smote the Troll dead.
</p>

<p>
In the morning when he went to the sea-shore the Princesses were out of the
earth as far as their waists.
</p>

<p>
The next night everything happened in the same way, but the Troll who came then
had six heads and six rods, and he beat him much more severely than the first
had done but when the lad went out of doors next morning, the Princesses were
out of the earth as far as their knees.
</p>

<p>
On the third night a Troll came who had nine heads and nine rods, and he struck
the lad and flogged him so long, that at last he swooned away; so the Troll
took him up and flung him against the wall, and this made the flask of ointment
fall down, and it splashed all over him, and he became as strong as ever again.
</p>

<p>
Then, without loss of time, he grasped the sword and struck the Troll dead, and
in the morning when he went out of the castle the Princesses were standing
there entirely out of the earth. So he took the youngest for his Queen, and
lived with her very happily for a long time.
</p>

<p>
At last, however, he took a fancy to go home for a short time to see his
parents. His Queen did not like this, but when his longing grew so great that
he told her he must and would go, she said to him:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;One thing shalt thou promise me, and that is, to do what thy father bids
thee, but not what thy mother bids thee,&rsquo; and this he promised.
</p>

<p>
So she gave him a ring, which enabled him who wore it to obtain two wishes.
</p>

<p>
He wished himself at home, and instantly found himself there; but his parents
were so amazed at the splendour of his apparel that their wonder never ceased.
</p>

<p>
When he had been at home for some days his mother wanted him to go up to the
palace, to show the King what a great man he had become.
</p>

<p>
The father said, &lsquo;No; he must not do that, for if he does we shall have
no more delight in him this time;&rsquo; but he spoke in vain, for the mother
begged and prayed until at last he went.
</p>

<p>
When he arrived there he was more splendid, both in raiment and in all else,
than the other King, who did not like it, and said:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Well, you can see what kind of Queen mine is, but I can&rsquo;t see
yours. I do not believe you have such a pretty Queen as I have.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Would to heaven she were standing here, and then you would be able to
see!&rsquo; said the young King, and in an instant she was standing there.
</p>

<p>
But she was very sorrowful, and said to him, &lsquo;Why didst thou not remember
my words, and listen only to what thy father said? Now must I go home again at
once, and thou hast wasted both thy wishes.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Then she tied a ring in his hair, which had her name upon it, and wished
herself at home again.
</p>

<p>
And now the young King was deeply afflicted, and day out and day in went about
thinking of naught else but how to get back again to his Queen. &lsquo;I will
try to see if there is any place where I can learn how to find
Whiteland,&rsquo; he thought, and journeyed forth out into the world.
</p>

<p>
When he had gone some distance he came to a mountain, where he met a man who
was Lord over all the beasts in the forest&mdash;for they all came to him when
he blew a horn which he had. So the King asked where Whiteland was.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I do not know that,&rsquo; he answered, &lsquo;but I will ask my
beasts.&rsquo; Then he blew his horn and inquired whether any of them knew
where Whiteland lay, but there was not one who knew that.
</p>

<p>
So the man gave him a pair of snow shoes. &lsquo;When you have these on,&rsquo;
he said, &lsquo;you will come to my brother, who lives hundreds of miles from
here; he is Lord over all the birds in the air&mdash;ask him. When you have got
there, just turn the shoes so that the toes point this way, and then they will
come home again of their own accord.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
When the King arrived there he turned the shoes as the Lord of the beasts had
bidden him, and they went back.
</p>

<p>
And now he once more asked after Whiteland, and the man summoned all the birds
together, and inquired if any of them knew where Whiteland lay. No, none knew
this. Long after the others there came an old eagle. He had been absent ten
whole years, but he too knew no more than the rest.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Well, well,&rsquo; said the man, &lsquo;then you shall have the loan of
a pair of snow shoes of mine. If you wear them you will get to my brother, who
lives hundreds of miles from here. He is Lord of all the fish in the
sea&mdash;you can ask him. But do not forget to turn the shoes round.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
The King thanked him, put on the shoes, and when he had got to him who was Lord
of all the fish in the sea, he turned the snow shoes round, and back they went
just as the others had gone, and he asked once more where Whiteland was.
</p>

<p>
The man called the fish together with his horn, but none of them knew anything
about it. At last came an old, old pike, which he had great difficulty in
bringing home to him.
</p>

<p>
When he asked the pike, it said, &lsquo;Yes, Whiteland is well known to me, for
I have been cook there these ten years. To-morrow morning I have to go back
there, for now the Queen, whose King is staying away, is to marry some one
else.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;If that be the case I will give you a piece of advice,&rsquo; said the
man. &lsquo;Not far from here on a moor stand three brothers, who have stood
there a hundred years fighting for a hat, a cloak, and a pair of boots; if any
one has these three things he can make himself invisible, and if he desires to
go to any place, he has but to wish and he is there. You may tell them that you
have a desire to try these things, and then you will be able to decide which of
the men is to have them.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
So the King thanked him and went, and did what he had said.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;What is this that you are standing fighting about for ever and
ever?&rsquo; said he to the brothers; &lsquo;let me make a trial of these
things, and then I will judge between you.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
They willingly consented to this, but when he had got the hat, the cloak, and
the boots, he said, &lsquo;Next time we meet you shall have my decision,&rsquo;
and hereupon he wished himself away.
</p>

<p>
While he was going quickly through the air he fell in with the North Wind.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;And where may you be going?&rsquo; said the North Wind.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;To Whiteland,&rsquo; said the King, and then he related what had
happened to him.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Well,&rsquo; said the North Wind, &lsquo;you can easily go a little
quicker than I can, for I have to puff and blow into every corner; but when you
get there, place yourself on the stairs by the side of the door, and then I
will come blustering in as if I wanted to blow down the whole castle, and when
the Prince who is to have your Queen comes out to see what is astir, just take
him by the throat and fling him out, and then I will try to carry him away from
court.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
As the North Wind had said, so did the King. He stood on the stairs, and when
the North Wind came howling and roaring, and caught the roof and walls of the
castle till they shook again, the Prince went out to see what was the matter;
but as soon as he came the King took him by the neck and flung him out, and
then the North Wind laid hold of him and carried him off. And when he was rid
of him the King went into the castle. At first the Queen did not know him,
because he had grown so thin and pale from having travelled so long and so
sorrowfully; but when she saw her ring she was heartily glad, and then the
rightful wedding was held, and held in such a way that it was talked about far
and wide.<a href="#fn12" id="fnref12"><sup>[12]</sup></a>
</p>

<p class="footnote">
<a id="fn12"></a> <a href="#fnref12">[12]</a>
From J. Moe.
</p>

</div><!--end chapter-->

<div class="chapter">

<h2><a id="chap16"></a>THE VOICE OF DEATH</h2>

<p>
Once upon a time there lived a man whose one wish and prayer was to get rich.
Day and night he thought of nothing else, and at last his prayers were granted,
and he became very wealthy. Now being so rich, and having so much to lose, he
felt that it would be a terrible thing to die and leave all his possessions
behind; so he made up his mind to set out in search of a land where there was
no death. He got ready for his journey, took leave of his wife, and started.
Whenever he came to a new country the first question that he asked was whether
people died in that land, and when he heard that they did, he set out again on
his quest. At last he reached a country where he was told that the people did
not even know the meaning of the word death. Our traveller was delighted when
he heard this, and said:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;But surely there are great numbers of people in your land, if no one
ever dies?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;No,&rsquo; they replied, &lsquo;there are not great numbers, for you see
from time to time a voice is heard calling first one and then another, and
whoever hears that voice gets up and goes away, and never comes back.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;And do they see the person who calls them,&rsquo; he asked, &lsquo;or do
they only hear his voice?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;They both see and hear him,&rsquo; was the answer.
</p>

<p>
Well, the man was amazed when he heard that the people were stupid enough to
follow the voice, though they knew that if they went when it called them they
would never return. And he went back to his own home and got all his
possessions together, and, taking his wife and family, he set out resolved to
go and live in that country where the people did not die, but where instead
they heard a voice calling them, which they followed into a land from which
they never returned. For he had made up his own mind that when he or any of his
family heard that voice they would pay no heed to it, however loudly it called.
</p>

<p>
After he had settled down in his new home, and had got everything in order
about him, he warned his wife and family that, unless they wanted to die, they
must on no account listen to a voice which they might some day hear calling
them.
</p>

<p>
For some years everything went well with them, and they lived happily in their
new home. But one day, while they were all sitting together round the table,
his wife suddenly started up, exclaiming in a loud voice:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I am coming! I am coming!&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
And she began to look round the room for her fur coat, but her husband jumped
up, and taking firm hold of her by the hand, held her fast, and reproached her,
saying:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Don&rsquo;t you remember what I told you? Stay where you are unless you
wish to die.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;But don&rsquo;t you hear that voice calling me?&rsquo; she answered.
&lsquo;I am merely going to see why I am wanted. I shall come back
directly.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
So she fought and struggled to get away from her husband, and to go where the
voice summoned. But he would not let her go, and had all the doors of the house
shut and bolted. When she saw that he had done this, she said:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Very well, dear husband, I shall do what you wish, and remain where I
am.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
So her husband believed that it was all right, and that she had thought better
of it, and had got over her mad impulse to obey the voice. But a few minutes
later she made a sudden dash for one of the doors, opened it and darted out,
followed by her husband. He caught her by the fur coat, and begged and implored
her not to go, for if she did she would certainly never return. She said
nothing, but let her arms fall backwards, and suddenly bending herself forward,
she slipped out of the coat, leaving it in her husband&rsquo;s hands. He, poor
man, seemed turned to stone as he gazed after her hurrying away from him, and
calling at the top of her voice, as she ran:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I am coming! I am coming!&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
When she was quite out of sight her husband recovered his wits and went back
into his house, murmuring:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;If she is so foolish as to wish to die, I can&rsquo;t help it. I warned
and implored her to pay no heed to that voice, however loudly it might
call.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Well, days and weeks and months and years passed, and nothing happened to
disturb the peace of the household. But one day the man was at the
barber&rsquo;s as usual, being shaved. The shop was full of people, and his
chin had just been covered with a lather of soap, when, suddenly starting up
from the chair, he called out in a loud voice:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I won&rsquo;t come, do you hear? I won&rsquo;t come!&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
The barber and the other people in the shop listened to him with amazement. But
again looking towards the door, he exclaimed:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I tell you, once and for all, I do not mean to come, so go away.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
And a few minutes later he called out again:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Go away, I tell you, or it will be the worse for you. You may call as
much as you like but you will never get me to come.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
And he got so angry that you might have thought that some one was actually
standing at the door, tormenting him. At last he jumped up, and caught the
razor out of the barber&rsquo;s hand, exclaiming:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Give me that razor, and I&rsquo;ll teach him to let people alone for the
future.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
And he rushed out of the house as if he were running after some one, whom no
one else saw. The barber, determined not to lose his razor, pursued the man,
and they both continued running at full speed till they had got well out of the
town, when all of a sudden the man fell head foremost down a precipice, and
never was seen again. So he too, like the others, had been forced against his
will to follow the voice that called him.
</p>

<p>
The barber, who went home whistling and congratulating himself on the escape he
had made, described what had happened, and it was noised abroad in the country
that the people who had gone away, and had never returned, had all fallen into
that pit; for till then they had never known what had happened to those who had
heard the voice and obeyed its call.
</p>

<p>
But when crowds of people went out from the town to examine the ill-fated pit
that had swallowed up such numbers, and yet never seemed to be full, they could
discover nothing. All that they could see was a vast plain, that looked as if
it had been there since the beginning of the world. And from that time the
people of the country began to die like ordinary mortals all the world
over.<a href="#fn13" id="fnref13"><sup>[13]</sup></a>
</p>

<p class="footnote">
<a id="fn13"></a> <a href="#fnref13">[13]</a>
Roumanian Tales from the German of Mite Thremnitz.
</p>

</div><!--end chapter-->

<div class="chapter">

<h2><a id="chap17"></a>THE SIX SILLIES</h2>

<p>
Once upon a time there was a young girl who reached the age of thirty-seven
without ever having had a lover, for she was so foolish that no one wanted to
marry her.
</p>

<p>
One day, however, a young man arrived to pay his addresses to her, and her
mother, beaming with joy, sent her daughter down to the cellar to draw a jug of
beer.
</p>

<p>
As the girl never came back the mother went down to see what had become of her,
and found her sitting on the stairs, her head in her hands, while by her side
the beer was running all over the floor, as she had forgotten to close the tap.
&lsquo;What are you doing there?&rsquo; asked the mother.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I was thinking what I shall call my first child after I am married to
that young man. All the names in the calendar are taken already.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
The mother sat down on the staircase beside her daughter and said, &lsquo;I
will think about it with you, my dear.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
The father who had stayed upstairs with the young man was surprised that
neither his wife nor his daughter came back, and in his turn went down to look
for them. He found them both sitting on the stairs, while beside them the beer
was running all over the ground from the tap, which was wide open.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;What are you doing there? The beer is running all over the
cellar.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;We were thinking what we should call the children that our daughter will
have when she marries that young man. All the names in the calendar are taken
already.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Well,&rsquo; said the father, &lsquo;I will think about it with
you.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
As neither mother nor daughter nor father came upstairs again, the lover grew
impatient, and went down into the cellar to see what they could all be doing.
He found them all three sitting on the stairs, while beside them the beer was
running all over the ground from the tap, which was wide open.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;What in the world are you all doing that you don&rsquo;t come upstairs,
and that you let the beer run all over the cellar?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Yes, I know, my boy,&rsquo; said the father, &lsquo;but if you marry our
daughter what shall you call your children? All the names in the calendar are
taken.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
When the young man heard this answer he replied:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Well! good-bye, I am going away. When I shall have found three people
sillier than you I will come back and marry your daughter.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
So he continued his journey, and after walking a long way he reached an
orchard. Then he saw some people knocking down walnuts, and trying to throw
them into a cart with a fork.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;What are you doing there?&rsquo; he asked.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;We want to load the cart with our walnuts, but we can&rsquo;t manage to
do it.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
The lover advised them to get a basket and to put the walnuts in it, so as to
turn them into the cart.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Well,&rsquo; he said to himself, &lsquo;I have already found someone
more foolish than those three.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
So he went on his way, and by-and-by he came to a wood. There he saw a man who
wanted to give his pig some acorns to eat, and was trying with all his might to
make him climb up the oak-tree.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;What are you doing, my good man?&rsquo; asked he.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I want to make my pig eat some acorns, and I can&rsquo;t get him to go
up the tree.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;If you were to climb up and shake down the acorns the pig would pick
them up.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Oh, I never thought of that.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Here is the second idiot,&rsquo; said the lover to himself.
</p>

<p>
Some way farther along the road he came upon a man who had never worn any
trousers, and who was trying to put on a pair. So he had fastened them to a
tree and was jumping with all his might up in the air so that he should hit the
two legs of the trousers as he came down.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;It would be much better if you held them in your hands,&rsquo; said the
young man, &lsquo;and then put your legs one after the other in each
hole.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Dear me to be sure! You are sharper than I am, for that never occurred
to me.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
And having found three people more foolish than his bride, or her father or her
mother, the lover went back to marry the young lady.
</p>

<p>
And in course of time they had a great many children.
</p>

<p class="right">
Story from Hainaut.<br>
(M. Lemoine. <i>La Tradition</i>. No, 34,)
</p>

</div><!--end chapter-->

<div class="chapter">

<h2><a id="chap18"></a>KARI WOODENGOWN</h2>

<p>
There was once upon a time a King who had become a widower. His Queen had left
one daughter behind her, and she was so wise and so pretty that it was
impossible for any one to be wiser or prettier. For a long time the King went
sorrowing for his wife, for he had loved her exceedingly; but at last he grew
tired of living alone, and married a Queen who was a widow, and she also had a
daughter, who was just as ill-favoured and wicked as the other was good and
beautiful. The stepmother and her daughter were envious of the King&rsquo;s
daughter because she was so pretty, but so long as the King was at home they
dared do her no harm, because his love for her was so great.
</p>

<p>
Then there came a time when he made war on another King and went away to fight,
and then the new Queen thought that she could do what she liked; so she both
hungered and beat the King&rsquo;s daughter and chased her about into every
corner. At last she thought that everything was too good for her, and set her
to work to look after the cattle. So she went about with the cattle, and herded
them in the woods and in the fields. Of food she got little or none, and grew
pale and thin, and was nearly always weeping and sad. Among the herd there was
a great blue bull, which always kept itself very smart and sleek, and often
came to the King&rsquo;s daughter and let her stroke him. So one day, when she
was again sitting crying and sorrowing, the Bull came up to her and asked why
she was always so full of care? She made no answer, but continued to weep.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Well,&rsquo; said the Bull, &lsquo;I know what it is, though you will
not tell me; you are weeping because the Queen is unkind to you, and because
she wants to starve you to death. But you need be under no concern about food,
for in my left ear there lies a cloth, and if you will but take it and spread
it out, you can have as many dishes as you like.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
So she did this, and took the cloth and spread it out upon the grass, and then
it was covered with the daintiest dishes that any one could desire, and there
was wine, and mead, and cake. And now she became brisk and well again, and grew
so rosy, and plump, and fair that the Queen and her scraggy daughter turned
blue and white with vexation at it. The Queen could not imagine how her
step-daughter could look so well on such bad food, so she ordered one of her
handmaidens to follow her into the wood and watch her, and see how it was, for
she thought that some of the servants must be giving her food. So the maid
followed her into the wood and watched, and saw how the step-daughter took the
cloth out of the Blue Bull&rsquo;s ear, and spread it out, and how the cloth
was then covered with the most delicate dishes, which the step-daughter ate and
regaled herself with. So the waiting-maid went home and told the Queen.
</p>

<p>
And now the King came home, and he had conquered the other King with whom he
had been at war. So there was great gladness in the palace, but no one was more
glad than the King&rsquo;s daughter. The Queen, however, pretended to be ill,
and gave the doctor much money to say that she would never be well again unless
she had some of the flesh of the Blue Bull to eat. Both the King&rsquo;s
daughter and the people in the palace asked the doctor if there were no other
means of saving her, and begged for the Bull&rsquo;s life, for they were all
fond of him, and they all declared that there was no such Bull in the whole
country; but it was all in vain, he was to be killed, and should be killed, and
nothing else would serve. When the King&rsquo;s daughter heard it she was full
of sorrow, and went down to the byre to the Bull. He too was standing there
hanging his head, and looking so downcast that she fell a-weeping over him.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;What are you weeping for?&rsquo; said the Bull.
</p>

<p>
So she told him that the King had come home again, and that the Queen had
pretended to be ill, and that she had made the doctor say that she could never
be well again unless some of the flesh of the Blue Bull was given her to eat,
and that now he was to be killed.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;When once they have taken my life they will soon kill you also,&rsquo;
said the Bull. &lsquo;If you are of the same mind with me, we will take our
departure this very night.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
The King&rsquo;s daughter thought that it was bad to go and leave her father,
but that it was worse still to be in the same house with the Queen, so she
promised the Bull that she would come.
</p>

<p>
At night, when all the others had gone to bed, the King&rsquo;s daughter stole
softly down to the byre to the Bull, and he took her on his back and got out of
the courtyard as quickly as he could. So at cock-crow next morning, when the
people came to kill the Bull, he was gone, and when the King got up and asked
for his daughter she was gone too. He sent forth messengers to all parts of the
kingdom to search for them, and published his loss in all the parish churches,
but there was no one who had seen anything of them.
</p>

<p>
In the meantime the Bull travelled through many lands with the King&rsquo;s
daughter on his back, and one day they came to a great copper-wood, where the
trees, and the branches, and the leaves, and the flowers, and everything else
was of copper.
</p>

<p>
But before they entered the wood the Bull said to the King&rsquo;s daughter:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;When we enter into this wood, you must take the greatest care not to
touch a leaf of it, or all will be over both with me and with you, for a Troll
with three heads, who is the owner of the wood, lives here.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
So she said she would be on her guard, and not touch anything. And she was very
careful, and bent herself out of the way of the branches, and put them aside
with her hands; but it was so thickly wooded that it was all but impossible to
get forward, and do what she might, she somehow or other tore off a leaf which
got into her hand.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Oh! oh! What have you done now?&rsquo; said the Bull. &lsquo;It will now
cost us a battle for life or death; but do be careful to keep the leaf.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Very soon afterwards they came to the end of the wood, and the Troll with three
heads came rushing up to them.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Who is that who is touching my wood?&rsquo; said the Troll.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;The wood is just as much mine as yours!&rsquo; said the Bull.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;We shall have a tussle for that!&rsquo; shrieked the Troll.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;That may be,&rsquo; said the Bull.
</p>

<p>
So they rushed on each other and fought, and as for the Bull he butted and
kicked with all the strength of his body, but the Troll fought quite as well as
he did, and the whole day went by before the Bull put an end to him, and then
he himself was so full of wounds and so worn out that he was scarcely able to
move. So they had to wait a day, and the Bull told the King&rsquo;s daughter to
take the horn of ointment which hung at the Troll&rsquo;s belt, and rub him
with it; then he was himself again, and the next day they set off once more.
And now they journeyed on for many, many days, and then after a long, long time
they came to a silver wood. The trees, and the boughs, and the leaves, and the
flowers, and everything else was of silver.
</p>

<p>
Before the Bull went into the wood, he said to the King&rsquo;s daughter:
&lsquo;When we enter into this wood you must, for Heaven&rsquo;s sake, be very
careful not to touch anything at all, and not to pluck off even so much as one
leaf, or else all will be over both with you and with me. A Troll with six
heads lives here, who is the owner of the wood, and I do not think I should be
able to overcome him.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Yes,&rsquo; said the King&rsquo;s daughter, &lsquo;I will take good care
not to touch what you do not wish me to touch.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
But when they got into the wood it was so crowded, and the trees so close
together, that they could scarcely get forward. She was as careful as she could
be, and bent aside to get out of the way of the branches, and thrust them away
from before her with her hands; but every instant a branch struck against her
eyes, and in spite of all her care, she happened to pull off one leaf.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Oh! oh! What have you done now?&rsquo; said the Bull. It will now cost
us a battle for life or death, for this Troll has six heads and is twice as
strong as the other, but do be careful to keep the leaf.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Just as he said this came the Troll. &lsquo;Who is that who is touching my
wood?&rsquo; he said.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;It is just as much mine as yours!&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;We shall have a tussle for that!&rsquo; screamed the Troll.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;That may be,&rsquo; said the Bull, and rushed at the Troll, and gored
out his eyes, and drove his horns right through him so that his entrails gushed
out, but the Troll fought just as well as he did, and it was three whole days
before the Bull got the life out of him. But the Bull was then so weak and worn
out that it was only with pain and effort that he could move, and so covered
with wounds that the blood streamed from him. So he told the King&rsquo;s
daughter to take the horn of ointment that was hanging at the Troll&rsquo;s
belt, and anoint him with it. She did this, and then he came to himself again,
but they had to stay there and rest for a week before the Bull was able to go
any farther.
</p>

<p>
At last they set forth on their way again, but the Bull was still weak, and at
first could not go quickly. The King&rsquo;s daughter wished to spare him, and
said that she was so young and light of foot that she would willingly walk, but
he would not give her leave to do that, and she was forced to seat herself on
his back again. So they travelled for a long time, and through many lands, and
the King&rsquo;s daughter did not at all know where he was taking her, but
after a long, long time they came to a gold wood. It was so golden that the
gold dripped off it, and the trees, and the branches, and the flowers, and the
leaves were all of pure gold. Here all happened just as it had happened in the
copper wood and silver wood. The Bull told the King&rsquo;s daughter that on no
account was she to touch it, for there was a Troll with nine heads who was the
owner, and that he was much larger and stronger than both the others put
together, and that he did not believe that he could overcome him. So she said
that she would take great care not to touch anything, and he should see that
she did. But when they got into the wood it was still thicker than the silver
wood, and the farther they got into it the worse it grew. The wood became
thicker and thicker, and closer and closer, and at last she thought there was
no way whatsoever by which they could get forward; she was so terrified lest
she should break anything off, that she sat and twisted, and turned herself on
this side and on that, to get out of the way of the branches, and pushed them
away from her with her hands, but every moment they struck against her eyes, so
that she could not see what she was clutching at, and before she knew what she
was doing she had a golden apple in her hands. She was now in such terror that
she began to cry, and wanted to throw it away, but the Bull said that she was
to keep it, and take the greatest care of it, and comforted her as well as he
could, but he believed that it would be a hard struggle, and he doubted whether
it would go well with him.
</p>

<p>
Just then the Troll with nine heads came, and he was so frightful that the
King&rsquo;s daughter scarcely dared to look at him
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Who is this who is breaking my wood?&rsquo; he screamed.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;It is as much mine as yours!&rsquo; said the Bull.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;We shall have a tussle for that!&rsquo; screamed the Troll.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;That may be,&rsquo; said the Bull; so they rushed at each other, and
fought, and it was such a dreadful sight that the King&rsquo;s daughter very
nearly swooned. The Bull gored the Troll&rsquo;s eyes out and ran his horns
right through him, but the Troll fought as well as he did, and when the Bull
had gored one head to death the other heads breathed life into it again, so it
was a whole week before the Bull was able to kill him. But then he himself was
so worn out and weak that he could not move at all. His body was all one wound,
and he could not even so much as tell the King&rsquo;s daughter to take the
horn of ointment out of the Troll&rsquo;s belt and rub him with it. She did
this without being told; so he came to himself again, but he had to lie there
for three weeks and rest before he was in a state to move.
</p>

<p>
Then they journeyed onwards by degrees, for the Bull said that they had still a
little farther to go, and in this way they crossed many high hills and thick
woods. This lasted for a while, and then they came upon the fells.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Do you see anything?&rsquo; asked the Bull.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;No, I see nothing but the sky above and the wild fell side,&rsquo; said
the King&rsquo;s daughter.
</p>

<p>
Then they climbed up higher, and the fell grew more level, so that they could
see farther around them.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Do you see anything now?&rsquo; said the Bull.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Yes, I see a small castle, far, far away,&rsquo; said the Princess.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;It is not so very little after all,&rsquo; said the Bull.
</p>

<p>
After a long, long time they came to a high hill, where there was a precipitous
wall of rock.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Do you see nothing now?&rsquo; said the Bull.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Yes, now I see the castle quite near, and now it is much, much
larger,&rsquo; said the King&rsquo;s daughter.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Thither shall you go,&rsquo; said the Bull; &lsquo;immediately below the
castle there is a pig-sty, where you shall dwell. When you get there, you will
find a wooden gown which you are to put on, and then go to the castle and say
that you are called Kari Woodengown, and that you are seeking a place. But now
you must take out your little knife and cut off my head with it, and then you
must flay me and roll up my hide and put it there under the rock, and beneath
the hide you must lay the copper leaf, and the silver leaf, and the golden
apple. Close beside the rock a stick is standing, and when you want me for
anything you have only to knock at the wall of rock with that.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
At first she would not do it, but when the Bull said that this was the only
reward that he would have for what he had done for her, she could do no
otherwise. So though she thought it very cruel, she slaved on and cut at the
great animal with the knife till she had cut off his head and hide, and then
she folded up the hide and laid it beneath the mountain wall, and put the
copper leaf, and the silver leaf, and the golden apple inside it.
</p>

<p>
When she had done that she went away to the pig-sty, but all the way as she
went she wept, and was very sorrowful. Then she put on the wooden gown, and
walked to the King&rsquo;s palace. When she got there she went into the kitchen
and begged for a place, saying that her name was Kari Woodengown.
</p>

<p>
The cook told her that she might have a place and leave to stay there at once
and wash up, for the girl who had done that before had just gone away.
&lsquo;And as soon as you get tired of being here you will take yourself off
too,&rsquo; said he.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;No,&rsquo; said she, &lsquo;that I shall certainly not.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
And then she washed up, and did it very tidily.
</p>

<p>
On Sunday some strangers were coming to the King&rsquo;s palace, so Kari begged
to have leave to carry up the water for the Prince&rsquo;s bath, but the others
laughed at her and said, &lsquo;What do you want there? Do you think the Prince
will ever look at such a fright as you?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
She would not give it up, however, but went on begging until at last she got
leave. When she was going upstairs her wooden gown made such a clatter that the
Prince came out and said, &lsquo;What sort of a creature may you be?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I was to take this water to you,&rsquo; said Kari.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Do you suppose that I will have any water that you bring?&rsquo; said
the Prince, and emptied it over her.
</p>

<p>
She had to bear that, but then she asked permission to go to church. She got
that, for the church was very near. But first she went to the rock and knocked
at it with the stick which was standing there, as the Bull had told her to do.
Instantly a man came forth and asked what she wanted. The King&rsquo;s daughter
said that she had got leave to go to church and listen to the priest, but that
she had no clothes to go in. So he brought her a gown that was as bright as the
copper wood, and she got a horse and saddle too from him. When she reached the
church she was so pretty and so splendidly dressed that every one wondered who
she could be, and hardly anyone listened to what the priest was saying, for
they were all looking far too much at her, and the Prince himself liked her so
well that he could not take his eyes off her for an instant. As she was walking
out of church the Prince followed her and shut the church door after her, and
thus he kept one of her gloves in his hand. Then she went away and mounted her
horse again; the Prince again followed her, and asked her whence she came.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Oh! I am from Bathland,&rsquo; said Kari. And when the Prince took out
the glove and wanted to give it back to her, she said:
</p>

<p class="poem">
&lsquo;Darkness behind me, but light on my way,<br>
That the Prince may not see where I&rsquo;m going to-day!&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
The Prince had never seen the equal of that glove, and he went far and wide,
asking after the country which the proud lady, who rode away without her glove,
had said that she came from, but there was no one who could tell him where it
lay.
</p>

<p>
Next Sunday some one had to take up a towel to the Prince.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Ah! may I have leave to go up with that?&rsquo; said Kari.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;What would be the use of that?&rsquo; said the others who were in the
kitchen; &lsquo;you saw what happened last time.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Kari would not give in, but went on begging for leave till she got it, and then
she ran up the stairs so that her wooden gown clattered again. Out came the
Prince, and when he saw that it was Kari, he snatched the towel from her and
flung it right in her eyes.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Be off at once, you ugly Troll,&rsquo; said he; &lsquo;do you think that
I will have a towel that has been touched by your dirty fingers?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
After that the Prince went to church, and Kari also asked leave to go. They all
asked how she could want to go to church when she had nothing to wear but that
wooden gown, which was so black and hideous. But Kari said she thought the
priest was such a good man at preaching that she got so much benefit from what
he said, and at last she got leave.
</p>

<p>
She went to the rock and knocked, whereupon out came the man and gave her a
gown which was much more magnificent than the first. It was embroidered with
silver all over it, and it shone like the silver wood, and he gave her also a
most beautiful horse, with housings embroidered with silver, and a bridle of
silver too.
</p>

<p>
When the King&rsquo;s daughter got to church all the people were standing
outside upon the hillside, and all of them wondered who on earth she could be,
and the Prince was on the alert in a moment, and came and wanted to hold her
horse while she alighted. But she jumped off and said that there was no need
for that, for the horse was so well broken in that it stood still when she bade
it and came when she called it. So they all went into the church together, but
there was scarcely any one who listened to what the priest was saying, for they
were all looking far too much at her, and the Prince fell much more deeply in
love with her than he had been before.
</p>

<p>
When the sermon was over and she went out of the church, and was just going to
mount her horse, the Prince again came and asked her where she came from.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I am from Towelland,&rsquo; said the King&rsquo;s daughter, and as she
spoke she dropped her riding-whip, and while the Prince was stooping to pick it
up she said:
</p>

<p class="poem">
&lsquo;Darkness behind me, but light on my way,<br>
That the Prince may not see where I&rsquo;m going to-day!&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
And she was gone again, neither could the Prince see what had become of her. He
went far and wide to inquire for that country from whence she had said that she
came, but there was no one who could tell him where it lay, so he was forced to
have patience once more.
</p>

<p>
Next Sunday some one had to go to the Prince with a comb. Kari begged for leave
to go with it, but the others reminded her of what had happened last time, and
scolded her for wanting to let the Prince see her when she was so black and so
ugly in her wooden gown, but she would not give up asking until they gave her
leave to go up to the Prince with the comb. When she went clattering up the
stairs again, out came the Prince and took the comb and flung it at her, and
ordered her to be off as fast as she could. After that the Prince went to
church, and Kari also begged for leave to go. Again they all asked what she
would do there, she who was so black and ugly, and had no clothes that she
could be seen in by other people. The Prince or some one else might very easily
catch sight of her, they said, and then both she and they would suffer for it;
but Kari said that they had something else to do than to look at her, and she
never ceased begging until she got leave to go.
</p>

<p>
And now all happened just as it had happened twice already. She went away to
the rock and knocked at it with the stick, and then the man came out and gave
her a gown which was very much more magnificent than either of the others. It
was almost entirely made of pure gold and diamonds, and she also got a noble
horse with housings embroidered with gold, and a golden bridle.
</p>

<p>
When the King&rsquo;s daughter came to the church the priest and people were
all standing on the hillside waiting for her, and the Prince ran up and wanted
to hold the horse, but she jumped off, saying:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;No, thank you, there is no need; my horse is so well broken in that it
will stand still when I bid it.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
So they all hastened into the church together and the priest got into the
pulpit, but no one listened to what he said, for they were looking far too much
at her and wondering whence she came; and the Prince was far more in love than
he had been on either of the former occasions, and he was mindful of nothing
but of looking at her.
</p>

<p>
When the sermon was over and the King&rsquo;s daughter was about to leave the
church, the Prince had caused a firkin of tar to be emptied out in the porch in
order that he might go to help her over it; she, however, did not trouble
herself in the least about the tar, but set her foot down in the middle of it
and jumped over it, and thus one of her gold shoes was left sticking in it.
When she had seated herself on the horse the Prince came running out of the
church and asked her whence she came.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;From Combland,&rsquo; said Kari. But when the Prince wanted to reach her
her gold shoe, she said:
</p>

<p class="poem">
&lsquo;Darkness behind me, but light on my way,<br>
That the Prince may not see where I&rsquo;m going to-day!&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
The Prince did not know what had become of her, so he travelled for a long and
wearisome time all over the world, asking where Combland was; but when no one
could tell him where that country was, he caused it to be made known everywhere
that he would marry any woman who could put on the gold shoe. So fair maidens
and ugly maidens came thither from all regions, but there was none who had a
foot so small that she could put on the gold shoe. After a long, long while
came Kari Woodengown&rsquo;s wicked stepmother, with her daughter too, and the
shoe fitted her. But she was so ugly and looked so loathsome that the Prince
was very unwilling to do what he had promised. Nevertheless all was got ready
for the wedding, and she was decked out as a bride, but as they were riding to
church a little bird sat upon a tree and sang:
</p>

<p class="poem">
&lsquo;A slice off her heel<br>
And a slice off her toes,<br>
Kari Woodengown&rsquo;s shoe<br>
Fills with blood as she goes!&rsquo;
</p>

<p class="noindent">
And when they looked to it the bird had spoken the truth, for blood was
trickling out of the shoe. So all the waiting-maids, and all the womenkind in
the castle had to come and try on the shoe, but there was not one whom it would
fit.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;But where is Kari Woodengown, then?&rsquo; asked the Prince, when all
the others had tried on the shoe, for he understood the song of birds and it
came to his mind what the bird had said.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Oh! that creature!&rsquo; said the others; &lsquo;it&rsquo;s not the
least use for her to come here, for she has feet like a horse!&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;That may be,&rsquo; said the Prince, &lsquo;but as all the others have
tried it, Kari may try it too.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Kari!&rsquo; he called out through the door, and Kari came upstairs, and
her wooden gown clattered as if a whole regiment of dragoons were coming up.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Now, you are to try on the gold shoe and be a Princess,&rsquo; said the
other servants, and they laughed at her and mocked her. Kari took up the shoe,
put her foot into it as easily as possible, and then threw off her wooden gown,
and there she stood in the golden gown which flashed like rays of sunshine, and
on her other foot she had the fellow to the gold shoe. The Prince knew her in a
moment, and was so glad that he ran and took her in his arms and kissed her,
and when he heard that she was a King&rsquo;s daughter he was gladder still,
and then they had the wedding.<a href="#fn14" id="fnref14"><sup>[14]</sup></a>
</p>

<p class="footnote">
<a id="fn14"></a> <a href="#fnref14">[14]</a>
From P. C. Asbjørnsen.
</p>

</div><!--end chapter-->

<div class="chapter">

<h2><a id="chap19"></a>DRAKESTAIL</h2>

<p>
Drakestail was very little, that is why he was called Drakestail; but tiny as
he was he had brains, and he knew what he was about, for having begun with
nothing he ended by amassing a hundred crowns. Now the King of the country, who
was very extravagant and never kept any money, having heard that Drakestail had
some, went one day in his own person to borrow his hoard, and, my word, in
those days Drakestail was not a little proud of having lent money to the King.
But after the first and second year, seeing that they never even dreamed of
paying the interest, he became uneasy, so much so that at last he resolved to
go and see His Majesty himself, and get repaid. So one fine morning Drakestail,
very spruce and fresh, takes the road, singing: &lsquo;Quack, quack, quack,
when shall I get my money back?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
He had not gone far when he met friend Fox, on his rounds that way.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Good-morning, neighbour,&rsquo; says the friend, &lsquo;where are you
off to so early?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I am going to the King for what he owes me.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Oh! take me with thee!&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Drakestail said to himself: &lsquo;One can&rsquo;t have too many
friends.&rsquo; ... &lsquo;I will,&rsquo; says he, &lsquo;but going on
all-fours you will soon be tired. Make yourself quite small, get into my
throat&mdash;go into my gizzard and I will carry you.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Happy thought!&rsquo; says friend Fox.
</p>

<p>
He takes bag and baggage, and, presto! is gone like a letter into the post.
</p>

<p>
And Drakestail is off again, all spruce and fresh, still singing: &lsquo;Quack,
quack, quack, when shall I have my money back?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
He had not gone far when he met his lady-friend Ladder, leaning on her wall.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Good morning, my duckling,&rsquo; says the lady friend, &lsquo;whither
away so bold?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I am going to the King for what he owes me.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Oh! take me with thee!&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Drakestail said to himself: &lsquo;One can&rsquo;t have too many
friends.&rsquo; ... &lsquo;I will,&rsquo; says he, &lsquo;but with your wooden
legs you will soon be tired. Make yourself quite small, get into my
throat&mdash;go into my gizzard and I will carry you.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Happy thought!&rsquo; says my friend Ladder, and nimble, bag and
baggage, goes to keep company with friend Fox.
</p>

<p>
And &lsquo;Quack, quack, quack.&rsquo; Drakestail is off again, singing and
spruce as before. A little farther he meets his sweetheart, my friend River,
wandering quietly in the sunshine.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Thou, my cherub,&rsquo; says she, &lsquo;whither so lonesome, with
arching tail, on this muddy road?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I am going to the King, you know, for what he owes me.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Oh! take me with thee!&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Drakestail said to himself: &lsquo;We can&rsquo;t be too many
friends.&rsquo;... &lsquo;I will,&rsquo; says he, &lsquo;but you who sleep
while you walk will soon be tired. Make yourself quite small, get into my
throat&mdash;go into my gizzard and I will carry you.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Ah! happy thought!&rsquo; says my friend River.
</p>

<p>
She takes bag and baggage, and glou, glou, glou, she takes her place between
friend Fox and my friend Ladder.
</p>

<p>
And &lsquo;Quack, quack, quack.&rsquo; Drakestail is off again singing.
</p>

<p>
A little farther on he meets comrade Wasp&rsquo;s-nest, manoeuvring his wasps.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Well, good-morning, friend Drakestail,&rsquo; said comrade
Wasp&rsquo;s-nest, &lsquo;where are we bound for so spruce and fresh?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I am going to the King for what he owes me.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Oh! take me with thee!&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Drakestail said to himself, &lsquo;One can&rsquo;t have too many
friends.&rsquo;... &lsquo;I will,&rsquo; says he, &lsquo;but with your
battalion to drag along, you will soon be tired. Make yourself quite small, go
into my throat&mdash;get into my gizzard and I will carry you.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;By Jove! that&rsquo;s a good idea!&rsquo; says comrade
Wasp&rsquo;s-nest.
</p>

<p>
And left file! he takes the same road to join the others with all his party.
There was not much more room, but by closing up a bit they managed.... And
Drakestail is off again singing.
</p>

<p>
He arrived thus at the capital, and threaded his way straight up the High
Street, still running and singing &lsquo;Quack, quack, quack, when shall I get
my money back?&rsquo; to the great astonishment of the good folks, till he came
to the King&rsquo;s palace.
</p>

<p>
He strikes with the knocker: &lsquo;Toc! toc!&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Who is there?&rsquo; asks the porter, putting his head out of the
wicket.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;&rsquo;Tis I, Drakestail. I wish to speak to the King.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Speak to the King!... That&rsquo;s easily said. The King is dining, and
will not be disturbed.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Tell him that it is I, and I have come he well knows why.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
The porter shuts his wicket and goes up to say it to the King, who was just
sitting down to dinner with a napkin round his neck, and all his ministers.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Good, good!&rsquo; said the King laughing. &lsquo;I know what it is!
Make him come in, and put him with the turkeys and chickens.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
The porter descends.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Have the goodness to enter.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Good!&rsquo; says Drakestail to himself, &lsquo;I shall now see how they
eat at court.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;This way, this way,&rsquo; says the porter. &lsquo;One step further....
There, there you are.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;How? what? in the poultry yard?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Fancy how vexed Drakestail was!
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Ah! so that&rsquo;s it,&rsquo; says he. &lsquo;Wait! I will compel you
to receive me. Quack, quack, quack, when shall I get my money back?&rsquo; But
turkeys and chickens are creatures who don&rsquo;t like people that are not as
themselves. When they saw the new-comer and how he was made, and when they
heard him crying too, they began to look black at him.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;What is it? what does he want?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Finally they rushed at him all together, to overwhelm him with pecks.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I am lost!&rsquo; said Drakestail to himself, when by good luck he
remembers his comrade friend Fox, and he cries:
</p>

<p class="poem">
&lsquo;Reynard, Reynard, come out of your earth,<br>
Or Drakestail&rsquo;s life is of little worth.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Then friend Fox, who was only waiting for these words, hastens out, throws
himself on the wicked fowls, and quick! quack! he tears them to pieces; so much
so that at the end of five minutes there was not one left alive. And
Drakestail, quite content, began to sing again, &lsquo;Quack, quack, quack,
when shall I get my money back?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
When the King who was still at table heard this refrain, and the poultry woman
came to tell him what had been going on in the yard, he was terribly annoyed.
</p>

<p>
He ordered them to throw this tail of a drake into the well, to make an end of
him.
</p>

<p>
And it was done as he commanded. Drakestail was in despair of getting himself
out of such a deep hole, when he remembered his lady friend, the Ladder.
</p>

<p class="poem">
&lsquo;Ladder, Ladder, come out of thy hold,<br>
Or Drakestail&rsquo;s days will soon be told.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
My friend Ladder, who was only waiting for these words, hastens out, leans her
two arms on the edge of the well, then Drakestail climbs nimbly on her back,
and hop! he is in the yard, where he begins to sing louder than ever.
</p>

<p>
When the King, who was still at table and laughing at the good trick he had
played his creditor, heard him again reclaiming his money, he became livid with
rage.
</p>

<p>
He commanded that the furnace should be heated, and this tail of a drake thrown
into it, because he must be a sorcerer.
</p>

<p>
The furnace was soon hot, but this time Drakestail was not so afraid; he
counted on his sweetheart, my friend River.
</p>

<p class="poem">
&lsquo;River, River, outward flow,<br>
Or to death Drakestail must go.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
My friend River hastens out, and errouf! throws herself into the furnace, which
she floods, with all the people who had lighted it; after which she flowed
growling into the hall of the palace to the height of more than four feet.
</p>

<p>
And Drakestail, quite content, begins to swim, singing deafeningly,
&lsquo;Quack, quack, quack, when shall I get my money back?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
The King was still at table, and thought himself quite sure of his game; but
when he heard Drakestail singing again, and when they told him all that had
passed, he became furious and got up from table brandishing his fists.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Bring him here, and I&rsquo;ll cut his throat! bring him here
quick!&rsquo; cried he.
</p>

<p>
And quickly two footmen ran to fetch Drakestail.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;At last,&rsquo; said the poor chap, going up the great stairs,
&lsquo;they have decided to receive me.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Imagine his terror when on entering he sees the King as red as a turkey cock,
and all his ministers attending him standing sword in hand. He thought this
time it was all up with him. Happily, he remembered that there was still one
remaining friend, and he cried with dying accents:
</p>

<p class="poem">
&lsquo;Wasp&rsquo;s-nest, Wasp&rsquo;s-nest, make a sally,<br>
Or Drakestail nevermore may rally.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Hereupon the scene changes.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Bs, bs, bayonet them!&rsquo; The brave Wasp&rsquo;s-nest rushes out with
all his wasps. They threw themselves on the infuriated King and his ministers,
and stung them so fiercely in the face that they lost their heads, and not
knowing where to hide themselves they all jumped pell-mell from the window and
broke their necks on the pavement.
</p>

<p>
Behold Drakestail much astonished, all alone in the big saloon and master of
the field. He could not get over it.
</p>

<p>
Nevertheless, he remembered shortly what he had come for to the palace, and
improving the occasion, he set to work to hunt for his dear money. But in vain
he rummaged in all the drawers; he found nothing; all had been spent.
</p>

<p>
And ferreting thus from room to room he came at last to the one with the throne
in it, and feeling fatigued, he sat himself down on it to think over his
adventure. In the meanwhile the people had found their King and his ministers
with their feet in the air on the pavement, and they had gone into the palace
to know how it had occurred. On entering the throne-room, when the crowd saw
that there was already someone on the royal seat, they broke out in cries of
surprise and joy:
</p>

<p class="poem">
&lsquo;The King is dead, long live the King!<br>
Heaven has sent us down this thing.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Drakestail, who was no longer surprised at anything, received the acclamations
of the people as if he had never done anything else all his life.
</p>

<p>
A few of them certainly murmured that a Drakestail would make a fine King;
those who knew him replied that a knowing Drakestail was a more worthy King
than a spendthrift like him who was lying on the pavement. In short, they ran
and took the crown off the head of the deceased, and placed it on that of
Drakestail, whom it fitted like wax.
</p>

<p>
Thus he became King.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;And now,&rsquo; said he after the ceremony, &lsquo;ladies and gentlemen,
let&rsquo;s go to supper. I am so hungry!&rsquo;<a href="#fn15" id="fnref15"><sup>[15]</sup></a>
</p>

<p class="footnote">
<a id="fn15"></a> <a href="#fnref15">[15]</a>
<i>Contes</i> of Ch. Marelles.
</p>

</div><!--end chapter-->

<div class="chapter">

<h2><a id="chap20"></a>THE RATCATCHER</h2>

<p>
A very long time ago the town of Hamel in Germany was invaded by bands of rats,
the like of which had never been seen before nor will ever be again.
</p>

<p>
They were great black creatures that ran boldly in broad daylight through the
streets, and swarmed so, all over the houses, that people at last could not put
their hand or foot down anywhere without touching one. When dressing in the
morning they found them in their breeches and petticoats, in their pockets and
in their boots; and when they wanted a morsel to eat, the voracious horde had
swept away everything from cellar to garret. The night was even worse. As soon
as the lights were out, these untiring nibblers set to work. And everywhere, in
the ceilings, in the floors, in the cupboards, at the doors, there was a chase
and a rummage, and so furious a noise of gimlets, pincers, and saws, that a
deaf man could not have rested for one hour together.
</p>

<p>
Neither cats nor dogs, nor poison nor traps, nor prayers nor candles burnt to
all the saints&mdash;nothing would do anything. The more they killed the more
came. And the inhabitants of Hamel began to go to the dogs (not that
<i>they</i> were of much use), when one Friday there arrived in the town a man
with a queer face, who played the bagpipes and sang this refrain:
</p>

<p class="poem">
&lsquo;Qui vivra verra:<br>
    Le voilà,<br>
Le preneur des rats.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
He was a great gawky fellow, dry and bronzed, with a crooked nose, a long
rat-tail moustache, two great yellow piercing and mocking eyes, under a large
felt hat set off by a scarlet cock&rsquo;s feather. He was dressed in a green
jacket with a leather belt and red breeches, and on his feet were sandals
fastened by thongs passed round his legs in the gipsy fashion.
</p>

<p>
That is how he may be seen to this day, painted on a window of the cathedral of
Hamel.
</p>

<p>
He stopped on the great market-place before the town hall, turned his back on
the church and went on with his music, singing:
</p>

<p class="poem">
&lsquo;Who lives shall see:<br>
This is he,<br>
The ratcatcher.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
The town council had just assembled to consider once more this plague of Egypt,
from which no one could save the town.
</p>

<p>
The stranger sent word to the counsellors that, if they would make it worth his
while, he would rid them of all their rats before night, down to the very last.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Then he is a sorcerer!&rsquo; cried the citizens with one voice;
&lsquo;we must beware of him.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
The Town Counsellor, who was considered clever, reassured them.
</p>

<p>
He said: &lsquo;Sorcerer or no, if this bagpiper speaks the truth, it was he
who sent us this horrible vermin that he wants to rid us of to-day for money.
Well, we must learn to catch the devil in his own snares. You leave it to
me.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Leave it to the Town Counsellor,&rsquo; said the citizens one to
another.
</p>

<p>
And the stranger was brought before them.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Before night,&rsquo; said he, &lsquo;I shall have despatched all the
rats in Hamel if you will but pay me a <i>gros</i> a head.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;A <i>gros</i> a head!&rsquo; cried the citizens, &lsquo;but that will
come to millions of florins!&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
The Town Counsellor simply shrugged his shoulders and said to the stranger:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;A bargain! To work; the rats will be paid one <i>gros</i> a head as you
ask.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
The bagpiper announced that he would operate that very evening when the moon
rose. He added that the inhabitants should at that hour leave the streets free,
and content themselves with looking out of their windows at what was passing,
and that it would be a pleasant spectacle. When the people of Hamel heard of
the bargain, they too exclaimed: &lsquo;A <i>gros</i> a head! but this will
cost us a deal of money!&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Leave it to the Town Counsellor,&rsquo; said the town council with a
malicious air. And the good people of Hamel repeated with their counsellors,
&lsquo;Leave it to the Town Counsellor.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Towards nine at night the bagpiper re-appeared on the market place. He turned,
as at first, his back to the church, and the moment the moon rose on the
horizon, &lsquo;Trarira, trari!&rsquo; the bagpipes resounded.
</p>

<p>
It was first a slow, caressing sound, then more and more lively and urgent, and
so sonorous and piercing that it penetrated as far as the farthest alleys and
retreats of the town.
</p>

<p>
Soon from the bottom of the cellars, the top of the garrets, from under all the
furniture, from all the nooks and corners of the houses, out come the rats,
search for the door, fling themselves into the street, and trip, trip, trip,
begin to run in file towards the front of the town hall, so squeezed together
that they covered the pavement like the waves of flooded torrent.
</p>

<p>
When the square was quite full the bagpiper faced about, and, still playing
briskly, turned towards the river that runs at the foot of the walls of Hamel.
</p>

<p>
Arrived there he turned round; the rats were following.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Hop! hop!&rsquo; he cried, pointing with his finger to the middle of the
stream, where the water whirled and was drawn down as if through a funnel. And
hop! hop! without hesitating, the rats took the leap, swam straight to the
funnel, plunged in head foremost and disappeared.
</p>

<p>
The plunging continued thus without ceasing till midnight.
</p>

<p>
At last, dragging himself with difficulty, came a big rat, white with age, and
stopped on the bank.
</p>

<p>
It was the king of the band.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Are they all there, friend Blanchet?&rsquo; asked the bagpiper.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;They are all there,&rsquo; replied friend Blanchet.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;And how many were they?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Nine hundred and ninety thousand, nine hundred and ninety-nine.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Well reckoned?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Well reckoned.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Then go and join them, old sire, and au revoir.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Then the old white rat sprang in his turn into the river, swam to the whirlpool
and disappeared.
</p>

<p>
When the bagpiper had thus concluded his business he went to bed at his inn.
And for the first time during three months the people of Hamel slept quietly
through the night.
</p>

<p>
The next morning, at nine o&rsquo;clock, the bagpiper repaired to the town
hall, where the town council awaited him.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;All your rats took a jump into the river yesterday,&rsquo; said he to
the counsellors, &lsquo;and I guarantee that not one of them comes back. They
were nine hundred and ninety thousand, nine hundred and ninety-nine, at one
<i>gros</i> a head. Reckon!&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Let us reckon the heads first. One <i>gros</i> a head is one head the
<i>gros</i>. Where are the heads?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
The ratcatcher did not expect this treacherous stroke. He paled with anger and
his eyes flashed fire.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;The heads!&rsquo; cried he, &lsquo;if you care about them, go and find
them in the river.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;So,&rsquo; replied the Town Counsellor, &lsquo;you refuse to hold to the
terms of your agreement? We ourselves could refuse you all payment. But you
have been of use to us, and we will not let you go without a recompense,&rsquo;
and he offered him fifty crowns.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Keep your recompense for yourself,&rsquo; replied the ratcatcher
proudly. &lsquo;If you do not pay me I will be paid by your heirs.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Thereupon he pulled his hat down over his eyes, went hastily out of the hall,
and left the town without speaking to a soul.
</p>

<p>
When the Hamel people heard how the affair had ended they rubbed their hands,
and with no more scruple than their Town Counsellor, they laughed over the
ratcatcher, who, they said, was caught in his own trap. But what made them
laugh above all was his threat of getting himself paid by their heirs. Ha! they
wished that they only had such creditors for the rest of their lives.
</p>

<p>
Next day, which was a Sunday, they all went gaily to church, thinking that
after Mass they would at last be able to eat some good thing that the rats had
not tasted before them.
</p>

<p>
They never suspected the terrible surprise that awaited them on their return
home. No children anywhere, they had all disappeared!
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Our children! where are our poor children?&rsquo; was the cry that was
soon heard in all the streets.
</p>

<p>
Then through the east door of the town came three little boys, who cried and
wept, and this is what they told:
</p>

<p>
While the parents were at church a wonderful music had resounded. Soon all the
little boys and all the little girls that had been left at home had gone out,
attracted by the magic sounds, and had rushed to the great market-place. There
they found the ratcatcher playing his bagpipes at the same spot as the evening
before. Then the stranger had begun to walk quickly, and they had followed,
running, singing and dancing to the sound of the music, as far as the foot of
the mountain which one sees on entering Hamel. At their approach the mountain
had opened a little, and the bagpiper had gone in with them, after which it had
closed again. Only the three little ones who told the adventure had remained
outside, as if by a miracle. One was bandy-legged and could not run fast
enough; the other, who had left the house in haste, one foot shod the other
bare, had hurt himself against a big stone and could not walk without
difficulty; the third had arrived in time, but in harrying to go in with the
others had struck so violently against the wall of the mountain that he fell
backwards at the moment it closed upon his comrades.
</p>

<p>
At this story the parents redoubled their lamentations. They ran with pikes and
mattocks to the mountain, and searched till evening to find the opening by
which their children had disappeared, without being able to find it. At last,
the night falling, they returned desolate to Hamel.
</p>

<p>
But the most unhappy of all was the Town Counsellor, for he lost three little
boys and two pretty little girls, and to crown all, the people of Hamel
overwhelmed him with reproaches, forgetting that the evening before they had
all agreed with him.
</p>

<p>
What had become of all these unfortunate children?
</p>

<p>
The parents always hoped they were not dead, and that the rat-catcher, who
certainly must have come out of the mountain, would have taken them with him to
his country. That is why for several years they sent in search of them to
different countries, but no one ever came on the trace of the poor little ones.
</p>

<p>
It was not till much later that anything was to be heard of them.
</p>

<p>
About one hundred and fifty years after the event, when there was no longer one
left of the fathers, mothers, brothers or sisters of that day, there arrived
one evening in Hamel some merchants of Bremen returning from the East, who
asked to speak with the citizens. They told that they, in crossing Hungary, had
sojourned in a mountainous country called Transylvania, where the inhabitants
only spoke German, while all around them nothing was spoken but Hungarian.
These people also declared that they came from Germany, but they did not know
how they chanced to be in this strange country. &lsquo;Now,&rsquo; said the
merchants of Bremen, &lsquo;these Germans cannot be other than the descendants
of the lost children of Hamel.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
The people of Hamel did not doubt it; and since that day they regard it as
certain that the Transylvanians of Hungary are their country folk, whose
ancestors, as children, were brought there by the ratcatcher. There are more
difficult things to believe than that.<a href="#fn16" id="fnref16"><sup>[16]</sup></a>
</p>

<p class="footnote">
<a id="fn16"></a> <a href="#fnref16">[16]</a>
Ch. Marelles.
</p>

</div><!--end chapter-->

<div class="chapter">

<h2><a id="chap21"></a>THE TRUE HISTORY OF LITTLE GOLDEN HOOD</h2>

<p>
You know the tale of poor Little Red Riding-hood, that the Wolf deceived and
devoured, with her cake, her little butter can, and her Grandmother; well, the
true story happened quite differently, as we know now. And first of all the
little girl was called and is still called Little Golden-hood; secondly, it was
not she, nor the good grand-dame, but the wicked Wolf who was, in the end,
caught and devoured.
</p>

<p>
Only listen.
</p>

<p>
The story begins something like the tale.
</p>

<p>
There was once a little peasant girl, pretty and nice as a star in its season.
Her real name was Blanchette, but she was more often called Little Golden-hood,
on account of a wonderful little cloak with a hood, gold- and fire-coloured,
which she always had on. This little hood was given her by her Grandmother, who
was so old that she did not know her age; it ought to bring her good luck, for
it was made of a ray of sunshine, she said. And as the good old woman was
considered something of a witch, everyone thought the little hood rather
bewitched too.
</p>

<p>
And so it was, as you will see.
</p>

<p>
One day the mother said to the child: &lsquo;Let us see, my little Golden-hood,
if you know now how to find your way by yourself. You shall take this good
piece of cake to your Grandmother for a Sunday treat to-morrow. You will ask
her how she is, and come back at once, without stopping to chatter on the way
with people you don&rsquo;t know. Do you quite understand?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I quite understand,&rsquo; replied Blanchette gaily. And off she went
with the cake, quite proud of her errand.
</p>

<p>
But the Grandmother lived in another village, and there was a big wood to cross
before getting there. At a turn of the road under the trees, suddenly
&lsquo;Who goes there?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Friend Wolf.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
He had seen the child start alone, and the villain was waiting to devour her;
when at the same moment he perceived some wood-cutters who might observe him,
and he changed his mind. Instead of falling upon Blanchette he came frisking up
to her like a good dog.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;&rsquo;Tis you! my nice Little Golden-hood,&rsquo; said he. So the
little girl stops to talk with the Wolf, who, for all that, she did not know in
the least.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;You know me, then!&rsquo; said she; &lsquo;what is your name?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;My name is friend Wolf. And where are you going thus, my pretty one,
with your little basket on your arm?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I am going to my Grandmother, to take her a good piece of cake for her
Sunday treat to-morrow.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;And where does she live, your Grandmother?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;She lives at the other side of the wood, in the first house in the
village, near the windmill, you know.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Ah! yes! I know now,&rsquo; said the Wolf. &lsquo;Well, that&rsquo;s
just where I&rsquo;m going; I shall get there before you, no doubt, with your
little bits of legs, and I&rsquo;ll tell her you&rsquo;re coming to see her;
then she&rsquo;ll wait for you.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Thereupon the Wolf cuts across the wood, and in five minutes arrives at the
Grandmother&rsquo;s house.
</p>

<p>
He knocks at the door: toc, toc.
</p>

<p>
No answer.
</p>

<p>
He knocks louder.
</p>

<p>
Nobody.
</p>

<p>
Then he stands up on end, puts his two fore-paws on the latch and the door
opens.
</p>

<p>
Not a soul in the house.
</p>

<p>
The old woman had risen early to sell herbs in the town, and she had gone off
in such haste that she had left her bed unmade, with her great night-cap on the
pillow.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Good!&rsquo; said the Wolf to himself, &lsquo;I know what I&rsquo;ll
do.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
He shuts the door, pulls on the Grandmother&rsquo;s night-cap down to his eyes,
then he lies down all his length in the bed and draws the curtains.
</p>

<p>
In the meantime the good Blanchette went quietly on her way, as little girls
do, amusing herself here and there by picking Easter daisies, watching the
little birds making their nests, and running after the butterflies which
fluttered in the sunshine.
</p>

<p>
At last she arrives at the door.
</p>

<p>
Knock, knock.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Who is there?&rsquo; says the Wolf, softening his rough voice as best he
can.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;It&rsquo;s me, Granny, your little Golden-hood. I&rsquo;m bringing you a
big piece of cake for your Sunday treat to-morrow.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Press your finger on the latch, then push and the door opens.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Why, you&rsquo;ve got a cold, Granny,&rsquo; said she, coming in.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Ahem! a little, a little...&rsquo; replies the Wolf, pretending to
cough. &lsquo;Shut the door well, my little lamb. Put your basket on the table,
and then take off your frock and come and lie down by me: you shall rest a
little.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
The good child undresses, but observe this! She kept her little hood upon her
head. When she saw what a figure her Granny cut in bed, the poor little thing
was much surprised.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Oh!&rsquo; cries she, &lsquo;how like you are to friend Wolf,
Grandmother!&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;That&rsquo;s on account of my night-cap, child,&rsquo; replies the Wolf.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Oh! what hairy arms you&rsquo;ve got, Grandmother!&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;All the better to hug you, my child.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Oh! what a big tongue you&rsquo;ve got, Grandmother!&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;All the better for answering, child.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Oh! what a mouthful of great white teeth you have, Grandmother!&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;That&rsquo;s for crunching little children with!&rsquo; And the Wolf
opened his jaws wide to swallow Blanchette.
</p>

<p>
But she put down her head crying:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Mamma! Mamma!&rsquo; and the Wolf only caught her little hood.
</p>

<p>
Thereupon, oh dear! oh dear! he draws back, crying and shaking his jaw as if he
had swallowed red-hot coals.
</p>

<p>
It was the little fire-coloured hood that had burnt his tongue right down his
throat.
</p>

<p>
The little hood, you see, was one of those magic caps that they used to have in
former times, in the stories, for making oneself invisible or invulnerable.
</p>

<p>
So there was the Wolf with his throat burnt, jumping off the bed and trying to
find the door, howling and howling as if all the dogs in the country were at
his heels.
</p>

<p>
Just at this moment the Grandmother arrives, returning from the town with her
long sack empty on her shoulder.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Ah, brigand!&rsquo; she cries, &lsquo;wait a bit!&rsquo; Quickly she
opens her sack wide across the door, and the maddened Wolf springs in head
downwards.
</p>

<p>
It is he now that is caught, swallowed like a letter in the post.
</p>

<p>
For the brave old dame shuts her sack, so; and she runs and empties it in the
well, where the vagabond, still howling, tumbles in and is drowned.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Ah, scoundrel! you thought you would crunch my little grandchild! Well,
to-morrow we will make her a muff of your skin, and you yourself shall be
crunched, for we will give your carcass to the dogs.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Thereupon the Grandmother hastened to dress poor Blanchette, who was still
trembling with fear in the bed.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Well,&rsquo; she said to her, &lsquo;without my little hood where would
you be now, darling?&rsquo; And, to restore heart and legs to the child, she
made her eat a good piece of her cake, and drink a good draught of wine, after
which she took her by the hand and led her back to the house.
</p>

<p>
And then, who was it who scolded her when she knew all that had happened?
</p>

<p>
It was the mother.
</p>

<p>
But Blanchette promised over and over again that she would never more stop to
listen to a Wolf, so that at last the mother forgave her.
</p>

<p>
And Blanchette, the Little Golden-hood, kept her word. And in fine weather she
may still be seen in the fields with her pretty little hood, the colour of the
sun.
</p>

<p>
But to see her you must rise early.<a href="#fn17" id="fnref17"><sup>[17]</sup></a>
</p>

<p class="footnote">
<a id="fn17"></a> <a href="#fnref17">[17]</a>
Ch. Marelles.
</p>

</div><!--end chapter-->

<div class="chapter">

<h2><a id="chap22"></a>THE GOLDEN BRANCH</h2>

<p>
Once upon a time there was a King who was so morose and disagreeable that he
was feared by all his subjects, and with good reason, as for the most trifling
offences he would have their heads cut off. This King Grumpy, as he was called,
had one son, who was as different from his father as he could possibly be. No
prince equalled him in cleverness and kindness of heart, but unfortunately he
was most terribly ugly. He had crooked legs and squinting eyes, a large mouth
all on one side, and a hunchback. Never was there a beautiful soul in such a
frightful little body, but in spite of his appearance everybody loved him. The
Queen, his mother, called him Curlicue, because it was a name she rather liked,
and it seemed to suit him.
</p>

<p>
King Grumpy, who cared a great deal more for his own grandeur than for his
son&rsquo;s happiness, wished to betroth the Prince to the daughter of a
neighbouring King, whose great estates joined his own, for he thought that this
alliance would make him more powerful than ever, and as for the Princess she
would do very well for Prince Curlicue, for she was as ugly as himself. Indeed,
though she was the most amiable creature in the world, there was no concealing
the fact that she was frightful, and so lame that she always went about with a
crutch, and people called her Princess Cabbage-Stalk.
</p>

<p>
The King, having asked for and received a portrait of this Princess, had it
placed in his great hall under a canopy, and sent for Prince Curlicue, to whom
he said that as this was the portrait of his future bride, he hoped the Prince
found it charming.
</p>

<p>
The Prince after one glance at it turned away with a disdainful air, which
greatly offended his father.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Am I to understand that you are not pleased?&rsquo; he said very
sharply.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;No, sire,&rsquo; replied the Prince. &lsquo;How could I be pleased to
marry an ugly, lame Princess?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Certainly it is becoming in <i>you</i> to object to that,&rsquo; said
King Grumpy, &lsquo;since you are ugly enough to frighten anyone
yourself.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;That is the very reason,&rsquo; said the Prince, &lsquo;that I wish to
marry someone who is not ugly. I am quite tired enough of seeing myself.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I tell you that you shall marry her,&rsquo; cried King Grumpy angrily.
</p>

<p>
And the Prince, seeing that it was of no use to remonstrate, bowed and retired.
</p>

<p>
As King Grumpy was not used to being contradicted in anything, he was very much
displeased with his son, and ordered that he should be imprisoned in the tower
that was kept on purpose for rebellious Princes, but had not been used for
about two hundred years, because there had not been any. The Prince thought all
the rooms looked strangely old-fashioned, with their antique furniture, but as
there was a good library he was pleased, for he was very fond of reading, and
he soon got permission to have as many books as he liked. But when he looked at
them he found that they were written in a forgotten language, and he could not
understand a single word, though he amused himself with trying.
</p>

<p>
King Grumpy was so convinced that Prince Curlicue would soon get tired of being
in prison, and so consent to marry the Princess Cabbage-Stalk, that he sent
ambassadors to her father proposing that she should come and be married to his
son, who would make her perfectly happy.
</p>

<p>
The King was delighted to receive so good an offer for his unlucky daughter,
though, to tell the truth, he found it impossible to admire the Prince&rsquo;s
portrait which had been sent to him. However, he had it placed in as favourable
a light as possible, and sent for the Princess, but the moment she caught sight
of it she looked the other way and began to cry. The King, who was very much
annoyed to see how greatly she disliked it, took a mirror, and holding it up
before the unhappy Princess, said:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I see you do not think the Prince handsome, but look at yourself, and
see if you have any right to complain about that.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Sire,&rsquo; she answered, &lsquo;I do not wish to complain, only I beg
of you do not make me marry at all. I had rather be the unhappy Princess
Cabbage-Stalk all my life than inflict the sight of my ugliness on anyone
else.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
But the King would not listen to her, and sent her away with the ambassadors.
</p>

<p>
In the meantime the Prince was kept safely locked up in his tower, and, that he
might be as dull as possible, King Grumpy ordered that no one should speak to
him, and that they should give him next to nothing to eat. But all the
Prince&rsquo;s guards were so fond of him that they did everything they dared,
in spite of the King, to make the time pass pleasantly.
</p>

<p>
One day, as the Prince was walking up and down the great gallery, thinking how
miserable it was to be so ugly, and to be forced to marry an equally frightful
Princess, he looked up suddenly and noticed that the painted windows were
particularly bright and beautiful, and for the sake of doing something that
would change his sad thoughts he began to examine them attentively. He found
that the pictures seemed to be scenes from the life of a man who appeared in
every window, and the Prince, fancying that he saw in this man some resemblance
to himself, began to be deeply interested. In the first window there was a
picture of him in one of the turrets of the tower, farther on he was seeking
something in a chink in the wall, in the next picture he was opening an old
cabinet with a golden key, and so it went on through numbers of scenes, and
presently the Prince noticed that another figure occupied the most important
place in each scene, and this time it was a tall handsome young man: poor
Prince Curlicue found it a pleasure to look at him, he was so straight and
strong. By this time it had grown dark, and the Prince had to go back to his
own room, and to amuse himself he took up a quaint old book and began to look
at the pictures. But his surprise was great to find that they represented the
same scenes as the windows of the gallery, and what was more, that they seemed
to be alive. In looking at pictures of musicians he saw their hands move and
heard sweet sounds; there was a picture of a ball, and the Prince could watch
the little dancing people come and go. He turned a page, and there was an
excellent smell of a savoury dinner, and one of the figures who sat at the
feast looked at him and said:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;We drink your health, Curlicue. Try to give us our Queen again, for if
you do you will be rewarded; if not, it will be the worse for you.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
At these words the Prince, who had been growing more and more astonished, was
fairly terrified, and dropping the book with a crash he sank back insensible.
The noise he made brought his guards to his aid, and as soon as he revived they
asked him what was the matter. He answered that he was so faint and giddy with
hunger that he had imagined he saw and heard all sorts of strange things.
Thereupon, in spite of the King&rsquo;s orders, the guards gave him an
excellent supper, and when he had eaten it he again opened his book, but could
see none of the wonderful pictures, which convinced him that he must have been
dreaming before.
</p>

<p>
However, when he went into he gallery next day and looked at the painted
windows again, he found that they moved, and the figures came and went as if
they had been alive, and after watching the one who was like himself find the
key in the crack of the turret wall and open the old cabinet, he determined to
go and examine the place himself, and try to find out what the mystery was. So
he went up into the turret and began to search about and tap upon the walls,
and all at once he came upon a place that sounded hollow. Taking a hammer he
broke away a bit of the stone, and found behind it a little golden key. The
next thing to do was to find the cabinet, and the Prince soon came to it,
hidden away in a dark corner, though indeed it was so old and battered-looking
that he would never have noticed it of his own accord. At first he could not
see any keyhole, but after a careful search he found one hidden in the carving,
and the golden key just fitted it; so the Prince gave it a vigorous turn and
the doors flew open.
</p>

<p>
Ugly and old as the cabinet was outside, nothing could have been more rich and
beautiful than what met the Prince&rsquo;s astonished eyes. Every drawer was
made of crystal, of amber, or of some precious stone, and was quite full of
every kind of treasure. Prince Curlicue was delighted; he opened one after
another, until at last he came to one tiny drawer which contained only an
emerald key.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I believe that this must open that little golden door in the
middle,&rsquo; said the Prince to himself. And he fitted in the little key and
turned it. The tiny door swung back, and a soft crimson light gleamed over the
whole cabinet. The Prince found that it proceeded from an immense glowing
carbuncle, made into a box, which lay before him. He lost no time in opening
it, but what was his horror when he found that it contained a man&rsquo;s hand,
which was holding a portrait. His first thought was to put back the terrible
box and fly from the turret; but a voice in his ear said, &lsquo;This hand
belonged to one whom you can help and restore. Look at this beautiful portrait,
the original of which was the cause of all my misfortunes, and if you wish to
help me, go without a moment&rsquo;s delay to the great gallery, notice where
the sun&rsquo;s rays fall most brightly, and if you seek there you will find my
treasure.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
The voice ceased, and though the Prince in his bewilderment asked various
questions, he received no answer. So he put back the box and locked the cabinet
up again, and, having replaced the key in the crack in the wall, hastened down
to the gallery.
</p>

<p>
When he entered it all the windows shook and clattered in the strangest way,
but the Prince did not heed them; he was looking so carefully for the place
where the sun shone most brightly, and it seemed to him that it was upon the
portrait of a most splendidly handsome young man.
</p>

<p>
He went up and examined it, and found that it rested against the ebony and gold
panelling, just like any of the other pictures in the gallery. He was puzzled,
not knowing what to do next, until it occurred to him to see if the windows
would help him, and, looking at the nearest, he saw a picture of himself
lifting the picture from the wall.
</p>

<p>
The Prince took the hint, and lifting aside the picture without difficulty,
found himself in a marble hall adorned with statues; from this he passed on
through numbers of splendid rooms, until at last he reached one all hung with
blue gauze. The walls were of turquoises, and upon a low couch lay a lovely
lady, who seemed to be asleep. Her hair, black as ebony, was spread across the
pillows, making her face look ivory white, and the Prince noticed that she was
unquiet; and when he softly advanced, fearing to wake her, he could hear her
sigh, and murmur to herself:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Ah! how dared you think to win my love by separating me from my beloved
Florimond, and in my presence cutting off that dear hand that even you should
have feared and honoured?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
And then the tears rolled slowly down the lovely lady&rsquo;s cheeks, and
Prince Curlicue began to comprehend that she was under an enchantment, and that
it was the hand of her lover that he had found.
</p>

<p>
At this moment a huge Eagle flew into the room, holding in its talons a Golden
Branch, upon which were growing what looked like clusters of cherries, only
every cherry was a single glowing ruby.
</p>

<p>
This he presented to the Prince, who guessed by this time that he was in some
way to break the enchantment that surrounded the sleeping lady. Taking the
branch he touched her lightly with it, saying:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Fair one, I know not by what enchantment thou art bound, but in the name
of thy beloved Florimond I conjure thee to come back to the life which thou
hast lost, but not forgotten.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Instantly the lady opened her lustrous eyes, and saw the Eagle hovering near.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Ah! stay, dear love, stay,&rsquo; she cried. But the Eagle, uttering a
dolorous cry, fluttered his broad wings and disappeared. Then the lady turned
to Prince Curlicue, and said:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I know that it is to you I owe my deliverance from an enchantment which
has held me for two hundred years. If there is anything that I can do for you
in return, you have only to tell me, and all my fairy power shall be used to
make you happy.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Madam,&rsquo; said Prince Curlicue, &lsquo;I wish to be allowed to
restore your beloved Florimond to his natural form, since I cannot forget the
tears you shed for him.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;That is very amiable of you, dear Prince,&rsquo; said the Fairy,
&lsquo;but it is reserved for another person to do that. I cannot explain more
at present. But is there nothing you wish for yourself?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Madam,&rsquo; cried the Prince, flinging himself down at her feet,
&lsquo;only look at my ugliness. I am called Curlicue, and am an object of
derision; I entreat you to make me less ridiculous.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Rise, Prince,&rsquo; said the Fairy, touching him with the Golden
Branch. &lsquo;Be as accomplished as you are handsome, and take the name of
Prince Peerless, since that is the only title which will suit you now.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Silent from joy, the Prince kissed her hand to express his thanks, and when he
rose and saw his new reflection in the mirrors which surrounded him, he
understood that Curlicue was indeed gone for ever.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;How I wish,&rsquo; said the Fairy, &lsquo;that I dared to tell you what
is in store for you, and warn you of the traps which lie in your path, but I
must not. Fly from the tower, Prince, and remember that the Fairy Douceline
will be your friend always.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
When she had finished speaking, the Prince, to his great astonishment, found
himself no longer in the tower, but set down in a thick forest at least a
hundred leagues away from it. And there we must leave him for the present, and
see what was happening elsewhere.
</p>

<p>
When the guards found that the Prince did not ask for his supper as usual, they
went into his room, and not finding him there, were very much alarmed, and
searched the tower from turret to dungeon, but without success. Knowing that
the King would certainly have their heads cut off for allowing the Prince to
escape, they then agreed to say that he was ill, and after making the smallest
among them look as much like Prince Curlicue as possible, they put him into his
bed and sent to inform the King.
</p>

<p>
King Grumpy was quite delighted to hear that his son was ill, for he thought
that he would all the sooner be brought to do as he wished, and marry the
Princess. So he sent back to the guards to say that the Prince was to be
treated as severely as before, which was just what they had hoped he would say.
In the meantime the Princess Cabbage-Stalk had reached the palace, travelling
in a litter.
</p>

<p>
King Grumpy went out to meet her, but when he saw her, with a skin like a
tortoise&rsquo;s, her thick eyebrows meeting above her large nose, and her
mouth from ear to ear, he could not help crying out:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Well, I must say Curlicue is ugly enough, but I don&rsquo;t think
<i>you</i> need have thought twice before consenting to marry him.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Sire,&rsquo; she replied, &lsquo;I know too well what I am like to be
hurt by what you say, but I assure you that I have no wish to marry your son I
had rather be called Princess Cabbage-Stalk than Queen Curlicue.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
This made King Grumpy very angry.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Your father has sent you here to marry my son,&rsquo; he said,
&lsquo;and you may be sure that I am not going to offend him by altering his
arrangements.&rsquo; So the poor Princess was sent away in disgrace to her own
apartments, and the ladies who attended upon her were charged to bring her to a
better mind.
</p>

<p>
At this juncture the guards, who were in great fear that they would be found
out, sent to tell the King that his son was dead, which annoyed him very much.
He at once made up his mind that it was entirely the Princess&rsquo;s fault,
and gave orders that she should be imprisoned in the tower in Prince
Curlicue&rsquo;s place. The Princess Cabbage-Stalk was immensely astonished at
this unjust proceeding, and sent many messages of remonstrance to King Grumpy,
but he was in such a temper that no one dared to deliver them, or to send the
letters which the Princess wrote to her father. However, as she did not know
this, she lived in hope of soon going back to her own country, and tried to
amuse herself as well as she could until the time should come. Every day she
walked up and down the long gallery, until she too was attracted and fascinated
by the ever-changing pictures in the windows, and recognised herself in one of
the figures. &lsquo;They seem to have taken a great delight in painting me
since I came to this country,&rsquo; she said to herself. &lsquo;One would
think that I and my crutch were put in on purpose to make that slim, charming
young shepherdess in the next picture look prettier by contrast. Ah! how nice
it would be to be as pretty as that.&rsquo; And then she looked at herself in a
mirror, and turned away quickly with tears in her eyes from the doleful sight.
All at once she became aware that she was not alone, for behind her stood a
tiny old woman in a cap, who was as ugly again as herself and quite as lame.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Princess,&rsquo; she said, &lsquo;your regrets are so piteous that I
have come to offer you the choice of goodness or beauty. If you wish to be
pretty you shall have your way, but you will also be vain, capricious, and
frivolous. If you remain as you are now, you shall be wise and amiable and
modest.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Alas! madam,&rsquo; cried the Princess, &lsquo;is it impossible to be
at once wise and beautiful?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;No, child,&rsquo; answered the old woman, &lsquo;only to you it is
decreed that you must choose between the two. See, I have brought with me my
white and yellow muff. Breathe upon the yellow side and you will become like
the pretty shepherdess you so much admire, and you will have won the love of
the handsome shepherd whose picture I have already seen you studying with
interest. Breathe upon the white side and your looks will not alter, but you
will grow better and happier day by day. Now you may choose.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Ah well,&rsquo; said the Princess, &lsquo;I suppose one can&rsquo;t have
everything, and it&rsquo;s certainly better to be good than pretty.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
And so she breathed upon the white side of the muff and thanked the old fairy,
who immediately disappeared. The Princess Cabbage-Stalk felt very forlorn when
she was gone, and began to think that it was quite time her father sent an army
to rescue her.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;If I could but get up into the turret,&rsquo; she thought, &lsquo;to see
if any one is coming.&rsquo; But to climb up there seemed impossible.
Nevertheless she presently hit upon a plan. The great clock was in the turret,
as she knew, though the weights hung down into the gallery. Taking one of them
off the rope, she tied herself on in its place, and when the clock was wound,
up she went triumphantly into the turret. She looked out over the country the
first thing, but seeing nothing she sat down to rest a little, and accidentally
leant back against the wall which Curlicue, or rather Prince Peerless, had so
hastily mended. Out fell the broken stone, and with it the golden key. The
clatter it made upon the floor attracted the Princess Cabbage-Stalk&rsquo;s
attention.
</p>

<p>
She picked it up, and after a moment&rsquo;s consideration decided that it must
belong to the curious old cabinet in the corner, which had no visible keyhole.
And then it was not long before she had it open, and was admiring the treasures
it contained as much as Prince Peerless had done before her, and at last she
came to the carbuncle box. No sooner had she opened it than with a shudder of
horror she tried to throw it down, but found that some mysterious power
compelled her to hold it against her will. And at this moment a voice in her
ear said softly:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Take courage, Princess; upon this adventure your future happiness
depends.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;What am I to do?&rsquo; said the Princess trembling.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Take the box,&rsquo; replied the voice, &lsquo;and hide it under your
pillow, and when you see an Eagle, give it to him without losing a
moment.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Terrified as the Princess was, she did not hesitate to obey, and hastened to
put back all the other precious things precisely as she had found them. By this
time her guards were seeking her everywhere, and they were amazed to find her
up in the turret, for they said she could only have got there by magic. For
three days nothing happened, but at last in the night the Princess heard
something flutter against her window, and drawing back her curtains she saw in
the moonlight that it was an Eagle.
</p>

<p>
Limping across at her utmost speed she threw the window open, and the great
Eagle sailed in beating with his wings for joy. The Princess lost no time in
offering it the carbuncle box, which it grasped in its talons, and instantly
disappeared, leaving in its place the most beautiful Prince she had ever seen,
who was splendidly dressed, and wore a diamond crown.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Princess,&rsquo; said he, &lsquo;for two hundred years has a wicked
enchanter kept me here. We both loved the same Fairy, but she preferred me.
However, he was more powerful than I, and succeeded, when for a moment I was
off my guard, in changing me into an Eagle, while my Queen was left in an
enchanted sleep. I knew that after two hundred years a Prince would recall her
to the light of day, and a Princess, in restoring to me the hand which my enemy
had cut off, would give me back my natural form. The Fairy who watches over
your destiny told me this, and it was she who guided you to the cabinet in the
turret, where she had placed my hand. It is she also who permits me to show my
gratitude to you by granting whatever favour you may ask of me. Tell me,
Princess, what is it that you wish for most? Shall I make you as beautiful as
you deserve to be?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Ah, if you only would!&rsquo; cried the Princess, and at the same moment
she heard a crick-cracking in all her bones. She grew tall and straight and
pretty, with eyes like shining stars, and a skin as white as milk.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Oh, wonderful! can this really be my poor little self?&rsquo; she
exclaimed, looking down in amazement at her tiny worn-out crutch as it lay upon
the floor.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Indeed, Princess,&rsquo; replied Florimond, &lsquo;it is yourself, but
you must have a new name, since the old one does not suit you now. Be called
Princess Sunbeam, for you are bright and charming enough to deserve the
name.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
And so saying he disappeared, and the Princess, without knowing how she got
there, found herself walking under shady trees by a clear river. Of course, the
first thing she did was to look at her own reflection in the water, and she was
extremely surprised to find that she was exactly like the shepherdess she had
so much admired, and wore the same white dress and flowery wreath that she had
seen in the painted windows. To complete the resemblance, her flock of sheep
appeared, grazing round her, and she found a gay crook adorned with flowers
upon the bank of the river. Quite tired out by so many new and wonderful
experiences, the Princess sat down to rest at the foot of a tree, and there she
fell fast asleep. Now it happened that it was in this very country that Prince
Peerless had been set down, and while the Princess Sunbeam was still sleeping
peacefully, he came strolling along in search of a shady pasture for his sheep.
</p>

<p>
The moment he caught sight of the Princess he recognised her as the charming
shepherdess whose picture he had seen so often in the tower, and as she was far
prettier than he had remembered her, he was delighted that chance had led him
that way.
</p>

<p>
He was still watching her admiringly when the Princess opened her eyes, and as
she also recognised him they were soon great friends. The Princess asked Prince
Peerless, as he knew the country better than she did, to tell her of some
peasant who would give her a lodging, and he said he knew of an old woman whose
cottage would be the very place for her, it was so nice and so pretty. So they
went there together, and the Princess was charmed with the old woman and
everything belonging to her. Supper was soon spread for her under a shady tree,
and she invited the Prince to share the cream and brown bread which the old
woman provided. This he was delighted to do, and having first fetched from his
own garden all the strawberries, cherries, nuts and flowers he could find, they
sat down together and were very merry. After this they met every day as they
guarded their flocks, and were so happy that Prince Peerless begged the
Princess to marry him, so that they might never be parted again. Now though the
Princess Sunbeam appeared to be only a poor shepherdess, she never forgot that
she was a real Princess, and she was not at all sure that she ought to marry a
humble shepherd, though she knew she would like to do so very much.
</p>

<p>
So she resolved to consult an Enchanter of whom she had heard a great deal
since she had been a shepherdess, and without saying a word to anybody she set
out to find the castle in which he lived with his sister, who was a powerful
Fairy. The way was long, and lay through a thick wood, where the Princess heard
strange voices calling to her from every side, but she was in such a hurry that
she stopped for nothing, and at last she came to the courtyard of the
Enchanter&rsquo;s castle.
</p>

<p>
The grass and briers were growing as high as if it were a hundred years since
anyone had set foot there, but the Princess got through at last, though she
gave herself a good many scratches by the way, and then she went into a dark,
gloomy hall, where there was but one tiny hole in the wall through which the
daylight could enter. The hangings were all of bats&rsquo; wings, and from the
ceiling hung twelve cats, who filled the hall with their ear piercing yells.
Upon the long table twelve mice were fastened by the tail, and just in front of
each one&rsquo;s nose, but quite beyond its reach, lay a tempting morsel of fat
bacon. So the cats could always see the mice, but could not touch them, and the
hungry mice were tormented by the sight and smell of the delicious morsels
which they could never seize.
</p>

<p>
The Princess was looking at the poor creatures in dismay, when the Enchanter
suddenly entered, wearing a long black robe and with a crocodile upon his head.
In his hand he carried a whip made of twenty long snakes, all alive and
writhing, and the Princess was so terrified at the sight that she heartily
wished she had never come. Without saying a word she ran to the door, but it
was covered with a thick spider&rsquo;s web, and when she broke it she found
another, and another, and another. In fact, there was no end to them; the
Princess&rsquo;s arms ached with tearing them down, and yet she was no nearer
to getting out, and the wicked Enchanter behind her laughed maliciously. At
last he said:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;You might spend the rest of your life over that without doing any good,
but as you are young, and quite the prettiest creature I have seen for a long
time, I will marry you if you like, and I will give you those cats and mice
that you see there for your own. They are princes and princesses who have
happened to offend me. They used to love one another as much as they now hate
one another. Aha! It&rsquo;s a pretty little revenge to keep them like
that.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Oh! If you would only change me into a mouse too,&rsquo; cried the
Princess.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Oh! so you won&rsquo;t marry me?&rsquo; said he. &lsquo;Little
simpleton, you should have everything heart can desire.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;No, indeed; nothing should make me marry you; in fact, I don&rsquo;t
think I shall ever love anyone,&rsquo; cried the Princess.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;In that case,&rsquo; said the Enchanter, touching her, &lsquo;you had
better become a particular kind of creature that is neither fish nor fowl; you
shall be light and airy, and as green as the grass you live in. Off with you,
Madam Grasshopper.&rsquo; And the Princess, rejoicing to find herself free once
more, skipped out into the garden, the prettiest little green Grasshopper in
the world. But as soon as she was safely out she began to be rather sorry for
herself.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Ah! Florimond,&rsquo; she sighed, &lsquo;is this the end of your gift?
Certainly beauty is short-lived, and this funny little face and a green crape
dress are a comical end to it. I had better have married my amiable shepherd.
It must be for my pride that I am condemned to be a Grasshopper, and sing day
and night in the grass by this brook, when I feel far more inclined to
cry.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
In the meantime Prince Peerless had discovered the Princess&rsquo;s absence,
and was lamenting over it by the river&rsquo;s brim, when he suddenly became
aware of the presence of a little old woman. She was quaintly dressed in a ruff
and farthingale, and a velvet hood covered her snow-white hair.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;You seem sorrowful, my son,&rsquo; she said. &lsquo;What is the
matter?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Alas! mother,&rsquo; answered the Prince, &lsquo;I have lost my sweet
shepherdess, but I am determined to find her again, though I should have to
traverse the whole world in search of her.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Go that way, my son,&rsquo; said the old woman, pointing towards the
path that led to the castle. &lsquo;I have an idea that you will soon overtake
her.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
The Prince thanked her heartily and set out. As he met with no hindrance, he
soon reached the enchanted wood which surrounded the castle, and there he
thought he saw the Princess Sunbeam gliding before him among the trees. Prince
Peerless hastened after her at the top of his speed, but could not get any
nearer; then he called to her:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Sunbeam, my darling&mdash;only wait for me a moment.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
But the phantom did but fly the faster, and the Prince spent the whole day in
this vain pursuit. When night came he saw the castle before him all lighted up,
and as he imagined that the Princess must be in it, he made haste to get there
too. He entered without difficulty, and in the hall the terrible old Fairy met
him. She was so thin that the light shone through her, and her eyes glowed like
lamps; her skin was like a shark&rsquo;s, her arms were thin as laths, and her
fingers like spindles. Nevertheless she wore rouge and patches, a mantle of
silver brocade and a crown of diamonds, and her dress was covered with jewels,
and green and pink ribbons.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;At last you have come to see me, Prince,&rsquo; said she.
&lsquo;Don&rsquo;t waste another thought upon that little shepherdess, who is
unworthy of your notice. I am the Queen of the Comets, and can bring you to
great honour if you will marry me.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Marry you, Madam,&rsquo; cried the Prince, in horror. &lsquo;No, I will
never consent to that.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Thereupon the Fairy, in a rage, gave two strokes of her wand and filled the
gallery with horrible goblins, against whom the Prince had to fight for his
life. Though he had only his dagger, he defended himself so well that he
escaped without any harm, and presently the old Fairy stopped the fray and
asked the Prince if he was still of the same mind. When he answered firmly that
he was, she called up the appearance of the Princess Sunbeam to the other end
of the gallery, and said:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;You see your beloved there? Take care what you are about, for if you
again refuse to marry me she shall be torn in pieces by two tigers.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
The Prince was distracted, for he fancied he heard his dear shepherdess weeping
and begging him to save her. In despair he cried:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Oh, Fairy Douceline, have you abandoned me after so many promises of
friendship? Help, help us now!&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Immediately a soft voice said in his ear:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Be firm, happen what may, and seek the Golden Branch.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Thus encouraged, the Prince persevered in his refusal, and at length the old
Fairy in a fury cried:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Get out of my sight, obstinate Prince. Become a Cricket!&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
And instantly the handsome Prince Peerless became a poor little black Cricket,
whose only idea would have been to find himself a cosy cranny behind some
blazing hearth, if he had not luckily remembered the Fairy Douceline&rsquo;s
injunction to seek the Golden Branch.
</p>

<p>
So he hastened to depart from the fatal castle, and sought shelter in a hollow
tree, where he found a forlorn looking little Grasshopper crouching in a
corner, too miserable to sing.
</p>

<p>
Without in the least expecting an answer, the Prince asked it:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;And where may you be going, Gammer Grasshopper?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Where are you going yourself, Gaffer Cricket?&rsquo; replied the
Grasshopper.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;What! can you speak?&rsquo; said he.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Why should I not speak as well as you? Isn&rsquo;t a Grasshopper as good
as a Cricket?&rsquo; said she.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I can talk because I was a Prince,&rsquo; said the Cricket.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;And for that very same reason I ought to be able to talk more than you,
for I was a Princess,&rsquo; replied the Grasshopper.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Then you have met with the same fate as I have,&rsquo; said he.
&lsquo;But where are you going now? Cannot we journey together?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I seemed to hear a voice in the air which said: &ldquo;Be firm, happen
what may, and seek the Golden Branch,&rdquo;&rsquo; answered the Grasshopper,
&lsquo;and I thought the command must be for me, so I started at once, though I
don&rsquo;t know the way.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
At this moment their conversation was interrupted by two mice, who, breathless
from running, flung themselves headlong through the hole into the tree, nearly
crushing the Grasshopper and the Cricket, though they got out of the way as
fast as they could and stood up in a dark corner.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Ah, Madam,&rsquo; said the fatter of the two, &lsquo;I have such a pain
in my side from running so fast. How does your Highness find yourself?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I have pulled my tail off,&rsquo; replied the younger Mouse, &lsquo;but
as I should still be on the sorcerer&rsquo;s table unless I had, I do not
regret it. Are we pursued, think you? How lucky we were to escape!&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I only trust that we may escape cats and traps, and reach the Golden
Branch soon,&rsquo; said the fat Mouse.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;You know the way then?&rsquo; said the other.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Oh dear, yes! as well as the way to my own house, Madam. This Golden
Branch is indeed a marvel, a single leaf from it makes one rich for ever. It
breaks enchantments, and makes all who approach it young and beautiful. We must
set out for it at the break of day.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;May we have the honour of travelling with you&mdash;this respectable
Cricket and myself?&rsquo; said the Grasshopper, stepping forward. &lsquo;We
also are on a pilgrimage to the Golden Branch.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
The Mice courteously assented, and after many polite speeches the whole party
fell asleep. With the earliest dawn they were on their way, and though the Mice
were in constant fear of being overtaken or trapped, they reached the Golden
Branch in safety.
</p>

<p>
It grew in the midst of a wonderful garden, all the paths of which were strewn
with pearls as big as peas. The roses were crimson diamonds, with emerald
leaves. The pomegranates were garnets, the marigolds topazes, the daffodils
yellow diamonds, the violets sapphires, the corn-flowers turquoises, the tulips
amethysts, opals and diamonds, so that the garden borders blazed like the sun.
The Golden Branch itself had become as tall as a forest tree, and sparkled with
ruby cherries to its topmost twig. No sooner had the Grasshopper and the
Cricket touched it than they were restored to their natural forms, and their
surprise and joy were great when they recognised each other. At this moment
Florimond and the Fairy Douceline appeared in great splendour, and the Fairy,
as she descended from her chariot, said with a smile:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;So you two have found one another again, I see, but I have still a
surprise left for you. Don&rsquo;t hesitate, Princess, to tell your devoted
shepherd how dearly you love him, as he is the very Prince your father sent you
to marry. So come here both of you and let me crown you, and we will have the
wedding at once.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
The Prince and Princess thanked her with all their hearts, and declared that to
her they owed all their happiness, and then the two Princesses, who had so
lately been Mice, came and begged that the Fairy would use her power to release
their unhappy friends who were still under the Enchanter&rsquo;s spell.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Really,&rsquo; said the Fairy Douceline, &lsquo;on this happy occasion I
cannot find it in my heart to refuse you anything.&rsquo; And she gave three
strokes of her wand upon the Golden Branch, and immediately all the prisoners
in the Enchanter&rsquo;s castle found themselves free, and came with all speed
to the wonderful garden, where one touch of the Golden Branch restored each one
to his natural form, and they greeted one another with many rejoicings. To
complete her generous work the Fairy presented them with the wonderful cabinet
and all the treasures it contained, which were worth at least ten kingdoms. But
to Prince Peerless and the Princess Sunbeam she gave the palace and garden of
the Golden Branch, where, immensely rich and greatly beloved by all their
subjects, they lived happily ever after.<a href="#fn18" id="fnref18"><sup>[18]</sup></a>
</p>

<p class="footnote">
<a id="fn18"></a> <a href="#fnref18">[18]</a>
<i>Le Rameau d&rsquo;Or</i>. Par Madame d&rsquo;Aulnoy.
</p>

</div><!--end chapter-->

<div class="chapter">

<h2><a id="chap23"></a>THE THREE DWARFS</h2>

<p>
There was once upon a time a man who lost his wife, and a woman who lost her
husband; and the man had a daughter and so had the woman. The two girls were
great friends and used often to play together. One day the woman turned to the
man&rsquo;s daughter and said:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Go and tell your father that I will marry him, and then you shall wash
in milk and drink wine, but my own daughter shall wash in water and drink it
too.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
The girl went straight home and told her father what the woman had said.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;What am I to do?&rsquo; he answered. &lsquo;Marriage is either a success
or it is a failure.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
At last, being of an undecided character and not being able to make up his
mind, he took off his boot, and handing it to his daughter, said:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Take this boot which has a hole in the sole, hang it up on a nail in the
hayloft, and pour water into it. If it holds water I will marry again, but if
it doesn&rsquo;t I won&rsquo;t.&rsquo; The girl did as she was bid, but the
water drew the hole together and the boot filled up to the very top. So she
went and told her father the result. He got up and went to see for himself, and
when he saw that it was true and no mistake, he accepted his fate, proposed to
the widow, and they were married at once.
</p>

<p>
On the morning after the wedding, when the two girls awoke, milk was standing
for the man&rsquo;s daughter to wash in and wine for her to drink; but for the
woman&rsquo;s daughter, only water to wash in and only water to drink. On the
second morning, water to wash in and water to drink was standing for the
man&rsquo;s daughter as well. And on the third morning, water to wash in and
water to drink was standing for the man&rsquo;s daughter, and milk to wash in
and wine to drink for the woman&rsquo;s daughter; and so it continued ever
after. The woman hated her stepdaughter from the bottom of her heart, and did
all she could to make her life miserable. She was as jealous as she could
possibly be, because the girl was so beautiful and charming, while her own
daughter was both ugly and repulsive.
</p>

<p>
One winter&rsquo;s day when there was a hard frost, and mountain and valley
were covered with snow, the woman made a dress of paper, and calling the girl
to her said:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;There, put on this dress and go out into the wood and fetch me a basket
of strawberries!&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Now Heaven help us,&rsquo; replied her stepdaughter; &lsquo;strawberries
don&rsquo;t grow in winter; the earth is all frozen and the snow has covered up
everything; and why send me in a paper dress? it is so cold outside that
one&rsquo;s very breath freezes; the wind will whistle through my dress, and
the brambles tear it from my body.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;How dare you contradict me!&rsquo; said her stepmother; &lsquo;be off
with you at once, and don&rsquo;t show your face again till you have filled the
basket with strawberries.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Then she gave her a hard crust of bread, saying:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;That will be enough for you to-day,&rsquo; and she thought to herself:
&lsquo;The girl will certainly perish of hunger and cold outside, and I
shan&rsquo;t be bothered with her any more.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
The girl was so obedient that she put on the paper dress and set out with her
little basket. There was nothing but snow far and near, and not a green blade
of grass to be seen anywhere. When she came to the wood she saw a little house,
and out of it peeped three little dwarfs. She wished them good-day, and knocked
modestly at the door. They called out to her to enter, so she stepped in and
sat down on a seat by the fire, wishing to warm herself and eat her breakfast.
The Dwarfs said at once: &lsquo;Give us some of your food!&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Gladly,&rsquo; she said, and breaking her crust in two, she gave them
the half.
</p>

<p>
Then they asked her what she was doing in the depths of winter in her thin
dress.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Oh,&rsquo; she answered, &lsquo;I have been sent to get a basketful of
strawberries, and I daren&rsquo;t show my face again at home till I bring them
with me.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
When she had finished her bread they gave her a broom and told her to sweep
away the snow from the back door. As soon as she left the room to do so, the
three little men consulted what they should give her as a reward for being so
sweet and good, and for sharing her last crust with them.
</p>

<p>
The first said: &lsquo;Every day she shall grow prettier.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
The second: &lsquo;Every time she opens her mouth a piece of gold shall fall
out.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
And the third: &lsquo;A King shall come and marry her.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
The girl in the meantime was doing as the Dwarfs had bidden her, and was
sweeping the snow away from the back door, and what do you think she found
there?&mdash;heaps of fine ripe strawberries that showed out dark red against
the white snow. She joyfully picked enough to fill her basket, thanked the
little men for their kindness, shook hands with them, and ran home to bring her
stepmother what she had asked for. When she walked in and said; Good
evening,&rsquo; a piece of gold fell out of her mouth. Then she told what had
happened to her in the wood, and at every word pieces of gold dropped from her
mouth, so that the room was soon covered with them.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;She&rsquo;s surely more money than wit to throw gold about like
that,&rsquo; said her stepsister, but in her secret heart she was very jealous,
and determined that she too would go to the wood and look for strawberries. But
her mother refused to let her go, saying:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;My dear child, it is far too cold; you might freeze to death.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
The girl however left her no peace, so she was forced at last to give in, but
she insisted on her putting on a beautiful fur cloak, and she gave her bread
and butter and cakes to eat on the way.
</p>

<p>
The girl went straight to the little house in the wood, and as before the three
little men were looking out of the window. She took no notice of them, and
without as much as &lsquo;By your leave,&rsquo; or &lsquo;With your
leave,&rsquo; she flounced into the room, sat herself down at the fire, and
began to eat her bread and butter and cakes.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Give us some,&rsquo; cried the Dwarfs.
</p>

<p>
But she answered: &lsquo;No, I won&rsquo;t, it&rsquo;s hardly enough for
myself; so catch me giving you any.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
When she had finished eating they said:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;There&rsquo;s a broom for you, go and clear up our back door.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I&rsquo;ll see myself further,&rsquo; she answered rudely. &lsquo;Do it
yourselves; I&rsquo;m not your servant.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
When she saw that they did not mean to give her anything, she left the house in
no amiable frame of mind. Then the three little men consulted what they should
do to her, because she was so bad and had such an evil, covetous heart, that
she grudged everybody their good fortune.
</p>

<p>
The first said: &lsquo;She shall grow uglier every day.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
The second: &lsquo;Every time she speaks a toad shall jump out of her
mouth.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
And the third: &lsquo;She shall die a most miserable death.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
The girl searched for strawberries, but she found none, and returned home in a
very bad temper. When she opened her mouth to tell her mother what had befallen
her in the wood, a toad jumped out, so that everyone was quite disgusted with
her.
</p>

<p>
Then the stepmother was more furious than ever, and did nothing but plot
mischief against the man&rsquo;s daughter, who was daily growing more and more
beautiful. At last, one day the wicked woman took a large pot, put it on the
fire and boiled some yarn in it. When it was well scalded she hung it round the
poor girl&rsquo;s shoulder, and giving her an axe, she bade her break a hole in
the frozen river, and rinse the yarn in it. Her stepdaughter obeyed as usual,
and went and broke a hole in the ice. When she was in the act of wringing out
the yarn a magnificent carriage passed, and the King sat inside. The carriage
stood still, and the King asked her:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;My child, who are you, and what in the wide world are you doing
here?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I am only a poor girl,&rsquo; she answered, &lsquo;and am rinsing out my
yarn in the river.&rsquo; Then the King was sorry for her, and when he saw how
beautiful she was he said:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Will you come away with me?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Most gladly,&rsquo; she replied, for she knew how willingly she would
leave her stepmother and sister, and how glad they would be to be rid of her.
</p>

<p>
So she stepped into the carriage and drove away with the King, and when they
reached his palace the wedding was celebrated with much splendour. So all
turned out just as the three little Dwarfs had said. After a year the Queen
gave birth to a little son. When her stepmother heard of her good fortune she
came to the palace with her daughter by way of paying a call, and took up her
abode there. Now one day, when the King was out and nobody else near, the bad
woman took the Queen by her head, and the daughter took her by her heels, and
they dragged her from her bed, and flung her out of the window into the stream
which flowed beneath it. Then the stepmother laid her ugly daughter in the
Queen&rsquo;s place, and covered her up with the clothes, so that nothing of
her was seen. When the King came home and wished to speak to his wife the woman
called out:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Quietly, quietly! this will never do; your wife is very ill, you must
let her rest all to-day.&rsquo; The King suspected no evil, and didn&rsquo;t
come again till next morning. When he spoke to his wife and she answered him,
instead of the usual piece of gold a toad jumped out of her mouth. Then he
asked what it meant, and the old woman told him it was nothing but weakness,
and that she would soon be all right again.
</p>

<p>
But that same evening the scullion noticed a duck swimming up the gutter,
saying as it passed:
</p>

<p class="poem">
&lsquo;What does the King, I pray you tell,<br>
Is he awake or sleeps he well?&rsquo;
</p>

<p class="noindent">
and receiving no reply, it continued:
</p>

<p class="poem">
&lsquo;And all my guests, are they asleep?&rsquo;
</p>

<p class="noindent">
and the Scullion answered:
</p>

<p class="poem">
&lsquo;Yes, one and all they slumber deep.&rsquo;
</p>

<p class="noindent">
Then the Duck went on:
</p>

<p class="poem">
&lsquo;And what about my baby dear?&rsquo;
</p>

<p class="noindent">
and he answered:
</p>

<p class="poem">
&lsquo;Oh, it sleeps soundly, never fear.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Then the Duck assumed the Queen&rsquo;s shape, went up to the child&rsquo;s
room, tucked him up comfortably in his cradle, and then swam back down the
gutter again, in the likeness of a Duck. This was repeated for two nights, and
on the third the Duck said to the Scullion:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Go and tell the King to swing his sword three times over me on the
threshold.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
The Scullion did as the creature bade him, and the King came with his sword and
swung it three times over the bird, and lo and behold! his wife stood before
him once more, alive, and as blooming as ever.
</p>

<p>
The King rejoiced greatly, but he kept the Queen in hiding till the Sunday on
which the child was to be christened. After the christening he said:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;What punishment does that person deserve who drags another out of bed,
and throws him or her, as the case may be, into the water?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Then the wicked old stepmother answered:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;No better fate than to be put into a barrel lined with sharp nails, and
to be rolled in it down the hill into the water.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;You have pronounced your own doom,&rsquo; said the King; and he ordered
a barrel to be made lined with sharp nails, and in it he put the bad old woman
and her daughter. Then it was fastened down securely, and the barrel was rolled
down the hill till it fell into the river.<a href="#fn19" id="fnref19"><sup>[19]</sup></a>
</p>

<p class="footnote">
<a id="fn19"></a> <a href="#fnref19">[19]</a>
Grimm.
</p>

</div><!--end chapter-->

<div class="chapter">

<h2><a id="chap24"></a>DAPPLEGRIM</h2>

<p>
There was once upon a time a couple of rich folks who had twelve sons, and when
the youngest was grown up he would not stay at home any longer, but would go
out into the world and seek his fortune. His father and mother said that they
thought he was very well off at home, and that he was welcome to stay with
them; but he could not rest, and said that he must and would go, so at last
they had to give him leave. When he had walked a long way, he came to a
King&rsquo;s palace. There he asked for a place and got it.
</p>

<p>
Now the daughter of the King of that country had been carried off into the
mountains by a Troll, and the King had no other children, and for this cause
both he and all his people were full of sorrow and affliction, and the King had
promised the Princess and half his kingdom to anyone who could set her free;
but there was no one who could do it, though a great number had tried. So when
the youth had been there for the space of a year or so, he wanted to go home
again to pay his parents a visit; but when he got there his father and mother
were dead, and his brothers had divided everything that their parents possessed
between themselves, so that there was nothing at all left for him.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Shall I, then, receive nothing at all of my inheritance?&rsquo; asked
the youth.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Who could know that you were still alive&mdash;you who have been a
wanderer so long?&rsquo; answered the brothers. &lsquo;However, there are
twelve mares upon the hills which we have not yet divided among us, and if you
would like to have them for your share, you may take them.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
So the youth, well pleased with this, thanked them, and at once set off to the
hill where the twelve mares were at pasture. When he got up there and found
them, each mare had her foal, and by the side of one of them was a big
dapple-grey foal as well, which was so sleek that it shone again.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Well, my little foal, you are a fine fellow!&rsquo; said the youth.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Yes, but if you will kill all the other little foals so that I can suck
all the mares for a year, you shall see how big and handsome I shall be
then!&rsquo; said the Foal.
</p>

<p>
So the youth did this&mdash;he killed all the twelve foals, and then went back
again.
</p>

<p>
Next year, when he came home again to look after his mares and the foal, it was
as fat as it could be, and its coat shone with brightness, and it was so big
that the lad had the greatest difficulty in getting on its back, and each of
the mares had another foal.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Well, it&rsquo;s very evident that I have lost nothing by letting you
suck all my mares,&rsquo; said the lad to the yearling; &lsquo;but now you are
quite big enough, and must come away with me.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;No,&rsquo; said the Colt, &lsquo;I must stay here another year; kill the
twelve little foals, and then I can suck all the mares this year also, and you
shall see how big and handsome I shall be by summer.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
So the youth did it again, and when he went up on the hill next year to look
after his colt and the mares, each of the mares had her foal again; but the
dappled colt was so big that when the lad wanted to feel its neck to see how
fat it was, he could not reach up to it, it was so high, and it was so bright
that the light glanced off its coat.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Big and handsome you were last year, my colt, but this year you are ever
so much handsomer,&rsquo; said the youth; &lsquo;in all the King&rsquo;s court
no such horse is to be found. But now you shall come away with me.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;No,&rsquo; said the dappled Colt once more; &lsquo;here I must stay for
another year. Just kill the twelve little foals again, so that I can suck the
mares this year also, and then come and look at me in the summer.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
So the youth did it&mdash;he killed all the little foals, and then went home
again.
</p>

<p>
But next year, when he returned to look after the dappled colt and the mares,
he was quite appalled. He had never imagined that any horse could become so big
and overgrown, for the dappled horse had to lie down on all fours before the
youth could get on his back, and it was very hard to do that even when it was
lying down, and it was so plump that its coat shone and glistened just as if it
had been a looking-glass. This time the dappled horse was not unwilling to go
away with the youth, so he mounted it, and when he came riding home to his
brothers they all smote their hands together and crossed themselves, for never
in their lives had they either seen or heard tell of such a horse as that.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;If you will procure me the best shoes for my horse, and the most
magnificent saddle and bridle that can be found,&rsquo; said the youth,
&lsquo;you may have all my twelve mares just as they are standing out on the
hill, and their twelve foals into the bargain.&rsquo; For this year also each
mare had her foal. The brothers were quite willing to do this; so the lad got
such shoes for his horse that the sticks and stones flew high up into the air
as he rode away over the hills, and such a gold saddle and such a gold bridle
that they could be seen glittering and glancing from afar.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;And now we will go to the King&rsquo;s palace,&rsquo; said
Dapplegrim&mdash;that was the horse&rsquo;s name, &lsquo;but bear in mind that
you must ask the King for a good stable and excellent fodder for me.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
So the lad promised not to forget to do that. He rode to the palace, and it
will be easily understood that with such a horse as he had he was not long on
the way.
</p>

<p>
When he arrived there, the King was standing out on the steps, and how he did
stare at the man who came riding up!
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Nay,&rsquo; said he, &lsquo;never in my whole life have I seen such a
man and such a horse.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
And when the youth inquired if he could have a place in the King&rsquo;s
palace, the King was so delighted that he could have danced on the steps where
he was standing, and there and then the lad was told that he should have a
place.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Yes; but I must have a good stable and most excellent fodder for my
horse,&rsquo; said he.
</p>

<p>
So they told him that he should have sweet hay and oats, and as much of them as
the dappled horse chose to have, and all the other riders had to take their
horses out of the stable that Dapplegrim might stand alone and really have
plenty of room.
</p>

<p>
But this did not last long, for the other people in the King&rsquo;s Court
became envious of the lad, and there was no bad thing that they would not have
done to him if they had but dared. At last they bethought themselves of telling
the King that the youth had said that, if he chose, he was quite able to rescue
the Princess who had been carried off into the mountain a long time ago by the
Troll.
</p>

<p>
The King immediately summoned the lad into his presence, and said that he had
been informed that he had said that it was in his power to rescue the Princess,
so he was now to do it. If he succeeded in this, he no doubt knew that the King
had promised his daughter and half the kingdom to anyone who set her free,
which promise should be faithfully and honourably kept, but if he failed he
should be put to death. The youth denied that he had said this, but all to no
purpose, for the King was deaf to all his words; so there was nothing to be
done but say that he would make the attempt.
</p>

<p>
He went down into the stable, and very sad and full of care he was. Then
Dapplegrim inquired why he was so troubled, and the youth told him, and said
that he did not know what to do, &lsquo;for as to setting the Princess free,
that was downright impossible.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Oh, but it might be done,&rsquo; said Dapplegrim. &lsquo;I will help
you; but you must first have me well shod. You must ask for ten pounds of iron
and twelve pounds of steel for the shoeing, and one smith to hammer and one to
hold.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
So the youth did this, and no one said him nay. He got both the iron and the
steel, and the smiths, and thus was Dapplegrim shod strongly and well, and when
the youth went out of the King&rsquo;s palace a cloud of dust rose up behind
him. But when he came to the mountain into which the Princess had been carried,
the difficulty was to ascend the precipitous wall of rock by which he was to
get on to the mountain beyond, for the rock stood right up on end, as steep as
a house side and as smooth as a sheet of glass. The first time the youth rode
at it he got a little way up the precipice, but then both Dapplegrim&rsquo;s
fore legs slipped, and down came horse and rider with a sound like thunder
among the mountains. The next time that he rode at it he got a little farther
up, but then one of Dapplegrim&rsquo;s fore legs slipped, and down they went
with the sound of a landslip. But the third time Dapplegrim said: &lsquo;Now we
must show what we can do,&rsquo; and went at it once more till the stones
sprang up sky high, and thus they got up. Then the lad rode into the mountain
cleft at full gallop and caught up the Princess on his saddle-bow, and then out
again before the Troll even had time to stand up, and thus the Princess was set
free.
</p>

<p>
When the youth returned to the palace the King was both happy and delighted to
get his daughter back again, as may easily be believed, but somehow or other
the people about the Court had so worked on him that he was angry with the lad
too. &lsquo;Thou shalt have my thanks for setting my Princess free,&rsquo; he
said, when the youth came into the palace with her, and was then about to go
away.
</p>

<p>
She ought to be just as much my Princess as she is yours now, for you are a man
of your word,&rsquo; said the youth.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Yes, yes,&rsquo; said the King. &lsquo;Have her thou shalt, as I have
said it; but first of all thou must make the sun shine into my palace
here.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
For there was a large and high hill outside the windows which overshadowed the
palace so much that the sun could not shine in.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;That was no part of our bargain,&rsquo; answered the youth. &lsquo;But
as nothing that I can say will move you, I suppose I shall have to try to do my
best, for the Princess I will have.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
So he went down to Dapplegrim again and told him what the King desired, and
Dapplegrim thought that it might easily be done; but first of all he must have
new shoes, and ten pounds of iron and twelve pounds of steel must go to the
making of them, and two smiths were also necessary, one to hammer and one to
hold, and then it would be very easy to make the sun shine into the
King&rsquo;s palace.
</p>

<p>
The lad asked for these things and obtained them instantly, for the King
thought that for very shame he could not refuse to give them, and so Dapplegrim
got new shoes, and they were good ones. The youth seated himself on him, and
once more they went their way, and for each hop that Dapplegrim made, down went
the hill fifteen ells into the earth, and so they went on until there was no
hill left for the King to see.
</p>

<p>
When the youth came down again to the King&rsquo;s palace he asked the King if
the Princess should not at last be his, for now no one could say that the sun
was not shining into the palace. But the other people in the palace had again
stirred up the King, and he answered that the youth should have her, and that
he had never intended that he should not; but first of all he must get her
quite as good a horse to ride to the wedding on as that which he had himself.
The youth said that the King had never told him he was to do that, and it
seemed to him that he had now really earned the Princess; but the King stuck to
what he had said, and if the youth were unable to do it he was to lose his
life, the King said. The youth went down to the stable again, and very sad and
sorrowful he was, as anyone may well imagine. Then he told Dapplegrim that the
King had now required that he should get the Princess as good a bridal horse as
that which the bridegroom had, or he should lose his life. &lsquo;But that will
be no easy thing to do,&rsquo; said he, &lsquo;for your equal is not to be
found in all the world.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Oh yes, there is one to match me,&rsquo; said Dapplegrim. &lsquo;But it
will not be easy to get him, for he is underground. However, we will try. Now
you must go up to the King and ask for new shoes for me, and for them we must
again have ten pounds of iron, twelve pounds of steel, and two smiths, one to
hammer and one to hold, but be very particular to see that the hooks are very
sharp. And you must also ask for twelve barrels of rye, and twelve slaughtered
oxen must we have with us, and all the twelve ox-hides with twelve hundred
spikes set in each of them; all these things must we have, likewise a barrel of
tar with twelve tons of tar in it. The youth went to the King and asked for all
the things that Dapplegrim had named, and once more, as the King thought that
it would be disgraceful to refuse them to him, he obtained them all.
</p>

<p>
So he mounted Dapplegrim and rode away from the Court, and when he had ridden
for a long, long time over hills and moors, Dapplegrim asked: &lsquo;Do you
hear anything?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Yes; there is such a dreadful whistling up above in the air that I think
I am growing alarmed,&rsquo; said the youth.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;That is all the wild birds in the forest flying about; they are sent to
stop us,&rsquo; said Dapplegrim. &lsquo;But just cut a hole in the corn sacks,
and then they will be so busy with the corn that they will forget us.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
The youth did it. He cut holes in the corn sacks so that barley and rye ran out
on every side, and all the wild birds that were in the forest came in such
numbers that they darkened the sun. But when they caught sight of the corn they
could not refrain from it, but flew down and began to scratch and pick at the
corn and rye, and at last they began to fight among themselves, and forgot all
about the youth and Dapplegrim, and did them no harm.
</p>

<p>
And now the youth rode onwards for a long, long time, over hill and dale, over
rocky places and morasses, and then Dapplegrim began to listen again, and asked
the youth if he heard anything now.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Yes; now I hear such a dreadful crackling and crashing in the forest on
every side that I think I shall be really afraid,&rsquo; said the youth.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;That is all the wild beasts in the forest,&rsquo; said Dapplegrim;
&lsquo;they are sent out to stop us. But just throw out the twelve carcasses of
the oxen, and they will be so much occupied with them that they will quite
forget us.&rsquo; So the youth threw out the carcasses of the oxen, and then
all the wild beasts in the forest, both bears and wolves, and lions, and grim
beasts of all kinds, came. But when they caught sight of the carcasses of the
oxen they began to fight for them till the blood flowed, and they entirely
forgot Dapplegrim and the youth.
</p>

<p>
So the youth rode onwards again, and many and many were the new scenes they
saw, for travelling on Dapplegrim&rsquo;s back was not travelling slowly, as
may be imagined, and then Dapplegrim neighed.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Do you hear anything?&rsquo; he said.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Yes; I heard something like a foal neighing quite plainly a long, long
way off,&rsquo; answered the youth.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;That&rsquo;s a full-grown colt,&rsquo; said Dapplegrim, &lsquo;if you
hear it so plainly when it is so far away from us.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
So they travelled onwards a long time, and saw one new scene after another once
more. Then Dapplegrim neighed again.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Do you hear anything now?&rsquo; said he.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Yes; now I heard it quite distinctly, and it neighed like a full-grown
horse,&rsquo; answered the youth.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Yes, and you will hear it again very soon,&rsquo; said Dapplegrim;
&lsquo;and then you will hear what a voice it has.&rsquo; So they travelled on
through many more different kinds of country, and then Dapplegrim neighed for
the third time; but before he could ask the youth if he heard anything, there
was such a neighing on the other side of the heath that the youth thought that
hills and rocks would be rent in pieces.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Now he is here!&rsquo; said Dapplegrim. &lsquo;Be quick, and fling over
me the ox-hides that have the spikes in them, throw the twelve tons of tar over
the field, and climb up into that great spruce fir tree. When he comes, fire
will spurt out of both his nostrils, and then the tar will catch fire. Now mark
what I say&mdash;if the flame ascends I conquer, and if it sinks I fail; but if
you see that I am winning, fling the bridle, which you must take off me, over
his head, and then he will become quite gentle.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Just as the youth had flung all the hides with the spikes over Dapplegrim, and
the tar over the field, and had got safely up into the spruce fir, a horse came
with flame spouting from his nostrils, and the tar caught fire in a moment; and
Dapplegrim and the horse began to fight until the stones leapt up to the sky.
They bit, and they fought with their fore legs and their hind legs, and
sometimes the youth looked at them. And sometimes he looked at the tar, but at
last the flames began to rise, for wheresoever the strange horse bit or
wheresoever he kicked he hit upon the spikes in the hides, and at length he had
to yield. When the youth saw that, he was not long in getting down from the
tree and flinging the bridle over the horse&rsquo;s head, and then he became so
tame that he might have been led by a thin string.
</p>

<p>
This horse was dappled too, and so like Dapplegrim that no one could
distinguish the one from the other. The youth seated himself on the dappled
horse which he had captured, and rode home again to the King&rsquo;s palace,
and Dapplegrim ran loose by his side. When he got there, the King was standing
outside in the courtyard.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Can you tell me which is the horse I have caught, and which is the one I
had before?&rsquo; said the youth. &lsquo;If you can&rsquo;t, I think your
daughter is mine.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
The King went and looked at both the dappled horses; he looked high and he
looked low, he looked before and he looked behind, but there was not a
hair&rsquo;s difference between the two.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;No,&rsquo; said the King; &lsquo;that I cannot tell thee, and as thou
hast procured such a splendid bridal horse for my daughter thou shalt have her;
but first we must have one more trial, just to see if thou art fated to have
her. She shall hide herself twice, and then thou shalt hide thyself twice. If
thou canst find her each time that she hides herself, and if she cannot find
thee in thy hiding-places, then it is fated, and thou shalt have the
Princess.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;That, too, was not in our bargain,&rsquo; said the youth. &lsquo;But we
will make this trial since it must be so.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
So the King&rsquo;s daughter was to hide herself first.
</p>

<p>
Then she changed herself into a duck, and lay swimming in a lake that was just
outside the palace. But the youth went down into the stable and asked
Dapplegrim what she had done with herself.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Oh, all that you have to do is to take your gun, and go down to the
water and aim at the duck which is swimming about there, and she will soon
discover herself,&rsquo; said Dapplegrim.
</p>

<p>
The youth snatched up his gun and ran to the lake. &lsquo;I will just have a
shot at that duck,&rsquo; said he, and began to aim at it.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Oh, no, dear friend, don&rsquo;t shoot! It is I,&rsquo; said the
Princess. So he had found her once.
</p>

<p>
The second time the Princess changed herself into a loaf, and laid herself on
the table among four other loaves; and she was so like the other loaves that no
one could see any difference between them.
</p>

<p>
But the youth again went down to the stable to Dapplegrim, and told him that
the Princess had hidden herself again, and that he had not the least idea what
had become of her.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Oh, just take a very large bread-knife, sharpen it, and pretend that you
are going to cut straight through the third of the four loaves which are lying
on the kitchen table in the King&rsquo;s palace&mdash;count them from right to
left&mdash;and you will soon find her,&rsquo; said Dapplegrim.
</p>

<p>
So the youth went up to the kitchen, and began to sharpen the largest
bread-knife that he could find; then he caught hold of the third loaf on the
left-hand side, and put the knife to it as if he meant to cut it straight in
two. &lsquo;I will have a bit of this bread for myself,&rsquo; said he.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;No, dear friend, don&rsquo;t cut, it is I!&rsquo; said the Princess
again; so he had found her the second time.
</p>

<p>
And now it was his turn to go and hide himself; but Dapplegrim had given him
such good instructions that it was not easy to find him. First he turned
himself into a horse-fly, and hid himself in Dapplegrim&rsquo;s left nostril.
The Princess went poking about and searching everywhere, high and low, and
wanted to go into Dapplegrim&rsquo;s stall too, but he began to bite and kick
about so that she was afraid to go there, and could not find the youth.
&lsquo;Well,&rsquo; said she, &lsquo;as I am unable to find you, you must show
yourself; &lsquo;whereupon the youth immediately appeared standing there on the
stable floor.
</p>

<p>
Dapplegrim told him what he was to do the second time, and he turned himself
into a lump of earth, and stuck himself between the hoof and the shoe on
Dapplegrim&rsquo;s left fore foot. Once more the King&rsquo;s daughter went and
sought everywhere, inside and outside, until at last she came into the stable,
and wanted to go into the stall beside Dapplegrim. So this time he allowed her
to go into it, and she peered about high and low, but she could not look under
his hoofs, for he stood much too firmly on his legs for that, and she could not
find the youth.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Well, you will just have to show where you are yourself, for I
can&rsquo;t find you,&rsquo; said the Princess, and in an instant the youth was
standing by her side on the floor of the stable.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Now you are mine!&rsquo; said he to the Princess.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Now you can see that it is fated that she should be mine,&rsquo; he said
to the King.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Yes, fated it is,&rsquo; said the King. &lsquo;So what must be,
must.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Then everything was made ready for the wedding with great splendour and
promptitude, and the youth rode to church on Dapplegrim, and the King&rsquo;s
daughter on the other horse. So everyone must see that they could not be long
on their way thither.<a href="#fn20" id="fnref20"><sup>[20]</sup></a>
</p>

<p class="footnote">
<a id="fn20"></a> <a href="#fnref20">[20]</a>
From J. Moe.
</p>

</div><!--end chapter-->

<div class="chapter">

<h2><a id="chap25"></a>THE ENCHANTED CANARY</h2>

<h3>I</h3>

<p>
Once upon a time, in the reign of King Cambrinus, there lived at Avesnes one of
his lords, who was the finest man&mdash;by which I mean the fattest&mdash;in
the whole country of Flanders. He ate four meals a day, slept twelve hours out
of the twenty-four, and the only thing he ever did was to shoot at small birds
with his bow and arrow.
</p>

<p>
Still, with all his practice he shot very badly, he was so fat and heavy, and
as he grew daily fatter, he was at last obliged to give up walking, and be
dragged about in a wheel-chair, and the people made fun of him, and gave him
the name of my Lord Tubby.
</p>

<p>
Now, the only trouble that Lord Tubby had was about his son, whom he loved very
much, although they were not in the least alike, for the young Prince was as
thin as a cuckoo. And what vexed him more than all was, that though the young
ladies throughout all his lands did their best to make the Prince fall in love
with them, he would have nothing to say to any of them, and told his father he
did not wish to marry.
</p>

<p>
Instead of chatting with them in the dusk, he wandered about the woods,
whispering to the moon. No wonder the young ladies thought him very odd, but
they liked him all the better for that; and as he had received at his birth the
name of Désiré, they all called him d&rsquo;Amour Désiré.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;What is the matter with you?&rsquo; his father often said to him.
&lsquo;You have everything you can possibly wish for: a good bed, good food,
and tuns full of beer. The only thing you want, in order to become as fat as a
pig, is a wife that can bring you broad, rich lands. So marry, and you will be
perfectly happy.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I ask nothing better than to marry,&rsquo; replied Désiré, &lsquo;but I
have never seen a woman that pleases me. All the girls here are pink and white,
and I am tired to death of their eternal lilie and roses.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;My faith!&rsquo; cried Tubby; &lsquo;do you want to marry a negress, and
give me grandchildren as ugly as monkeys and as stupid as owls?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;No, father, nothing of the sort. But there must be women somewhere in
the world who are neither pink nor white, and I tell you, once for all, that I
will never marry until I have found one exactly to my taste.&rsquo;
</p>

<h3>II</h3>

<p>
Some time afterwards, it happened that the Prior of the Abbey of Saint Amand
sent to the Lord of Avesnes a basket of oranges, with a beautifully-written
letter saying that these golden fruit, then unknown in Flanders, came straight
from a land where the sun always shone.
</p>

<p>
That evening Tubby and his son ate the golden apples at supper, and thought
them delicious.
</p>

<p>
Next morning as the day dawned, Désiré went down to the stable and saddled his
pretty white horse. Then he went, all dressed for a journey, to the bedside of
Tubby, and found him smoking his first pipe.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Father,&rsquo; he said gravely, &lsquo;I have come to bid you farewell.
Last night I dreamed that I was walking in a wood, where the trees were covered
with golden apples. I gathered one of them, and when I opened it there came out
a lovely princess with a golden skin. That is the wife I want, and I am going
to look for her.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
The Lord of Avesnes was so much astonished that he let his pipe fall to the
ground; then he became so diverted at the notion of his son marrying a yellow
woman, and a woman shut up inside an orange, that he burst into fits of
laughter.
</p>

<p>
Désiré waited to bid him good-bye until he was quiet again; but as his father
went on laughing and showed no signs of stopping, the young man took his hand,
kissed it tenderly, opened the door, and in the twinkling of an eye was at
the bottom of the staircase. He jumped lightly on his horse, and was a mile
from home before Tubby had ceased laughing.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;A yellow wife! He must be mad! fit for a strait waistcoat!&rsquo; cried
the good man, when he was able to speak. &lsquo;Here! quick! bring him back to
me.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
The servants mounted their horses and rode after the Prince; but as they did
not know which road he had taken, they went all ways except the right one, and
instead of bringing him back they returned themselves when it grew dark, with
their horses worn out and covered with dust.
</p>

<h3>III</h3>

<p>
When Désiré thought they could no longer catch him, he pulled his horse into a
walk, like a prudent man who knows he has far to go. He travelled in this way
for many weeks, passing by villages, towns, mountains, valleys, and plains, but
always pushing south, where every day the sun seemed hotter and more brilliant.
</p>

<p>
At last one day at sunset Désiré felt the sun so warm, that he thought he must
now be near the place of his dream. He was at that moment close to the corner
of a wood where stood a little hut, before the door of which his horse stopped
of his own accord. An old man with a white beard was sitting on the doorstep
enjoying the fresh air. The Prince got down from his horse and asked leave to
rest.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Come in, my young friend,&rsquo; said the old man; &lsquo;my house is
not large, but it is big enough to hold a stranger.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
The traveller entered, and his host put before him a simple meal. When his
hunger was satisfied the old man said to him:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;If I do not mistake, you come from far. May I ask where you are
going?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I will tell you,&rsquo; answered Désiré, &lsquo;though most likely you
will laugh at me. I dreamed that in the land of the sun there was a wood full
of orange trees, and that in one of the oranges I should find a beautiful
princess who is to be my wife. It is she I am seeking.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Why should I laugh?&rsquo; asked the old man. &lsquo;Madness in youth is
true wisdom. Go, young man, follow your dream, and if you do not find the
happiness that you seek, at any rate you will have had the happiness of seeking
it.&rsquo;
</p>

<h3>IV</h3>

<p>
The next day the Prince arose early and took leave of his host.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;The wood that you saw in your dream is not far from here,&rsquo; said
the old man. &lsquo;It is in the depth of the forest, and this road will lead
you there. You will come to a vast park surrounded by high walls. In the middle
of the park is a castle, where dwells a horrible witch who allows no living
being to enter the doors. Behind the castle is the orange grove. Follow the
wall till you come to a heavy iron gate. Don&rsquo;t try to press it open, but
oil the hinges with this,&rsquo; and the old man gave him a small bottle.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;The gate will open of itself,&rsquo; he continued, &lsquo;and a huge dog
which guards the castle will come to you with his mouth wide open, but just
throw him this oat cake. Next, you will see a baking woman leaning over her
heated oven. Give her this brush. Lastly, you will find a well on your left; do
not forget to take the cord of the bucket and spread it in the sun. When you
have done this, do not enter the castle, but go round it and enter the orange
grove. Then gather three oranges, and get back to the gate as fast as you can.
Once out of the gate, leave the forest by the opposite side.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Now, attend to this: whatever happens, do not open your oranges till you
reach the bank of a river, or a fountain. Out of each orange will come a
princess, and you can choose which you like for your wife. Your choice once
made, be very careful never to leave your bride for an instant, and remember
that the danger which is most to be feared is never the danger we are most
afraid of.&rsquo;
</p>

<h3>V</h3>

<p>
Désiré thanked his host warmly, and took the road he pointed out. In less than
an hour he arrived at the wall, which was very high indeed. He sprang to the
ground, fastened his horse to a tree, and soon found the iron gate. Then he
took out his bottle and oiled the hinges, when the gate opened of itself, and
he saw an old castle standing inside. The Prince entered boldly into the
courtyard.
</p>

<p>
Suddenly he heard fierce howls, and a dog as tall as a donkey, with eyes like
billiard balls, came towards him, showing his teeth, which were like the prongs
of a fork. Désiré flung him the oat cake, which the great dog instantly snapped
up, and the young Prince passed quietly on.
</p>

<p>
A few yards further he saw a huge oven, with a wide, red-hot gaping mouth. A
woman as tall as a giant was leaning over the oven. Désiré gave her the brush,
which she took in silence.
</p>

<p>
Then he went on to the well, drew up the cord, which was half rotten, and
stretched it out in the sun.
</p>

<p>
Lastly he went round the castle, and plunged into the orange grove. There he
gathered the three most beautiful oranges he could find, and turned to go back
to the gate.
</p>

<p>
But just at this moment the sun was darkened, the earth trembled, and Désiré
heard a voice crying:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Baker, baker, take him by his feet, and throw him into the oven!&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;No,&rsquo; replied the baker; &lsquo;a long time has passed since I
first began to scour this oven with my own flesh. <i>You</i> never cared to
give me a brush; but he has given me one, and he shall go in peace.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Rope, O rope!&rsquo; cried the voice again, &lsquo;twine yourself round
his neck and strangle him.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;No,&rsquo; replied the rope; &lsquo;you have left me for many years past
to fall to pieces with the damp. He has stretched me out in the sun. Let him go
in peace.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Dog, my good dog,&rsquo; cried the voice, more and more angry,
&lsquo;jump at his throat and eat him up.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;No,&rsquo; replied the dog; &lsquo;though I have served you long, you
never gave me any bread. He has given me as much as I want. Let him go in
peace.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Iron gate, iron gate,&rsquo; cried the voice, growling like thunder,
&lsquo;fall on him and grind him to powder.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;No,&rsquo; replied the gate; &lsquo;it is a hundred years since you left
me to rust, and he has oiled me. Let him go in peace.&rsquo;
</p>

<h3>VI</h3>

<p>
Once outside, the young adventurer put his oranges into a bag that hung from
his saddle, mounted his horse, and rode quickly out of the forest.
</p>

<p>
Now, as he was longing to see the princesses, he was very anxious to come to a
river or a fountain, but, though he rode for hours, a river or fountain was
nowhere to be seen. Still his heart was light, for he felt that he had got
through the most difficult part of his task, and the rest was easy.
</p>

<p>
About mid-day he reached a sandy plain, scorching in the sun. Here he was
seized with dreadful thirst; he took his gourd and raised it to his lips.
</p>

<p>
But the gourd was empty; in the excitement of his joy he had forgotten to fill
it. He rode on, struggling with his sufferings, but at last he could bear it no
longer.
</p>

<p>
He let himself slide to the earth, and lay down beside his horse, his throat
burning, his chest heaving, and his head going round. Already he felt that
death was near him, when his eyes fell on the bag where the oranges peeped out.
</p>

<p>
Poor Désiré, who had braved so many dangers to win the lady of his dreams,
would have given at this moment all the princesses in the world, were they pink
or golden, for a single drop of water.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Ah!&rsquo; he said to himself. &lsquo;If only these oranges were real
fruit&mdash;fruit as refreshing as what I ate in Flanders! And, after all, who
knows?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
This idea put some life into him. He had the strength to lift himself up and
put his hand into his bag. He drew out an orange and opened it with his knife.
</p>

<p>
Out of it flew the prettiest little female canary that ever was seen.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Give me something to drink, I am dying of thirst,&rsquo; said the golden
bird.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Wait a minute,&rsquo; replied Désiré, so much astonished that he forgot
his own sufferings; and to satisfy the bird he took a second orange, and opened
it without thinking what he was doing. Out of it flew another canary, and she
too began to cry:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I am dying of thirst; give me something to drink.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Then Tubby&rsquo;s son saw his folly, and while the two canaries flew away he
sank on the ground, where, exhausted by his last effort, he lay unconscious.
</p>

<h3>VII</h3>

<p>
When he came to himself, he had a pleasant feeling of freshness all about him.
It was night, the sky was sparkling with stars, and the earth was covered with
a heavy dew.
</p>

<p>
The traveller having recovered, mounted his horse, and at the first streak of
dawn he saw a stream dancing in front of him, and stooped down and drank his
fill.
</p>

<p>
He hardly had courage to open his last orange. Then he remembered that the
night before he had disobeyed the orders of the old man. Perhaps his terrible
thirst was a trick of the cunning witch, and suppose, even though he opened the
orange on the banks of the stream, that he did not find in it the princess that
he sought?
</p>

<p>
He took his knife and cut it open. Alas! out of it flew a little canary, just
like the others, who cried:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I am thirsty; give me something to drink.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Great was the disappointment of Désiré. However, he was determined not to let
this bird fly away; so he took up some water in the palm of his hand and held
it to its beak.
</p>

<p>
Scarcely had the canary drunk when she became a beautiful girl, tall and
straight as a poplar tree, with black eyes and a golden skin. Désiré had never
seen anyone half so lovely, and he stood gazing at her in delight.
</p>

<p>
On her side she seemed quite bewildered, but she looked about her with happy
eyes, and was not at all afraid of her deliverer.
</p>

<p>
He asked her name. She answered that she was called the Princess Zizi; she was
about sixteen years old, and for ten years of that time the witch had kept her
shut up in an orange, in the shape of a canary.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Well, then, my charming Zizi,&rsquo; said the young Prince, who was
longing to marry her, &lsquo;let us ride away quickly so as to escape from the
wicked witch.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
But Zizi wished to know where he meant to take her.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;To my father&rsquo;s castle,&rsquo; he said.
</p>

<p>
He mounted his horse and took her in front of him, and, holding her carefully
in his arms, they began their journey.
</p>

<h3>VIII</h3>

<p>
Everything the Princess saw was new to her, and in passing through mountains,
valleys, and towns, she asked a thousand questions. Désiré was charmed to
answer them. It is so delightful to teach those one loves!
</p>

<p>
Once she inquired what the girls in his country were like.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;They are pink and white,&rsquo; he replied, &lsquo;and their eyes are
blue.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Do you like blue eyes?&rsquo; said the Princess; but Désiré thought it
was a good opportunity to find out what was in her heart, so he did not answer.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;And no doubt,&rsquo; went on the Princess, &lsquo;one of them is your
intended bride?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Still he was silent, and Zizi drew herself up proudly.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;No,&rsquo; he said at last. &lsquo;None of the girls of my own country
are beautiful in my eyes, and that is why I came to look for a wife in the land
of the sun. Was I wrong, my lovely Zizi?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
This time it was Zizi&rsquo;s turn to be silent.
</p>

<h3>IX</h3>

<p>
Talking in this way they drew near to the castle. When they were about four
stone-throws from the gates they dismounted in the forest, by the edge of a
fountain.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;My dear Zizi,&rsquo; said Tubby&rsquo;s son, &lsquo;we cannot present
ourselves before my father like two common people who have come back from a
walk. We must enter the castle with more ceremony. Wait for me here, and in an
hour I will return with carriages and horses fit for a princess.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Don&rsquo;t be long,&rsquo; replied Zizi, and she watched him go with
wistful eyes.
</p>

<p>
When she was left by herself the poor girl began to feel afraid. She was alone
for the first time in her life, and in the middle of a thick forest.
</p>

<p>
Suddenly she heard a noise among the trees. Fearing lest it should be a wolf,
she hid herself in the hollow trunk of a willow tree which hung over the
fountain. It was big enough to hold her altogether, but she peeped out, and her
pretty head was reflected in the clear water.
</p>

<p>
Then there appeared, not a wolf, but a creature quite as wicked and quite as
ugly. Let us see who this creature was.
</p>

<h3>X</h3>

<p>
Not far from the fountain there lived a family of bricklayers. Now, fifteen
years before this time, the father in walking through the forest found a little
girl, who had been deserted by the gypsies. He carried her home to his wife,
and the good woman was sorry for her, and brought her up with her own sons. As
she grew older, the little gypsy became much more remarkable for strength and
cunning than for sense or beauty. She had a low forehead, a flat nose, thick
lips, coarse hair, and a skin not golden like that of Zizi, but the colour of
clay.
</p>

<p>
As she was always being teased about her complexion, she got as noisy and cross
as a titmouse. So they used to call her Titty.
</p>

<p>
Titty was often sent by the bricklayer to fetch water from the fountain, and as
she was very proud and lazy the gypsy disliked this very much.
</p>

<p>
It was she who had frightened Zizi by appearing with her pitcher on her
shoulder. Just as she was stooping to fill it, she saw reflected in the water
the lovely image of the Princess.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;What a pretty face!&rsquo; she exclaimed, &lsquo;Why, it must be mine!
How in the world can they call me ugly? I am certainly much too pretty to be
their water carrier!&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
So saying, she broke her pitcher and went home.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Where is your pitcher?&rsquo; asked the bricklayer.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Well, what do you expect? The pitcher may go many times to the
well....&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;But at last it is broken. Well, here is a bucket that will not
break.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
The gypsy returned to the fountain, and addressing once more the image of Zizi,
she said:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;No; I don&rsquo;t mean to be a beast of burden any longer.&rsquo; And
she flung the bucket so high in the air that it stuck in the branches of an
oak.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I met a wolf,&rsquo; she told the bricklayer, &lsquo;and I broke the
bucket across his nose.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
The bricklayer asked her no more questions, but took down a broom and gave her
such a beating that her pride was humbled a little.
</p>

<p>
Then he handed to her an old copper milk-can, and said:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;If you don&rsquo;t bring it back full, your bones shall suffer for
it.&rsquo;
</p>

<h3>XI</h3>

<p>
Titty went off rubbing her sides; but this time she did not dare to disobey,
and in a very bad temper stooped down over the well. It was not at all easy to
fill the milk-can, which was large and round. It would not go down into the
well, and the gypsy had to try again and again.
</p>

<p>
At last her arms grew so tired that when she did manage to get the can properly
under the water she had no strength to pull it up, and it rolled to the bottom.
</p>

<p>
On seeing the can disappear, she made such a miserable face that Zizi, who had
been watching her all this time, burst into fits of laughter.
</p>

<p>
Titty turned round and perceived the mistake she had made; and she felt so
angry that she made up her mind to be revenged at once.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;What are you doing there, you lovely creature?&rsquo; she said to Zizi.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I am waiting for my lover,&rsquo; Zizi replied; and then, with a
simplicity quite natural in a girl who so lately had been a canary, she told
all her story.
</p>

<p>
The gypsy had often seen the young Prince pass by, with his gun on his
shoulder, when he was going after crows. She was too ugly and ragged for him
ever to have noticed her, but Titty on her side had admired him, though she
thought he might well have been a little fatter.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Dear, dear!&rsquo; she said to herself. &lsquo;So he likes yellow women!
Why, I am yellow too, and if I could only think of a way&mdash;&mdash;&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
It was not long before she did think of it.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;What!&rsquo; cried the sly Titty, &lsquo;they are coming with great pomp
to fetch you, and you are not afraid to show yourself to so many fine lords and
ladies with your hair down like that? Get down at once, my poor child, and let
me dress your hair for you!&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
The innocent Zizi came down at once, and stood by Titty. The gypsy began to
comb her long brown locks, when suddenly she drew a pin from her stays, and,
just as the titmouse digs its beak into the heads of linnets and larks, Titty
dug the pin into the head of Zizi.
</p>

<p>
No sooner did Zizi feel the prick of the pin than she became a bird again, and,
spreading her wings, she flew away.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;That was neatly done,&rsquo; said the gypsy. &lsquo;The Prince will be
clever if he finds his bride.&rsquo; And, arranging her dress, she seated
herself on the grass to await Désiré.
</p>

<h3>XII</h3>

<p>
Meanwhile the Prince was coming as fast as his horse could carry him. He was so
impatient that he was always full fifty yards in front of the lords and ladies
sent by Tubby to bring back Zizi.
</p>

<p>
At the sight of the hideous gypsy he was struck dumb with surprise and horror.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Ah me!&rsquo; said Titty, &lsquo;so you don&rsquo;t know your poor Zizi?
While you were away the wicked witch came, and turned me into this. But if you
only have the courage to marry me I shall get back my beauty.&rsquo; And she
began to cry bitterly.
</p>

<p>
Now the good-natured Désiré was as soft-hearted as he was brave.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Poor girl,&rsquo; he thought to himself. &lsquo;It is not her fault,
after all, that she has grown so ugly, it is mine. Oh! why did I not follow the
old man&rsquo;s advice? Why did I leave her alone? And besides, it depends on
me to break the spell, and I love her too much to let her remain like
this.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
So he presented the gypsy to the lords and ladies of the Court, explaining to
them the terrible misfortune which had befallen his beautiful bride.
</p>

<p>
They all pretended to believe it, and the ladies at once put on the false
princess the rich dresses they had brought for Zizi.
</p>

<p>
She was then perched on the top of a magnificent ambling palfrey, and they set
forth to the castle.
</p>

<p>
But unluckily the rich dress and jewels only made Titty look uglier still, and
Désiré could not help feeling hot and uncomfortable when he made his entry with
her into the city.
</p>

<p>
Bells were pealing, chimes ringing, and the people filling the streets and
standing at their doors to watch the procession go by, and they could hardly
believe their eyes as they saw what a strange bride their Prince had chosen.
</p>

<p>
In order to do her more honour, Tubby came to meet her at the foot of the great
marble staircase. At the sight of the hideous creature he almost fell
backwards.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;What!&rsquo; he cried. &lsquo;Is this the wonderful beauty?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Yes, father, it is she,&rsquo; replied Désiré with a sheepish look.
&lsquo;But she has been bewitched by a wicked sorceress, and will not regain
her beauty until she is my wife.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Does she say so? Well, if you believe that, you may drink cold water and
think it bacon,&rsquo; the unhappy Tubby answered crossly.
</p>

<p>
But all the same, as he adored his son, he gave the gypsy his hand and led her
to the great hall, where the bridal feast was spread.
</p>

<h3>XIII</h3>

<p>
The feast was excellent, but Désiré hardly touched anything. However, to make
up, the other guests ate greedily, and, as for Tubby, nothing ever took away
his appetite.
</p>

<p>
When the moment arrived to serve the roast goose, there was a pause, and Tubby
took the opportunity to lay down his knife and fork for a little. But as the
goose gave no sign of appearing, he sent his head carver to find out what was
the matter in the kitchen.
</p>

<p>
Now this was what had happened.
</p>

<p>
While the goose was turning on the spit, a beautiful little canary hopped on to
the sill of the open window.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Good-morning, my fine cook,&rsquo; she said in a silvery voice to the
man who was watching the roast.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Good-morning, lovely golden bird,&rsquo; replied the chief of the
scullions, who had been well brought up.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I pray that Heaven may send you to sleep,&rsquo; said the golden bird,
&lsquo;and that the goose may burn, so that there may be none left for
Titty.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
And instantly the chief of the scullions fell fast asleep, and the goose was
burnt to a cinder.
</p>

<p>
When he awoke he was horrified, and gave orders to pluck another goose, to
stuff it with chestnuts, and put it on the spit.
</p>

<p>
While it was browning at the fire, Tubby inquired for his goose a second time.
The Master Cook himself mounted to the hall to make his excuses, and to beg his
lord to have a little patience. Tubby showed his patience by abusing his son.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;As if it wasn&rsquo;t enough,&rsquo; he grumbled between his teeth,
&lsquo;that the boy should pick up a hag without a penny, but the goose must go
and burn now. It isn&rsquo;t a wife he has brought me, it is Famine
herself.&rsquo;
</p>

<h3>XIV</h3>

<p>
While the Master Cook was upstairs, the golden bird came again to perch on the
window-sill, and called in his clear voice to the head scullion, who was
watching the spit:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Good-morning, my fine Scullion!&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Good-morning, lovely Golden Bird,&rsquo; replied the Scullion, whom the
Master Cook had forgotten in his excitement to warn.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I pray Heaven,&rsquo; went on the Canary, &lsquo;that it will send you
to sleep, and that the goose may burn, so that there may be none left for
Titty.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
And the Scullion fell fast asleep, and when the Master Cook came back he found
the goose as black as the chimney.
</p>

<p>
In a fury he woke the Scullion, who in order to save himself from blame told
the whole story.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;That accursed bird,&rsquo; said the Cook; &lsquo;it will end by getting
me sent away. Come, some of you, and hide yourselves, and if it comes again,
catch it and wring its neck.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
He spitted a third goose, lit a huge fire, and seated himself by it.
</p>

<p>
The bird appeared a third time, and said: &lsquo;Good-morning, my fine
Cook.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Good-morning, lovely Golden Bird,&rsquo; replied the Cook, as if nothing
had happened, and at the moment that the Canary was beginning, &lsquo;I pray
Heaven that it may send,&rsquo; a scullion who was hidden outside rushed out
and shut the shutters. The bird flew into the kitchen. Then all the cooks and
scullions sprang after it, knocking at it with their aprons. At length one of
them caught it just at the very moment that Tubby entered the kitchen, waving
his sceptre. He had come to see for himself why the goose had never made its
appearance.
</p>

<p>
The Scullion stopped at once, just as he was about to wring the Canary&rsquo;s
neck.
</p>

<h3>XV</h3>

<p>
&lsquo;Will some one be kind enough to tell me the meaning of all this?&rsquo;
cried the Lord of Avesnes.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Your Excellency, it is the bird,&rsquo; replied the Scullion, and he
placed it in his hand.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Nonsense! What a lovely bird!&rsquo; said Tubby, and in stroking its
head he touched a pin that was sticking between its feathers. He pulled it out,
and lo! the Canary at once became a beautiful girl with a golden skin who
jumped lightly to the ground.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Gracious! what a pretty girl!&rsquo; said Tubby.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Father! it is she! it is Zizi!&rsquo; exclaimed Désiré, who entered at
this moment.
</p>

<p>
And he took her in his arms, crying: &lsquo;My darling Zizi, how happy I am to
see you once more!&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Well, and the other one?&rsquo; asked Tubby.
</p>

<p>
The other one was stealing quietly to the door.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Stop her! called Tubby. &lsquo;We will judge her cause at once.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
And he seated himself solemnly on the oven, and condemned Titty to be burned
alive. After which the lords and cooks formed themselves in lines, and Tubby
betrothed Désiré to Zizi.
</p>

<h3>XVI</h3>

<p>
The marriage took place a few days later. All the boys in the country side were
there, armed with wooden swords, and decorated with epaulets made of gilt
paper.
</p>

<p>
Zizi obtained Titty&rsquo;s pardon, and she was sent back to the brick-fields,
followed and hooted at by all the boys. And this is why to-day the country boys
always throw stones at a titmouse.
</p>

<p>
On the evening of the wedding-day all the larders, cellars, cupboards and
tables of the people, whether rich or poor, were loaded as if by enchantment
with bread, wine, beer, cakes and tarts, roast larks, and even geese, so that
Tubby could not complain any more that his son had married Famine.
</p>

<p>
Since that time there has always been plenty to eat in that country, and since
that time, too, you see in the midst of the fair-haired blue-eyed women of
Flanders a few beautiful girls, whose eyes are black and whose skins are the
colour of gold. They are the descendants of Zizi.<a href="#fn21" id="fnref21"><sup>[21]</sup></a>
</p>

<p class="footnote">
<a id="fn21"></a> <a href="#fnref21">[21]</a>
Charles Deulin, <i>Contes du Roi Gambrinus</i>.
</p>

</div><!--end chapter-->

<div class="chapter">

<h2><a id="chap26"></a>THE TWELVE BROTHERS</h2>

<p>
There were once upon a time a King and a Queen who lived happily together, and
they had twelve children, all of whom were boys. One day the King said to his
wife:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;If our thirteenth child is a girl, all her twelve brothers must die, so
that she may be very rich and the kingdom hers alone.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Then he ordered twelve coffins to be made, and filled them with shavings, and
placed a little pillow in each. These he put away in an empty room, and, giving
the key to his wife, he bade her tell no one of it.
</p>

<p>
The Queen grieved over the sad fate of her sons and refused to be comforted, so
much so that the youngest boy, who was always with her, and whom she had
christened Benjamin, said to her one day:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Dear mother, why are you so sad?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;My child,&rsquo; she answered, &lsquo;I may not tell you the
reason.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
But he left her no peace, till she went and unlocked the room and showed him
the twelve coffins filled with shavings, and with the little pillow laid in
each.
</p>

<p>
Then she said: &lsquo;My dearest Benjamin, your father has had these coffins
made for you and your eleven brothers, because if I bring a girl into the world
you are all to be killed and buried in them.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
She wept bitterly as she spoke, but her son comforted her and said:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Don&rsquo;t cry, dear mother; we&rsquo;ll manage to escape somehow, and
will fly for our lives.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Yes,&rsquo; replied his mother, &lsquo;that is what you must do&mdash;go
with your eleven brothers out into the wood, and let one of you always sit on
the highest tree you can find, keeping watch on the tower of the castle. If I
give birth to a little son I will wave a white flag, and then you may safely
return; but if I give birth to a little daughter I will wave a red flag, which
will warn you to fly away as quickly as you can, and may the kind Heaven have
pity on you. Every night I will get up and pray for you, in winter that you may
always have a fire to warm yourselves by, and in summer that you may not
languish in the heat.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Then she blessed her sons and they set out into the wood. They found a very
high oak tree, and there they sat, turn about, keeping their eyes always fixed
on the castle tower. On the twelfth day, when the turn came to Benjamin, he
noticed a flag waving in the air, but alas! it was not white, but blood red,
the sign which told them they must all die. When the brothers heard this they
were very angry, and said:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Shall we forsooth suffer death for the sake of a wretched girl? Let us
swear vengeance, and vow that wherever and whenever we shall meet one of her
sex, she shall die at our hands.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Then they went their way deeper into the wood, and in the middle of it, where
it was thickest and darkest, they came upon a little enchanted house which
stood empty.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Here,&rsquo; they said, &lsquo;let us take up our abode, and you,
Benjamin, you are the youngest and weakest, you shall stay at home and keep
house for us; we others will go out and fetch food.&rsquo; So they went forth
into the wood, and shot hares and roe-deer, birds and wood-pigeons, and any
other game they came across. They always brought their spoils home to Benjamin,
who soon learnt to make them into dainty dishes. So they lived for ten years in
this little house, and the time slipped merrily away.
</p>

<p>
In the meantime their little sister at home was growing up quickly. She was
kind-hearted and of a fair countenance, and she had a gold star right in the
middle of her forehead. One day a big washing was going on at the palace, and
the girl looking down from her window saw twelve men&rsquo;s shirts hanging up
to dry, and asked her mother:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Who in the world do these shirts belong to? Surely they are far too
small for my father?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
And the Queen answered sadly: &lsquo;Dear child, they belong to your twelve
brothers.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;But where are my twelve brothers?&rsquo; said the girl. &lsquo;I have
never even heard of them.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Heaven alone knows in what part of the wide world they are
wandering,&rsquo; replied her mother.
</p>

<p>
Then she took the girl and opened the locked-up room; she showed her the twelve
coffins filled with shavings, and with the little pillow laid in each.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;These coffins,&rsquo; she said, &lsquo;were intended for your brothers,
but they stole secretly away before you were born.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Then she proceeded to tell her all that had happened, and when she had finished
her daughter said:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Do not cry, dearest mother; I will go and seek my brothers till I find
them.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
So she took the twelve shirts and went on straight into the middle of the big
wood. She walked all day long, and came in the evening to the little enchanted
house. She stepped in and found a youth who, marvelling at her beauty, at the
royal robes she wore, and at the golden star on her forehead, asked her where
she came from and whither she was going.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I am a Princess,&rsquo; she answered, &lsquo;and am seeking for my
twelve brothers. I mean to wander as far as the blue sky stretches over the
earth till I find them.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Then she showed him the twelve shirts which she had taken with her, and
Benjamin saw that it must be his sister, and said:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I am Benjamin, your youngest brother.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
So they wept for joy, and kissed and hugged each other again and again. After a
time Benjamin said:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Dear sister, there is still a little difficulty, for we had all agreed
that any girl we met should die at our hands, because it was for the sake of a
girl that we had to leave our kingdom.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;But,&rsquo; she replied, &lsquo;I will gladly die if by that means I can
restore my twelve brothers to their own.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;No,&rsquo; he answered, &lsquo;there is no need for that; only go and
hide under that tub till our eleven brothers come in, and I&rsquo;ll soon make
matters right with them.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
She did as she was bid, and soon the others came home from the chase and sat
down to supper.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Well, Benjamin, what&rsquo;s the news?&rsquo; they asked. But he
replied, &lsquo;I like that; have you nothing to tell me?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;No,&rsquo; they answered.
</p>

<p>
Then he said: &lsquo;Well, now, you&rsquo;ve been out in the wood all the day
and I&rsquo;ve stayed quietly at home, and all the same I know more than you
do.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Then tell us,&rsquo; they cried.
</p>

<p>
But he answered: &lsquo;Only on condition that you promise faithfully that the
first girl we meet shall not be killed.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;She shall be spared,&rsquo; they promised, &lsquo;only tell us the
news.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Then Benjamin said: &lsquo;Our sister is here!&rsquo; and he lifted up the tub
and the Princess stepped forward, with her royal robes and with the golden star
on her forehead, looking so lovely and sweet and charming that they all fell in
love with her on the spot.
</p>

<p>
They arranged that she should stay at home with Benjamin and help him in the
house work, while the rest of the brothers went out into the wood and shot
hares and roe-deer, birds and wood-pigeons. And Benjamin and his sister cooked
their meals for them. She gathered herbs to cook the vegetables in, fetched the
wood, and watched the pots on the fire, and always when her eleven brothers
returned she had their supper ready for them. Besides this, she kept the house
in order, tidied all the rooms, and made herself so generally useful that her
brothers were delighted, and they all lived happily together.
</p>

<p>
One day the two at home prepared a fine feast, and when they were all assembled
they sat down and ate and drank and made merry.
</p>

<p>
Now there was a little garden round the enchanted house, in which grew twelve
tall lilies. The girl, wishing to please her brothers, plucked the twelve
flowers, meaning to present one to each of them as they sat at supper. But
hardly had she plucked the flowers when her brothers were turned into twelve
ravens, who flew croaking over the wood, and the house and garden vanished
also.
</p>

<p>
So the poor girl found herself left all alone in the wood, and as she looked
round her she noticed an old woman standing close beside her, who said:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;My child, what have you done? Why didn&rsquo;t you leave the flowers
alone? They were your twelve brothers. Now they are changed for ever into
ravens.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
The girl asked, sobbing: &lsquo;Is there no means of setting them free?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;No,&rsquo; said the old woman, &lsquo;there is only one way in the whole
world, and that is so difficult that you won&rsquo;t free them by it, for you
would have to be dumb and not laugh for seven years, and if you spoke a single
word, though but an hour were wanting to the time, your silence would all have
been in vain, and that one word would slay your brothers.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Then the girl said to herself: &lsquo;If that is all I am quite sure I can free
my brothers.&rsquo; So she searched for a high tree, and when she had found one
she climbed up it and spun all day long, never laughing or speaking one word.
</p>

<p>
Now it happened one day that a King who was hunting in the wood had a large
greyhound, who ran sniffing to the tree on which the girl sat, and jumped round
it, yelping and barking furiously. The King&rsquo;s attention was attracted,
and when he looked up and beheld the beautiful Princess with the golden star on
her forehead, he was so enchanted by her beauty that he asked her on the spot
to be his wife. She gave no answer, but nodded slightly with her head. Then he
climbed up the tree himself, lifted her down, put her on his horse and bore her
home to his palace.
</p>

<p>
The marriage was celebrated with much pomp and ceremony, but the bride neither
spoke nor laughed.
</p>

<p>
When they had lived a few years happily together, the King&rsquo;s mother, who
was a wicked old woman, began to slander the young Queen, and said to the King:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;She is only a low-born beggar maid that you have married; who knows what
mischief she is up to? If she is deaf and can&rsquo;t speak, she might at least
laugh; depend upon it, those who don&rsquo;t laugh have a bad
conscience.&rsquo; At first the King paid no heed to her words, but the old
woman harped so long on the subject, and accused the young Queen of so many bad
things, that at last he let himself be talked over, and condemned his beautiful
wife to death.
</p>

<p>
So a great fire was lit in the courtyard of the palace, where she was to be
burnt, and the King watched the proceedings from an upper window, crying
bitterly the while, for he still loved his wife dearly. But just as she had
been bound to the stake, and the flames were licking her garments with their
red tongues, the very last moment of the seven years had come. Then a sudden
rushing sound was heard in the air, and twelve ravens were seen flying
overhead. They swooped downwards, and as soon as they touched the ground they
turned into her twelve brothers, and she knew that she had freed them.
</p>

<p>
They quenched the flames and put out the fire, and, unbinding their dear sister
from the stake, they kissed and hugged her again and again. And now that she
was able to open her mouth and speak, she told the King why she had been dumb
and not able to laugh.
</p>

<p>
The King rejoiced greatly when he heard she was innocent, and they all lived
happily ever afterwards.<a href="#fn22" id="fnref22"><sup>[22]</sup></a>
</p>

<p class="footnote">
<a id="fn22"></a> <a href="#fnref22">[22]</a>
Grimm.
</p>

</div><!--end chapter-->

<div class="chapter">

<h2><a id="chap27"></a>RAPUNZEL</h2>

<p>
Once upon a time there lived a man and his wife who were very unhappy because
they had no children. These good people had a little window at the back of
their house, which looked into the most lovely garden, full of all manner of
beautiful flowers and vegetables; but the garden was surrounded by a high wall,
and no one dared to enter it, for it belonged to a witch of great power, who
was feared by the whole world. One day the woman stood at the window
overlooking the garden, and saw there a bed full of the finest rampion: the
leaves looked so fresh and green that she longed to eat them. The desire grew
day by day, and just because she knew she couldn&rsquo;t possibly get any, she
pined away and became quite pale and wretched. Then her husband grew alarmed
and said:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;What ails you, dear wife?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Oh,&rsquo; she answered, &lsquo;if I don&rsquo;t get some rampion to eat
out of the garden behind the house, I know I shall die.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
The man, who loved her dearly, thought to himself, &lsquo;Come! rather than let
your wife die you shall fetch her some rampion, no matter the cost.&rsquo; So
at dusk he climbed over the wall into the witch&rsquo;s garden, and, hastily
gathering a handful of rampion leaves, he returned with them to his wife. She
made them into a salad, which tasted so good that her longing for the forbidden
food was greater than ever. If she were to know any peace of mind, there was
nothing for it but that her husband should climb over the garden wall again,
and fetch her some more. So at dusk over he got, but when he reached the other
side he drew back in terror, for there, standing before him, was the old witch.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;How dare you,&rsquo; she said, with a wrathful glance, &lsquo;climb into
my garden and steal my rampion like a common thief? You shall suffer for your
foolhardiness.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Oh!&rsquo; he implored, &lsquo;pardon my presumption; necessity alone
drove me to the deed. My wife saw your rampion from her window, and conceived
such a desire for it that she would certainly have died if her wish had not
been gratified.&rsquo; Then the Witch&rsquo;s anger was a little appeased, and
she said:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;If it&rsquo;s as you say, you may take as much rampion away with you as
you like, but on one condition only&mdash;that you give me the child your wife
will shortly bring into the world. All shall go well with it, and I will look
after it like a mother.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
The man in his terror agreed to everything she asked, and as soon as the child
was born the Witch appeared, and having given it the name of Rapunzel, which is
the same as rampion, she carried it off with her.
</p>

<p>
Rapunzel was the most beautiful child under the sun. When she was twelve years
old the Witch shut her up in a tower, in the middle of a great wood, and the
tower had neither stairs nor doors, only high up at the very top a small
window. When the old Witch wanted to get in she stood underneath and called
out:
</p>

<p class="poem">
&lsquo;Rapunzel, Rapunzel,<br>
Let down your golden hair,&rsquo;
</p>

<p class="noindent">
for Rapunzel had wonderful long hair, and it was as fine as spun gold. Whenever
she heard the Witch&rsquo;s voice she unloosed her plaits, and let her hair
fall down out of the window about twenty yards below, and the old Witch climbed
up by it.
</p>

<p>
After they had lived like this for a few years, it happened one day that a
Prince was riding through the wood and passed by the tower. As he drew near it
he heard someone singing so sweetly that he stood still spell-bound, and
listened. It was Rapunzel in her loneliness trying to while away the time by
letting her sweet voice ring out into the wood. The Prince longed to see the
owner of the voice, but he sought in vain for a door in the tower. He rode
home, but he was so haunted by the song he had heard that he returned every day
to the wood and listened. One day, when he was standing thus behind a tree, he
saw the old Witch approach and heard her call out:
</p>

<p class="poem">
&lsquo;Rapunzel, Rapunzel,<br>
Let down your golden hair.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Then Rapunzel let down her plaits, and the Witch climbed up by them.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;So that&rsquo;s the staircase, is it?&rsquo; said the Prince.
&lsquo;Then I too will climb it and try my luck.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
So on the following day, at dusk, he went to the foot of the tower and cried:
</p>

<p class="poem">
&lsquo;Rapunzel, Rapunzel,<br>
Let down your golden hair,&rsquo;
</p>

<p class="noindent">
and as soon as she had let it down the Prince climbed up.
</p>

<p>
At first Rapunzel was terribly frightened when a man came in, for she had never
seen one before; but the Prince spoke to her so kindly, and told her at once
that his heart had been so touched by her singing, that he felt he should know
no peace of mind till he had seen her. Very soon Rapunzel forgot her fear, and
when he asked her to marry him she consented at once. &lsquo;For,&rsquo; she
thought, &lsquo;he is young and handsome, and I&rsquo;ll certainly be happier
with him than with the old Witch.&rsquo; So she put her hand in his and said:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Yes, I will gladly go with you, only how am I to get down out of the
tower? Every time you come to see me you must bring a skein of silk with you,
and I will make a ladder of them, and when it is finished I will climb down by
it, and you will take me away on your horse.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
They arranged that till the ladder was ready, he was to come to her every
evening, because the old woman was with her during the day. The old Witch, of
course, knew nothing of what was going on, till one day Rapunzel, not thinking
of what she was about, turned to the Witch and said:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;How is it, good mother, that you are so much harder to pull up than the
young Prince? He is always with me in a moment.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Oh! you wicked child,&rsquo; cried the Witch. &lsquo;What is this I
hear? I thought I had hidden you safely from the whole world, and in spite of
it you have managed to deceive me.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
In her wrath she seized Rapunzel&rsquo;s beautiful hair, wound it round and
round her left hand, and then grasping a pair of scissors in her right, snip
snap, off it came, and the beautiful plaits lay on the ground. And, worse than
this, she was so hard-hearted that she took Rapunzel to a lonely desert place,
and there left her to live in loneliness and misery.
</p>

<p>
But on the evening of the day in which she had driven poor Rapunzel away, the
Witch fastened the plaits on to a hook in the window, and when the Prince came
and called out:
</p>

<p class="poem">
&lsquo;Rapunzel, Rapunzel,<br>
Let down your golden hair,&rsquo;
</p>

<p class="noindent">
she let them down, and the Prince climbed up as usual, but instead of his
beloved Rapunzel he found the old Witch, who fixed her evil, glittering eyes on
him, and cried mockingly:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Ah, ah! you thought to find your lady love, but the pretty bird has
flown and its song is dumb; the cat caught it, and will scratch out your eyes
too. Rapunzel is lost to you for ever&mdash;you will never see her more.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
The Prince was beside himself with grief, and in his despair he jumped right
down from the tower, and, though he escaped with his life, the thorns among
which he fell pierced his eyes out. Then he wandered, blind and miserable,
through the wood, eating nothing but roots and berries, and weeping and
lamenting the loss of his lovely bride. So he wandered about for some years, as
wretched and unhappy as he could well be, and at last he came to the desert
place where Rapunzel was living. Of a sudden he heard a voice which seemed
strangely familiar to him. He walked eagerly in the direction of the sound, and
when he was quite close, Rapunzel recognised him and fell on his neck and wept.
But two of her tears touched his eyes, and in a moment they became quite clear
again, and he saw as well as he had ever done. Then he led her to his kingdom,
where they were received and welcomed with great joy, and they lived happily
ever after.<a href="#fn23" id="fnref23"><sup>[23]</sup></a>
</p>

<p class="footnote">
<a id="fn23"></a> <a href="#fnref23">[23]</a>
Grimm.
</p>

</div><!--end chapter-->

<div class="chapter">

<h2><a id="chap28"></a>THE NETTLE SPINNER</h2>

<h3>I</h3>

<p>
Once upon a time there lived at Quesnoy, in Flanders, a great lord whose name
was Burchard, but whom the country people called Burchard the Wolf. Now
Burchard had such a wicked, cruel heart, that it was whispered how he used to
harness his peasants to the plough, and force them by blows from his whip to
till his land with naked feet.
</p>

<p>
His wife, on the other hand, was always tender and pitiful to the poor and
miserable.
</p>

<p>
Every time that she heard of another misdeed of her husband&rsquo;s she
secretly went to repair the evil, which caused her name to be blessed
throughout the whole country-side. This Countess was adored as much as the
Count was hated.
</p>

<h3>II</h3>

<p>
One day when he was out hunting the Count passed through a forest, and at the
door of a lonely cottage he saw a beautiful girl spinning hemp.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;What is your name?&rsquo; he asked her.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Renelde, my lord.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;You must get tired of staying in such a lonely place?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I am accustomed to it, my lord, and I never get tired of it.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;That may be so; but come to the castle, and I will make you lady&rsquo;s
maid to the Countess.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I cannot do that, my lord. I have to look after my grandmother, who is
very helpless.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Come to the castle, I tell you. I shall expect you this evening,&rsquo;
and he went on his way.
</p>

<p>
But Renelde, who was betrothed to a young wood-cutter called Guilbert, had no
intention of obeying the Count, and she had, besides, to take care of her
grandmother.
</p>

<p>
Three days later the Count again passed by.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Why didn&rsquo;t you come?&rsquo; he asked the pretty spinner.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I told you, my lord, that I have to look after my grandmother.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Come to-morrow, and I will make you lady-in-waiting to the
Countess,&rsquo; and he went on his way.
</p>

<p>
This offer produced no more effect than the other, and Renelde did not go to
the castle.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;If you will only come,&rsquo; said the Count to her when next he rode
by, &lsquo;I will send away the Countess, and will marry you.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
But two years before, when Renelde&rsquo;s mother was dying of a long illness,
the Countess had not forgotten them, but had given help when they sorely needed
it. So even if the Count had really wished to marry Renelde, she would always
have refused.
</p>

<h3>III</h3>

<p>
Some weeks passed before Burchard appeared again.
</p>

<p>
Renelde hoped she had got rid of him, when one day he stopped at the door, his
duck-gun under his arm and his game-bag on his shoulder. This time Renelde was
spinning not hemp, but flax.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;What are you spinning?&rsquo; he asked in a rough voice.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;My wedding shift, my lord.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;You are going to be married, then?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Yes, my lord, by your leave.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
For at that time no peasant could marry without the leave of his master.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I will give you leave on one condition. Do you see those tall nettles
that grow on the tombs in the churchyard? Go and gather them, and spin them
into two fine shifts. One shall be your bridal shift, and the other shall be my
shroud. For you shall be married the day that I am laid in my grave.&rsquo; And
the Count turned away with a mocking laugh.
</p>

<p>
Renelde trembled. Never in all Locquignol had such a thing been heard of as the
spinning of nettles.
</p>

<p>
And besides, the Count seemed made of iron and was very proud of his strength,
often boasting that he should live to be a hundred.
</p>

<p>
Every evening, when his work was done, Guilbert came to visit his future bride.
This evening he came as usual, and Renelde told him what Burchard had said.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Would you like me to watch for the Wolf, and split his skull with a blow
from my axe?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;No,&rsquo; replied Renelde, &lsquo;there must be no blood on my bridal
bouquet. And then we must not hurt the Count. Remember how good the Countess
was to my mother.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
An old, old woman now spoke: she was the mother of Renelde&rsquo;s grandmother,
and was more than ninety years old. All day long she sat in her chair nodding
her head and never saying a word.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;My children,&rsquo; she said, &lsquo;all the years that I have lived in
the world, I have never heard of a shift spun from nettles. But what God
commands, man can do. Why should not Renelde try it?&rsquo;
</p>

<h3>IV</h3>

<p>
Renelde did try, and to her great surprise the nettles when crushed and
prepared gave a good thread, soft and light and firm. Very soon she had spun
the first shift, which was for her own wedding. She wove and cut it out at
once, hoping that the Count would not force her to begin the other. Just as she
had finished sewing it, Burchard the Wolf passed by.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Well,&rsquo; said he, &lsquo;how are the shifts getting on?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Here, my lord, is my wedding garment,&rsquo; answered Renelde, showing
him the shift, which was the finest and whitest ever seen.
</p>

<p>
The Count grew pale, but he replied roughly, &lsquo;Very good. Now begin the
other.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
The spinner set to work. As the Count returned to the castle, a cold shiver
passed over him, and he felt, as the saying is, that some one was walking over
his grave. He tried to eat his supper, but could not; he went to bed shaking
with fever. But he did not sleep, and in the morning could not manage to rise.
</p>

<p>
This sudden illness, which every instant became worse, made him very uneasy. No
doubt Renelde&rsquo;s spinning-wheel knew all about it. Was it not necessary
that his body, as well as his shroud, should be ready for the burial?
</p>

<p>
The first thing Burchard did was to send to Renelde and to stop her wheel.
</p>

<p>
Renelde obeyed, and that evening Guilbert asked her:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Has the Count given his consent to our marriage?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;No,&rsquo; said Renelde.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Continue your work, sweetheart. It is the only way of gaining it. You
know he told you so himself.&rsquo;
</p>

<h3>V</h3>

<p>
The following morning, as soon as she had put the house in order, the girl sat
down to spin. Two hours after there arrived some soldiers, and when they saw
her spinning they seized her, tied her arms and legs, and carried her to the
bank of the river, which was swollen by the late rains.
</p>

<p>
When they reached the bank they flung her in, and watched her sink, after which
they left her. But Renelde rose to the surface, and though she could not swim
she struggled to land.
</p>

<p>
Directly she got home she sat down and began to spin.
</p>

<p>
Again came the two soldiers to the cottage and seized the girl, carried her to
the river bank, tied a stone to her neck and flung her into the water.
</p>

<p>
The moment their backs were turned the stone untied itself. Renelde waded the
ford, returned to the hut, and sat down to spin.
</p>

<p>
This time the Count resolved to go to Locquignol himself; but, as he was very
weak and unable to walk, he had himself borne in a litter. And still the
spinner spun.
</p>

<p>
When he saw her he fired a shot at her, as he would have fired at a wild beast.
The bullet rebounded without harming the spinner, who still spun on.
</p>

<p>
Burchard fell into such a violent rage that it nearly killed him. He broke the
wheel into a thousand pieces, and then fell fainting on the ground. He was
carried back to the castle, unconscious.
</p>

<p>
The next day the wheel was mended, and the spinner sat down to spin. Feeling
that while she was spinning he was dying, the Count ordered that her hands
should be tied, and that they should not lose sight of her for one instant.
</p>

<p>
But the guards fell asleep, the bonds loosed themselves, and the spinner spun
on.
</p>

<p>
Burchard had every nettle rooted up for three leagues round. Scarcely had they
been torn from the soil when they sowed themselves afresh, and grew as you were
looking at them.
</p>

<p>
They sprung up even in the well-trodden floor of the cottage, and as fast as
they were uprooted the distaff gathered to itself a supply of nettles, crushed,
prepared, and ready for spinning.
</p>

<p>
And every day Burchard grew worse, and watched his end approaching.
</p>

<h3>VI</h3>

<p>
Moved by pity for her husband, the Countess at last found out the cause of his
illness, and entreated him to allow himself to be cured. But the Count in his
pride refused more than ever to give his consent to the marriage.
</p>

<p>
So the lady resolved to go without his knowledge to pray for mercy from the
spinner, and in the name of Renelde&rsquo;s dead mother she besought her to
spin no more. Renelde gave her promise, but in the evening Guilbert arrived at
the cottage. Seeing that the cloth was no farther advanced than it was the
evening before, he inquired the reason. Renelde confessed that the Countess had
prayed her not to let her husband die.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Will he consent to our marriage?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;No.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Let him die then.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;But what will the Countess say?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;The Countess will understand that it is not your fault; the Count alone
is guilty of his own death.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Let us wait a little. Perhaps his heart may be softened.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
So they waited for one month, for two, for six, for a year. The spinner spun no
more. The Count had ceased to persecute her, but he still refused his consent
to the marriage. Guilbert became impatient.
</p>

<p>
The poor girl loved him with her whole soul, and she was more unhappy than she
had been before, when Burchard was only tormenting her body.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Let us have done with it,&rsquo; said Guilbert.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Wait a little still,&rsquo; pleaded Renelde.
</p>

<p>
But the young man grew weary. He came more rarely to Locquignol, and very soon
he did not come at all. Renelde felt as if her heart would break, but she held
firm.
</p>

<p>
One day she met the Count. She clasped her hands as if in prayer, and cried:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;My lord, have mercy!&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Burchard the Wolf turned away his head and passed on.
</p>

<p>
She might have humbled his pride had she gone to her spinning-wheel again, but
she did nothing of the sort.
</p>

<p>
Not long after she learnt that Guilbert had left the country. He did not even
come to say good-bye to her, but, all the same, she knew the day and hour of
his departure, and hid herself on the road to see him once more.
</p>

<p>
When she came in she put her silent wheel into a corner, and cried for three
days and three nights.
</p>

<h3>VII</h3>

<p>
So another year went by. Then the Count fell ill, and the Countess supposed
that Renelde, weary of waiting, had begun her spinning anew; but when she came
to the cottage to see, she found the wheel silent.
</p>

<p>
However, the Count grew worse and worse till he was given up by the doctors.
The passing bell was rung, and he lay expecting Death to come for him. But
Death was not so near as the doctors thought, and still he lingered.
</p>

<p>
He seemed in a desperate condition, but he got neither better nor worse. He
could neither live nor die; he suffered horribly, and called loudly on Death to
put an end to his pains.
</p>

<p>
In this extremity he remembered what he had told the little spinner long ago.
If Death was so slow in coming, it was because he was not ready to follow him,
having no shroud for his burial.
</p>

<p>
He sent to fetch Renelde, placed her by his bedside, and ordered her at once to
go on spinning his shroud.
</p>

<p>
Hardly had the spinner begun to work when the Count began to feel his pains
grow less.
</p>

<p>
Then at last his heart melted; he was sorry for all the evil he had done out of
pride, and implored Renelde to forgive him. So Renelde forgave him, and went on
spinning night and day.
</p>

<p>
When the thread of the nettles was spun she wove it with her shuttle, and then
cut the shroud and began to sew it.
</p>

<p>
And as before, when she sewed the Count felt his pains grow less, and the life
sinking within him, and when the needle made the last stitch he gave his last
sigh.
</p>

<h3>VIII</h3>

<p>
At the same hour Guilbert returned to the country, and, as he had never ceased
to love Renelde, he married her eight days later.
</p>

<p>
He had lost two years of happiness, but comforted himself with thinking that
his wife was a clever spinner, and, what was much more rare, a brave and good
woman.<a href="#fn24" id="fnref24"><sup>[24]</sup></a>
</p>

<p class="footnote">
<a id="fn24"></a> <a href="#fnref24">[24]</a>
Ch. Deulin.
</p>

</div><!--end chapter-->

<div class="chapter">

<h2><a id="chap29"></a>FARMER WEATHERBEARD</h2>

<p>
There was once upon a time a man and a woman who had an only son, and he was
called Jack. The woman thought that it was his duty to go out to service, and
told her husband that he was to take him somewhere.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;You must get him such a good place that he will become master of all
masters,&rsquo; she said, and then she put some food and a roll of tobacco into
a bag for them.
</p>

<p>
Well, they went to a great many masters, but all said that they could make the
lad as good as they were themselves, but better than that they could not make
him. When the man came home to the old woman with this answer, she said,
&lsquo;I shall be equally well pleased whatever you do with him; but this I do
say, that you are to have him made a master over all masters.&rsquo; Then she
once more put some food and a roll of tobacco into the bag, and the man and his
son had to set out again.
</p>

<p>
When they had walked some distance they got upon the ice, and there they met a
man in a carriage who was driving a black horse.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Where are you going?&rsquo; he said.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I have to go and get my son apprenticed to someone who will be able to
teach him a trade, for my old woman comes of such well-to-do folk that she
insists on his being taught to be master of all masters,&rsquo; said the man.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;We are not ill met, then,&rsquo; said the man who was driving,
&lsquo;for I am the kind of man who can do that, and I am just looking out for
such an apprentice. Get up behind with you,&rsquo; he said to the boy, and off
the horse went with them straight up into the air.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;No, no, wait a little!&rsquo; screamed the father of the boy. &lsquo;I
ought to know what your name is and where you live.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Oh, I am at home both in the north and the south and the east and the
west, and I am called Farmer Weatherbeard,&rsquo; said the master. &lsquo;You
may come here again in a year&rsquo;s time, and then I will tell you if the lad
suits me.&rsquo; And then they set off again and were gone.
</p>

<p>
When the man got home the old woman inquired what had become of the son.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Ah! Heaven only knows what has become of him!&rsquo; said the man.
&lsquo;They went up aloft.&rsquo; And then he told her what had happened.
</p>

<p>
But when the woman heard that, and found that the man did not at all know
either when their son would be out of his apprentice-ship, or where he had
gone, she packed him off again to find out, and gave him a bag of food and a
roll of tobacco to take away with him.
</p>

<p>
When he had walked for some time he came to a great wood, and it stretched
before him all day long as he went on, and when night began to fall he saw a
great light, and went towards it. After a long, long time he came to a small
hut at the foot of a rock, outside which an old woman was standing drawing
water up from a well with her nose, it was so long.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Good-evening, mother,&rsquo; said the man.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Good-evening to you too,&rsquo; said the old woman. &lsquo;No one has
called me mother this hundred years.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Can I lodge here to-night?&rsquo; said the man.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;No,&rsquo; said the old woman. But the man took out his roll of tobacco,
lighted a little of it, and then gave her a whiff. Then she was so delighted
that she began to dance, and thus the man got leave to stay the night there. It
was not long before he asked about Farmer Weatherbeard.
</p>

<p>
She said that she knew nothing about him, but that she ruled over all the
four-footed beasts, and some of them might know him. So she gathered them all
together by blowing a whistle which she had, and questioned them, but there was
not one of them which knew anything about Farmer Weatherbeard.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Well,&rsquo; said the old woman, &lsquo;there are three of us sisters;
it may be that one of the other two knows where he is to be found. You shall
have the loan of my horse and carriage, and then you will get there by night;
but her house is three hundred miles off, go the nearest way you will.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
The man set out and got there at night. When he arrived, this old woman also
was standing drawing water out of the well with her nose.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Good-evening, mother,&rsquo; said the man.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Good-evening to you,&rsquo; said the old woman. &lsquo;No one has ever
called me mother this hundred years.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Can I lodge here to-night?&rsquo; said the man.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;No,&rsquo; said the old woman.
</p>

<p>
Then he took out the roll of tobacco, took a whiff, and gave the old woman some
snuff on the back of her hand. Then she was so delighted that she began to
dance, and the man got leave to stay all night. It was not long before he began
to ask about Farmer Weatherbeard.
</p>

<p>
She knew nothing about him, but she ruled over all the fishes, she said, and
perhaps some of them might know something. So she gathered them all together by
blowing a whistle which she had, and questioned them, but there was not one of
them which knew anything about Farmer Weatherbeard.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Well,&rsquo; said the old woman, &lsquo;I have another sister; perhaps
she may know something about him. She lives six hundred miles off, but you
shall have my horse and carriage, and then you will get there by
nightfall.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
So the man set off and he got there by nightfall. The old woman was standing
raking the fire, and she was doing it with her nose, so long it was.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Good-evening, mother,&rsquo; said the man.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Good-evening to you,&rsquo; said the old woman. &lsquo;No one has called
me mother this hundred years.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Can I lodge here to-night?&rsquo; said the man.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;No,&rsquo; said the old woman. But the man pulled out his roll of
tobacco again, and filled his pipe with some of it, and gave the old woman
enough snuff to cover the back of her hand. Then she was so delighted that she
began to dance, and the man got leave to stay in her house. It was not long
before he asked about Farmer Weatherbeard. She knew nothing at all about him,
she said, but she governed all the birds; and she gathered them together with
her whistle. When she questioned them all, the eagle was not there, but it came
soon afterwards, and when asked, it said that it had just come from Farmer
Weatherbeard&rsquo;s. Then the old woman said that it was to guide the man to
him. But the eagle would have something to eat first, and then it wanted to
wait until the next day, for it was so tired with the long journey that it was
scarcely able to rise from the earth.
</p>

<p>
When the eagle had had plenty of food and rest, the old woman plucked a feather
out of its tail, and set the man in the feather&rsquo;s place, and then the
bird flew away with him, but they did not get to Farmer Weatherbeard&rsquo;s
before midnight.
</p>

<p>
When they got there the Eagle said: &lsquo;There are a great many dead bodies
lying outside the door, but you must not concern yourself about them. The
people who are inside the house are all so sound asleep that it will not be
easy to awake them; but you must go straight to the table-drawer, and take out
three bits of bread, and if you hear anyone snoring, pluck three feathers from
his head; he will not waken for that.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
The man did this; when he had got the bits of bread he first plucked out one
feather.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Oof!&rsquo; screamed Farmer Weatherbeard.
</p>

<p>
So the man plucked out another, and then Farmer Weatherbeard shrieked
&lsquo;Oof!&rsquo; again; but when the man had plucked the third, Farmer
Weatherbeard screamed so loudly that the man thought that brick and mortar
would be rent in twain, but for all that he went on sleeping. And now the Eagle
told the man what he was to do next, and he did it. He went to the stable door,
and there he stumbled against a hard stone, which he picked up, and beneath it
lay three splinters of wood, which he also picked up. He knocked at the stable
door and it opened at once. He threw down the three little bits of bread and a
hare came out and ate them. He caught the hare. Then the Eagle told him to
pluck three feathers out of its tail, and put in the hare, the stone, the
splinters of wood and himself instead of them, and then he would be able to
carry them all home.
</p>

<p>
When the Eagle had flown a long way it alighted on a stone.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Do you see anything?&rsquo; it asked.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Yes; I see a flock of crows coming flying after us,&rsquo; said the man.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Then we shall do well to fly on a little farther,&rsquo; said the Eagle,
and off it set.
</p>

<p>
In a short time it asked again, &lsquo;Do you see anything now?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Yes; now the crows are close behind us,&rsquo; said the man.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Then throw down the three feathers which you plucked out of his
head,&rsquo; said the Eagle.
</p>

<p>
So the man did this, and no sooner had he flung them down than the feathers
became a flock of ravens, which chased the crows home again. Then the Eagle
flew on much farther with the man, but at length it alighted on a stone for a
while.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Do you see anything?&rsquo; it said.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I am not quite certain,&rsquo; said the man, &lsquo;but I think I see
something coming in the far distance.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Then we shall do well to fly on a little farther,&rsquo; said the Eagle,
and away it went.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Do you see anything now?&rsquo; it said, after some time had gone by.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Yes; now they are close behind us,&rsquo; said the man.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Then throw down the splinters of wood which you took from beneath the
gray stone by the stable door,&rsquo; said the Eagle. The man did this, and no
sooner had he flung them down than they grew up into a great thick wood, and
Farmer Weatherbeard had to go home for an axe to cut his way through it. So the
Eagle flew on a long, long way, but then it grew tired and sat down on a fir
tree.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Do you see anything?&rsquo; it asked.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Yes; I am not quite certain,&rsquo; said the man, &lsquo;but I think I
can catch a glimpse of something far, far away.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Then we shall do well to fly on a little farther,&rsquo; said the Eagle,
and it set off again.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Do you see anything now?&rsquo; it said after some time had gone by.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Yes; he is close behind us now,&rsquo; said the man.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Then you must fling down the great stone which you took away from the
stable door,&rsquo; said the Eagle.
</p>

<p>
The man did so, and it turned into a great high mountain of stone, which Farmer
Weatherbeard had to break his way through before he could follow them. But when
he had got to the middle of the mountain he broke one of his legs, so he had to
go home to get it put right.
</p>

<p>
While he was doing this the Eagle flew off to the man&rsquo;s home with him,
and with the hare, and when they had got home the man went to the churchyard,
and had some Christian earth laid upon the hare, and then it turned into his
son Jack.
</p>

<p>
When the time came for the fair the youth turned himself into a light-coloured
horse, and bade his father go to the market with him. &lsquo;If anyone should
come who wants to buy me,&rsquo; said he, &lsquo;you are to tell him that you
want a hundred dollars for me; but you must not forget to take off the halter,
for if you do I shall never be able to get away from Farmer Weatherbeard, for
he is the man who will come and bargain for me.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
And thus it happened. A horse-dealer came who had a great fancy to bargain for
the horse, and the man got a hundred dollars for it, but when the bargain was
made, and Jack&rsquo;s father had got the money, the horse-dealer wanted to
have the halter.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;That was no part of our bargain,&rsquo; said the man, &lsquo;and the
halter you shall not have, for I have other horses which I shall have to
sell.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
So each of them went his way. But the horse dealer had not got very far with
Jack before he resumed his own form again, and when the man got home he was
sitting on the bench by the stove.
</p>

<p>
The next day he changed himself into a brown horse and told his father that he
was to set off to market with him. &lsquo;If a man should come who wants to buy
me,&rsquo; said Jack, &lsquo;you are to tell him that you want two hundred
dollars, for that he will give, and treat you besides; but whatsoever you
drink, and whatsoever you do, don&rsquo;t forget to take the halter off me, or
you will never see me more.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
And thus it happened. The man got his two hundred dollars for the horse, and
was treated as well, and when they parted from each other it was just as much
as he could do to remember to take off the halter. But the buyer had not got
far on his way before the youth took his own form again, and when the man
reached home Jack was already sitting on the bench by the stove.
</p>

<p>
On the third day all happened in the same way. The youth changed himself into a
great black horse, and told his father that if a man came and offered him three
hundred dollars, and treated him well and handsomely into the bargain, he was
to sell him, but whatsoever he did, or how much soever he drank, he must not
forget to take off the halter, or else he himself would never get away from
Farmer Weatherbeard as long as he lived.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;No,&rsquo; said the man, &lsquo;I will not forget.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
When he got to the market, he received the three hundred dollars, but Farmer
Weatherbeard treated him so handsomely that he quite forgot to take off the
halter; so Farmer Weatherbeard went away with the horse.
</p>

<p>
When he had got some distance he had to go into an inn to get some more brandy;
so he set a barrel full of red-hot nails under his horse&rsquo;s nose, and a
trough filled with oats beneath its tail, and then he tied the halter fast to a
hook and went away into the inn. So the horse stood there stamping, and
kicking, and snorting, and rearing, and out came a girl who thought it a sin
and a shame to treat a horse so ill.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Ah, poor creature, what a master you must have to treat you thus!&rsquo;
she said, and pushed the halter off the hook so that the horse might turn round
and eat the oats.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I am here!&rsquo; shrieked Farmer Weatherbeard, rushing out of doors.
But the horse had already shaken off the halter and flung himself into a
goose-pond, where he changed himself into a little fish. Farmer Weatherbeard
went after him, and changed himself into a great pike. So Jack turned himself
into a dove, and Farmer Weatherbeard turned himself into a hawk, and flew after
the dove and struck it. But a Princess was standing at a window in the
King&rsquo;s palace watching the struggle.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;If thou didst but know as much as I know, thou wouldst fly in to me
through the window,&rsquo; said the Princess to the dove.
</p>

<p>
So the dove came flying in through the window and changed itself into Jack
again, and told her all as it had happened.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Change thyself into a gold ring, and set thyself on my finger,&rsquo;
said the Princess.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;No, that will not do,&rsquo; said Jack, &lsquo;for then Farmer
Weatherbeard will make the King fall sick, and there will be no one who can
make him well again before Farmer Weatherbeard comes and cures him, and for
that he will demand the gold ring.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I will say that it was my mother&rsquo;s, and that I will not part with
it,&rsquo; said the Princess.
</p>

<p>
So Jack changed himself into a gold ring, and set himself on the
Princess&rsquo;s finger, and Farmer Weatherbeard could not get at him there.
But then all that the youth had foretold came to pass.
</p>

<p>
The King became ill, and there was no doctor who could cure him till Farmer
Weatherbeard arrived, and he demanded the ring which was on the
Princess&rsquo;s finger as a reward.
</p>

<p>
So the King sent a messenger to the Princess for the ring. She, however,
refused to part with it, because she had inherited it from her mother. When the
King was informed of this he fell into a rage, and said that he would have the
ring, let her have inherited it from whom she might.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Well, it&rsquo;s of no use to be angry about it,&rsquo; said the
Princess, &lsquo;for I can&rsquo;t get it off. If you want the ring you will
have to take the finger too!&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I will try, and then the ring will very soon come off,&rsquo; said
Farmer Weatherbeard.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;No, thank you, I will try myself,&rsquo; said the Princess, and she went
away to the fireplace and put some ashes on the ring.
</p>

<p>
So the ring came off and was lost among the ashes.
</p>

<p>
Farmer Weatherbeard changed himself into a hare, which scratched and scraped
about in the fireplace after the ring until the ashes were up to its ears. But
Jack changed himself into a fox, and bit the hare&rsquo;s head off, and if
Farmer Weatherbeard was possessed by the evil one all was now over with
him.<a href="#fn25" id="fnref25"><sup>[25]</sup></a>
</p>

<p class="footnote">
<a id="fn25"></a> <a href="#fnref25">[25]</a>
From P. C. Asbjørnsen.
</p>

</div><!--end chapter-->

<div class="chapter">

<h2><a id="chap30"></a>MOTHER HOLLE</h2>

<p>
Once upon a time there was a widow who had two daughters; one of them was
pretty and clever, and the other ugly and lazy. But as the ugly one was her own
daughter, she liked her far the best of the two, and the pretty one had to do
all the work of the house, and was in fact the regular maid of all work. Every
day she had to sit by a well on the high road, and spin till her fingers were
so sore that they often bled. One day some drops of blood fell on her spindle,
so she dipped it into the well meaning to wash it, but, as luck would have it,
it dropped from her hand and fell right in. She ran weeping to her stepmother,
and told her what had happened, but she scolded her harshly, and was so
merciless in her anger that she said:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Well, since you&rsquo;ve dropped the spindle down, you must just go
after it yourself, and don&rsquo;t let me see your face again until you bring
it with you.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Then the poor girl returned to the well, and not knowing what she was about, in
the despair and misery of her heart she sprang into the well and sank to the
bottom. For a time she lost all consciousness, and when she came to herself
again she was lying in a lovely meadow, with the sun shining brightly overhead,
and a thousand flowers blooming at her feet. She rose up and wandered through
this enchanted place, till she came to a baker&rsquo;s oven full of bread, and
the bread called out to her as she passed:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Oh! take me out, take me out, or I shall be burnt to a cinder. I am
quite done enough.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
So she stepped up quickly to the oven and took out all the loaves one after the
other. Then she went on a little farther and came to a tree laden with
beautiful rosy-cheeked apples, and as she passed by it called out:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Oh! shake me, shake me, my apples are all quite ripe.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
She did as she was asked, and shook the tree till the apples fell like rain and
none were left hanging. When she had gathered them all up into a heap she went
on her way again, and came at length to a little house, at the door of which
sat an old woman. The old dame had such large teeth that the girl felt
frightened and wanted to run away, but the old woman called after her:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;What are you afraid of, dear child? Stay with me and be my little maid,
and if you do your work well I will reward you handsomely; but you must be very
careful how you make my bed&mdash;you must shake it well till the feathers fly;
then people in the world below say it snows, for I am Mother Holle.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
She spoke so kindly that the girl took heart and agreed readily to enter her
service. She did her best to please the old woman, and shook her bed with such
a will that the feathers flew about like snow-flakes; so she led a very easy
life, was never scolded, and lived on the fat of the land. But after she had
been some time with Mother Holle she grew sad and depressed, and at first she
hardly knew herself what was the matter. At last she discovered that she was
homesick, so she went to Mother Holle and said:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I know I am a thousand times better off here than I ever was in my life
before, but notwithstanding, I have a great longing to go home, in spite of all
your kindness to me. I can remain with you no longer, but must return to my own
people.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Your desire to go home pleases me,&rsquo; said Mother Holle, &lsquo;and
because you have served me so faithfully, I will show you the way back into the
world myself.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
So she took her by the hand and led her to an open door, and as the girl passed
through it there fell a heavy shower of gold all over her, till she was covered
with it from top to toe.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;That&rsquo;s a reward for being such a good little maid,&rsquo; said
Mother Holle, and she gave her the spindle too that had fallen into the well.
Then she shut the door, and the girl found herself back in the world again, not
far from her own house; and when she came to the courtyard the old hen, who sat
on the top of the wall, called out:
</p>

<p class="poem">
&lsquo;Click, clock, clack,<br>
Our golden maid&rsquo;s come back.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Then she went in to her stepmother, and as she had returned covered with gold
she was welcomed home.
</p>

<p>
She proceeded to tell all that had happened to her, and when the mother heard
how she had come by her riches, she was most anxious to secure the same luck
for her own idle, ugly daughter; so she told her to sit at the well and spin.
In order to make her spindle bloody, she stuck her hand into a hedge of thorns
and pricked her finger. Then she threw the spindle into the well, and jumped in
herself after it. Like her sister she came to the beautiful meadow, and
followed the same path. When she reached the baker&rsquo;s oven the bread
called out as before:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Oh! take me out, take me out, or I shall be burnt to a cinder. I am
quite done enough.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
But the good-for-nothing girl answered:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;A pretty joke, indeed; just as if I should dirty my hands for
you!&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
And on she went. Soon she came to the apple tree, which cried:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Oh! shake me, shake me, my apples are all quite ripe.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I&rsquo;ll see myself farther,&rsquo; she replied, &lsquo;one of them
might fall on my head.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
And so she pursued her way. When she came to Mother Holle&rsquo;s house she
wasn&rsquo;t the least afraid, for she had been warned about her big teeth, and
she readily agreed to become her maid. The first day she worked very hard, and
did all her mistress told her, for she thought of the gold she would give her;
but on the second day she began to be lazy, and on the third she wouldn&rsquo;t
even get up in the morning. She didn&rsquo;t make Mother Holle&rsquo;s bed as
she ought to have done, and never shook it enough to make the feathers fly. So
her mistress soon grew weary of her, and dismissed her, much to the lazy
creature&rsquo;s delight.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;For now,&rsquo; she thought, &lsquo;the shower of golden rain will
come.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Mother Holle led her to the same door as she had done her sister, but when she
passed through it, instead of the gold rain a kettle full of pitch came
showering over her.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;That&rsquo;s a reward for your service,&rsquo; said Mother Holle, and
she closed the door behind her.
</p>

<p>
So the lazy girl came home all covered with pitch, and when the old hen on the
top of the wall saw her, it called out:
</p>

<p class="poem">
&lsquo;Click, clock, clack,<br>
Our dirty slut&rsquo;s come back.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
But the pitch remained sticking to her, and never as long as she lived could it
be got off.<a href="#fn26" id="fnref26"><sup>[26]</sup></a>
</p>

<p class="footnote">
<a id="fn26"></a> <a href="#fnref26">[26]</a>
Grimm.
</p>

</div><!--end chapter-->

<div class="chapter">

<h2><a id="chap31"></a>MINNIKIN</h2>

<p>
There was once upon a time a couple of needy folk who lived in a wretched hut,
in which there was nothing but black want; so they had neither food to eat nor
wood to burn. But if they had next to nothing of all else they had the blessing
of God so far as children were concerned, and every year brought them one more.
The man was not overpleased at this. He was always going about grumbling and
growling, and saying that it seemed to him that there might be such a thing as
having too many of these good gifts; so shortly before another baby was born he
went away into the wood for some firewood, saying that he did not want to see
the new child; he would hear him quite soon enough when he began to squall for
some food.
</p>

<p>
As soon as this baby was born it began to look about the room. &lsquo;Ah, my
dear mother!&rsquo; said he, &lsquo;give me some of my brothers&rsquo; old
clothes, and food enough for a few days, and I will go out into the world and
seek my fortune, for, so far as I can see, you have children enough.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Heaven help thee, my son!&rsquo; said the mother, &lsquo;that will never
do; thou art still far too little.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
But the little creature was determined to do it, and begged and prayed so long
that the mother was forced to let him have some old rags, and tie up a little
food for him, and then gaily and happily he went out into the world.
</p>

<p>
But almost before he was out of the house another boy was born, and he too
looked about him, and said, &lsquo;Ah, my dear mother! give me some of my
brothers&rsquo; old clothes, and food for some days, and then I will go out
into the world and find my twin brother, for you have children enough.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Heaven help thee, little creature! thou art far too little for
that,&rsquo; said the woman; &lsquo;it would never do.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
But she spoke to no purpose, for the boy begged and prayed until he had got
some old rags and a bundle of provisions, and then he set out manfully into the
world to find his twin brother.
</p>

<p>
When the younger had walked for some time he caught sight of his brother a
short distance in front of him, and called to him and bade him to stop.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Wait a minute,&rsquo; he said; &lsquo;you are walking as if for a wager,
but you ought to have stayed to see your younger brother before you hurried off
into the world.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
So the elder stood still and looked back, and when the younger had got up to
him, and had told him that he was his brother, he said: &lsquo;But now, let us
sit down and see what kind of food our mother has given us,&rsquo; and that
they did.
</p>

<p>
When they had walked on a little farther they came to a brook which ran through
a green meadow, and there the younger said that they ought to christen each
other. &lsquo;As we had to make such haste, and had no time to do it at home,
we may as well do it here,&rsquo; said he.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;What will you be called?&rsquo; asked the elder.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I will be called Minnikin,&rsquo; answered the second; &lsquo;and you,
what will you be called?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I will be called King Pippin,&rsquo; answered the elder.
</p>

<p>
They christened each other and then went onwards. When they had walked for some
time they came to a crossway, and there they agreed to part, and each take his
own road. This they did, but no sooner had they walked a short distance than
they met again. So they parted once more, and each took his own road, but in a
very short time the same thing happened again&mdash;they met each other before
they were at all aware, and so it happened the third time also. Then they
arranged with each other that each should choose his own quarter, and one
should go east and the other west.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;But if ever you fall into any need or trouble,&rsquo; said the elder,
&lsquo;call me thrice, and I will come and help you; only you must not call me
until you are in the utmost need.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;In that case we shall not see each other for some time,&rsquo; said
Minnikin; so they bade farewell to each other, and Minnikin went east and King
Pippin went west.
</p>

<p>
When Minnikin had walked a long way alone, he met an old, old crook-backed hag,
who had only one eye. Minnikin stole it.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Oh! oh!&rsquo; cried the old hag, &lsquo;what has become of my
eye?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;What will you give me to get your eye back?&rsquo; said Minnikin.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I will give thee a sword which is such a sword that it can conquer a
whole army, let it be ever so great,&rsquo; replied the woman.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Let me have it, then,&rsquo; said Minnikin.
</p>

<p>
The old hag gave him the sword, so she got her eye back. Then Minnikin went
onwards, and when he had wandered on for some time he again met an old, old
crook-backed hag, who had only one eye. Minnikin stole it before she was aware.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Oh! oh! what has become of my eye?&rsquo; cried the old hag.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;What will you give me to get your eye back?&rsquo; said Minnikin.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I will give thee a ship which can sail over fresh water and salt water,
over high hills and deep dales,&rsquo; answered the old woman.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Let me have it then,&rsquo; said Minnikin.
</p>

<p>
So the old woman gave him a little bit of a ship which was no bigger than he
could put in his pocket, and then she got her eye back, and she went her way
and Minnikin his. When he had walked on for a long time, he met for the third
time an old, old crook-backed hag, who had only one eye. This eye also Minnikin
stole, and when the woman screamed and lamented, and asked what had become of
her eye, Minnikin said, &lsquo;What will you give me to get your eye
back?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I will give thee the art to brew a hundred lasts of malt in one
brewing.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
So, for teaching that art, the old hag got her eye back, and they both went
away by different roads.
</p>

<p>
But when Minnikin had walked a short distance, it seemed to him that it might
be worth while to see what his ship could do; so he took it out of his pocket,
and first he put one foot into it, and then the other, and no sooner had he put
one foot into the ship than it became much larger, and when he set the other
foot into it, it grew as large as ships that sail on the sea.
</p>

<p>
Then Minnikin said: &lsquo;Now go over fresh water and salt water, over high
hills and deep dales, and do not stop until thou comest to the King&rsquo;s
palace.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
And in an instant the ship went away as swiftly as any bird in the air till it
got just below the King&rsquo;s palace, and there it stood still.
</p>

<p>
From the windows of the King&rsquo;s palace many persons had seen Minnikin come
sailing thither, and had stood to watch him; and they were all so astounded
that they ran down to see what manner of man this could be who came sailing in
a ship through the air. But while they were running down from the King&rsquo;s
palace, Minnikin had got out of the ship and had put it in his pocket again;
for the moment he got out of it, it once more became as small as it had been
when he got it from the old woman, and those who came from the King&rsquo;s
palace could see nothing but a ragged little boy who was standing down by the
sea-shore. The King asked where he had come from, but the boy said he did not
know, nor yet could he tell them how he had got there, but he begged very
earnestly and prettily for a place in the King&rsquo;s palace. If there was
nothing else for him to do, he said he would fetch wood and water for the
kitchen-maid, and that he obtained leave to do.
</p>

<p>
When Minnikin went up to the King&rsquo;s palace he saw that everything there
was hung with black both outside and inside, from the bottom to the top; so he
asked the kitchen-maid what that meant.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Oh, I will tell you that,&rsquo; answered the kitchen-maid. &lsquo;The
King&rsquo;s daughter was long ago promised away to three Trolls, and next
Thursday evening one of them is to come to fetch her. Ritter Red has said that
he will be able to set her free, but who knows whether he will be able to do
it? so you may easily imagine what grief and distress we are in here.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
So when Thursday evening came, Ritter Red accompanied the Princess to the
sea-shore; for there she was to meet the Troll, and Ritter Red was to stay with
her and protect her. He, however, was very unlikely to do the Troll much
injury, for no sooner had the Princess seated herself by the sea-shore than
Ritter Red climbed up into a great tree which was standing there, and hid
himself as well as he could among the branches.
</p>

<p>
The Princess wept, and begged him most earnestly not to go and leave her; but
Ritter Red did not concern himself about that. &lsquo;It is better that one
should die than two,&rsquo; said he.
</p>

<p>
In the meantime Minnikin begged the kitchen-maid very prettily to give him
leave to go down to the strand for a short time.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Oh, what could you do down at the strand?&rsquo; said the kitchen-maid.
&lsquo;You have nothing to do there.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Oh yes, my dear, just let me go,&rsquo; said Minnikin. &lsquo;I should
so like to go and amuse myself with the other children.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Well, well, go then!&rsquo; said the kitchen-maid, &lsquo;but
don&rsquo;t let me find you staying there over the time when the pan has to be
set on the fire for supper, and the roast put on the spit; and mind you bring
back a good big armful of wood for the kitchen.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Minnikin promised this, and ran down to the sea-shore.
</p>

<p>
Just as he got to the place where the King&rsquo;s daughter was sitting, the
Troll came rushing up with a great whistling and whirring, and he was so big
and stout that he was terrible to see, and he had five heads.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Fire!&rsquo; screeched the Troll.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Fire yourself!&rsquo; said Minnikin.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Can you fight?&rsquo; roared the Troll.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;If not, I can learn,&rsquo; said Minnikin.
</p>

<p>
So the Troll struck at him with a great thick iron bar which he had in his
fist, till the sods flew five yards up into the air.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Fie!&rsquo; said Minnikin. &lsquo;That was not much of a blow. Now you
shall see one of mine.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
So he grasped the sword which he had got from the old crook-backed woman, and
slashed at the Troll so that all five heads went flying away over the sands.
</p>

<p>
When the Princess saw that she was delivered she was so delighted that she did
not know what she was doing, and skipped and danced.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Come and sleep a bit with your head in my lap,&rsquo; she said to
Minnikin, and as he slept she put a golden dress on him.
</p>

<p>
But when Ritter Red saw that there was no longer any danger afoot, he lost no
time in creeping down from the tree. He then threatened the Princess, until at
length she was forced to promise to say that it was he who had rescued her, for
he told her that if she did not he would kill her. Then he took the
Troll&rsquo;s lungs and tongue and put them in his pocket-handkerchief, and led
the Princess back to the King&rsquo;s palace; and whatsoever had been lacking
to him in the way of honour before was lacking no longer, for the King did not
know how to exalt him enough, and always set him on his own right hand at
table.
</p>

<p>
As for Minnikin, first he went out on the Troll&rsquo;s ship and took a great
quantity of gold and silver hoops away with him, and then he trotted back to
the King&rsquo;s palace.
</p>

<p>
When the kitchen-maid caught sight of all this gold and silver she was quite
amazed, and said: &lsquo;My dear friend Minnikin, where have you got all that
from?&rsquo; for she was half afraid that he had not come by it honestly.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Oh,&rsquo; answered Minnikin, &lsquo;I have been home a while, and these
hoops had fallen off some of our buckets, so I brought them away with me for
you.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
So when the kitchen-maid heard that they were for her, she asked no more
questions about the matter. She thanked Minnikin, and everything was right
again at once.
</p>

<p>
Next Thursday evening all went just the same, and everyone was full of grief
and affliction, but Ritter Red said that he had been able to deliver the
King&rsquo;s daughter from one Troll, so that he could very easily deliver her
from another, and he led her down to the sea-shore. But he did not do much harm
to this Troll either, for when the time came when the Troll might be expected,
he said as he had said before: &lsquo;It is better that one should die than
two,&rsquo; and then climbed up into the tree again.
</p>

<p>
Minnikin once more begged the cook&rsquo;s leave to go down to the sea-shore
for a short time.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Oh, what can you do there?&rsquo; said the cook.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;My dear, do let me go!&rsquo; said Minnikin; &lsquo;I should so like to
go down there and amuse myself a little with the other children.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
So this time also she said that he should have leave to go, but he must first
promise that he would be back by the time the joint was turned and that he
would bring a great armful of wood with him.
</p>

<p>
No sooner had Minnikin got down to the strand than the Troll came rushing along
with a great whistling and whirring, and he was twice as big as the first
Troll, and he had ten heads.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Fire!&rsquo; shrieked the Troll.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Fire yourself!&rsquo; said Minnikin.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Can you fight?&rsquo; roared the Troll.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;If not, I can learn,&rsquo; said Minnikin.
</p>

<p>
So the Troll struck at him with his iron club&mdash;which was still bigger than
that which the first Troll had had&mdash;so that the earth flew ten yards up in
the air.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Fie!&rsquo; said Minnikin. &lsquo;That was not much of a blow. Now you
shall see one of my blows.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Then he grasped his sword and struck at the Troll, so that all his ten heads
danced away over the sands.
</p>

<p>
And again the King&rsquo;s daughter said to him, &lsquo;Sleep a while on my
lap,&rsquo; and while Minnikin lay there she drew some silver raiment over him.
</p>

<p>
As soon as Ritter Red saw that there was no longer any danger afoot, he crept
down from the tree and threatened the Princess, until at last she was again
forced to promise to say that it was he who had rescued her; after which he
took the tongue and the lungs of the Troll and put them in his
pocket-handkerchief, and then he conducted the Princess back to the palace.
There was joy and gladness in the palace, as may be imagined, and the King did
not know how to show enough honour and respect to Ritter Red.
</p>

<p>
Minnikin, however, took home with him an armful of gold and silver hoops from
the Troll&rsquo;s ship. When he came back to the King&rsquo;s palace the
kitchen-maid clapped her hands and wondered where he could have got all that
gold and silver; but Minnikin answered that he had been home for a short time,
and that it was only the hoops which had fallen off some pails, and that he had
brought them away for the kitchen-maid.
</p>

<p>
When the third Thursday evening came, everything happened exactly as it had
happened on the two former occasions. Everything in the King&rsquo;s palace was
hung with black, and everyone was sorrowful and distressed; but Ritter Red said
that he did not think that they had much reason to be afraid&mdash;he had
delivered the King&rsquo;s daughter from two Trolls, so he could easily deliver
her from the third as well.
</p>

<p>
He led her down to the strand, but when the time drew near for the Troll to
come, he climbed up into the tree again and hid himself.
</p>

<p>
The Princess wept and entreated him to stay, but all to no purpose. He stuck to
his old speech, &lsquo;It is better that one life should be lost than
two.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
This evening also, Minnikin begged for leave to go down to the sea-shore.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Oh, what can you do there?&rsquo; answered the kitchen-maid.
</p>

<p>
However, he begged until at last he got leave to go, but he was forced to
promise that he would be back again in the kitchen when the roast had to be
turned.
</p>

<p>
Almost immediately after he had got down to the sea-shore the Troll came with a
great whizzing and whirring, and he was much, much bigger than either of the
two former ones, and he had fifteen heads.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Fire!&rsquo; roared the Troll.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Fire yourself!&rsquo; said Minnikin.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Can you fight?&rsquo; screamed the Troll.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;If not, I can learn,&rsquo; said Minnikin.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I will teach you,&rsquo; yelled the Troll, and struck at him with his
iron club so that the earth flew up fifteen yards high into the air.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Fie!&rsquo; said Minnikin. &lsquo;That was not much of a blow. Now I
will let you see one of my blows.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
So saying he grasped his sword, and cut at the Troll in such a way that all his
fifteen heads danced away over the sands.
</p>

<p>
Then the Princess was delivered, and she thanked Minnikin and blessed him for
saving her.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Sleep a while now on my lap,&rsquo; said she, and while he lay there she
put a garment of brass upon him.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;But now, how shall we have it made known that it was you who saved
me?&rsquo; said the King&rsquo;s daughter.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;That I will tell you,&rsquo; answered Minnikin. &lsquo;When Ritter Red
has taken you home again, and given out that it was he who rescued you, he
will, as you know, have you to wife, and half the kingdom. But when they ask
you on your wedding-day whom you will have to be your cup-bearer, you must say,
&ldquo;I will have the ragged boy who is in the kitchen, and carries wood and
water for the kitchen-maid;&rdquo; and when I am filling your cups for you, I
will spill a drop upon his plate but none upon yours, and then he will be angry
and strike me, and this will take place thrice. But the third time you must
say, &ldquo;Shame on you thus to smite the beloved of mine heart. It is he who
delivered me from the Troll, and he is the one whom I will have.&rdquo;&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Then Minnikin ran back to the King&rsquo;s palace as he had done before, but
first he went on board the Troll&rsquo;s ship and took a great quantity of gold
and silver and other precious things, and out of these he once more gave to the
kitchen-maid a whole armful of gold and silver hoops.
</p>

<p>
No sooner did Ritter Red see that all danger was over than he crept down from
the tree, and threatened the King&rsquo;s daughter till he made her promise to
say that he had rescued her. Then he conducted her back to the King&rsquo;s
palace, and if honour enough had not been done him before it was certainly done
now, for the King had no other thought than how to make much of the man who had
saved his daughter from the three Trolls; and it was settled then that Ritter
Red should marry her, and receive half the kingdom.
</p>

<p>
On the wedding-day, however, the Princess begged that she might have the little
boy who was in the kitchen, and carried wood and water for the kitchen-maid, to
fill the wine-cups at the wedding feast.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Oh, what can you want with that dirty, ragged boy, in here?&rsquo; said
Ritter Red, but the Princess said that she insisted on having him as cup-bearer
and would have no one else; and at last she got leave, and then everything was
done as had been agreed on between the Princess and Minnikin. He spilt a drop
on Ritter Red&rsquo;s plate but none upon hers, and each time that he did it
Ritter Red fell into a rage and struck him. At the first blow all the ragged
garments which he had worn in the kitchen fell from off Minnikin, at the second
blow the brass garments fell off, and at the third the silver raiment, and
there he stood in the golden raiment, which was so bright and splendid that
light flashed from it.
</p>

<p>
Then the King&rsquo;s daughter said: &lsquo;Shame on you thus to smite the
beloved of my heart. It is he who delivered me from the Troll, and he is the
one whom I will have.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Ritter Red swore that he was the man who had saved her, but the King said:
&lsquo;He who delivered my daughter must have some token in proof of it.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
So Ritter Red ran off at once for his handkerchief with the lungs and tongue,
and Minnikin went and brought all the gold and silver and precious things which
he had taken out of the Trolls&rsquo; ships; and they each of them laid these
tokens before the King.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;He who has such precious things in gold and silver and diamonds,&rsquo;
said the King, &lsquo;must be the one who killed the Troll, for such things are
not to be had anywhere else.&rsquo; So Ritter Red was thrown into the
snake-pit, and Minnikin was to have the Princess, and half the kingdom.
</p>

<p>
One day the King went out walking with Minnikin, and Minnikin asked him if he
had never had any other children.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Yes,&rsquo; said the King, &lsquo;I had another daughter, but the Troll
carried her away because there was no one who could deliver her. You are going
to have one daughter of mine, but if you can set free the other, who has been
taken by the Troll, you shall willingly have her too, and the other half of the
kingdom as well.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I may as well make the attempt,&rsquo; said Minnikin, &lsquo;but I must
have an iron rope which is five hundred ells long, and then I must have five
hundred men with me, and provisions for five weeks, for I have a long voyage
before me.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
So the King said he should have these things, but the King was afraid that he
had no ship large enough to carry them all.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;But I have a ship of my own,&rsquo; said Minnikin, and he took the one
which the old woman had given him out of his pocket. The King laughed at him
and thought that it was only one of his jokes, but Minnikin begged him just to
give him what he had asked for, and then he should see something. Then all that
Minnikin had asked for was brought; and first he ordered them to lay the cable
in the ship, but there was no one who was able to lift it, and there was only
room for one or two men at a time in the little bit of a ship. Then Minnikin
himself took hold of the cable, and laid one or two links of it into the ship,
and as he threw the links into it the ship grew bigger and bigger, and at last
it was so large that the cable, and the five hundred men, and provisions, and
Minnikin himself, had room enough.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Now go over fresh water and salt water, over hill and dale, and do not
stop until thou comest to where the King&rsquo;s daughter is,&rsquo; said
Minnikin to the ship, and off it went in a moment over land and water till the
wind whistled and moaned all round about it.
</p>

<p>
When they had sailed thus a long, long way, the ship stopped short in the
middle of the sea.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Ah, now we have got there,&rsquo; said Minnikin, &lsquo;but how we are
to get back again is a very different thing.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Then he took the cable and tied one end of it round his body. &lsquo;Now I must
go to the bottom,&rsquo; he said, &lsquo;but when I give a good jerk to the
cable and want to come up again, you must all pull like one man, or there will
be an end of all life both for you and for me.&rsquo; So saying he sprang into
the water, and yellow bubbles rose up all around him. He sank lower and lower,
and at last he came to the bottom. There he saw a large hill with a door in it,
and in he went. When he had got inside he found the other Princess sitting
sewing, but when she saw Minnikin she clapped her hands.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Ah, heaven be praised!&rsquo; she cried, &lsquo;I have not seen a
Christian man since I came here.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I have come for you,&rsquo; said Minnikin.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Alas! you will not be able to get me,&rsquo; said the King&rsquo;s
daughter. &lsquo;It is no use even to think of that; if the Troll catches sight
of you he will take your life.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;You had better tell me about him,&rsquo; said Minnikin. &lsquo;Where is
he gone? It would be amusing to see him.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
So the King&rsquo;s daughter told Minnikin that the Troll was out trying to get
hold of someone who could brew a hundred lasts of malt at one brewing, for
there was to be a feast at the Troll&rsquo;s, at which less than that would not
be drunk.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I can do that,&rsquo; said Minnikin.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Ah! if only the Troll were not so quick-tempered I might have told him
that,&rsquo; answered the Princess, &lsquo;but he is so ill-natured that he
will tear you to pieces, I fear, as soon as he comes in. But I will try to find
some way of doing it. Can you hide yourself here in the cupboard? and then we
will see what happens.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Minnikin did this, and almost before he had crept into the cupboard and hidden
himself, came the Troll.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Huf! What a smell of Christian man&rsquo;s blood!&rsquo; said the Troll.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Yes, a bird flew over the roof with a Christian man&rsquo;s bone in his
bill, and let it fall down our chimney,&rsquo; answered the Princess. &lsquo;I
made haste enough to get it away again, but it must be that which smells so,
notwithstanding.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Yes, it must be that,&rsquo; said the Troll.
</p>

<p>
Then the Princess asked if he had got hold of anyone who could brew a hundred
lasts of malt at one brewing.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;No, there is no one who can do it,&rsquo; said the Troll.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;A short time since there was a man here who said he could do it,&rsquo;
said the King&rsquo;s daughter.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;How clever you always are!&rsquo; said the Troll. &lsquo;How could you
let him go away? You must have known that I was just wanting a man of that
kind.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Well, but I didn&rsquo;t let him go, after all,&rsquo; said the
Princess; &lsquo;but father is so quick-tempered, so I hid him in the cupboard,
but if father has not found any one then the man is still here.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Let him come in,&rsquo; said the Troll.
</p>

<p>
When Minnikin came, the Troll asked if it were true that he could brew a
hundred lasts of malt at one brewing.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Yes,&rsquo; said Minnikin, &lsquo;it is.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;It is well then that I have lighted on thee,&rsquo; said the Troll.
&lsquo;Fall to work this very minute, but Heaven help thee if thou dost not
brew the ale strong.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Oh, it shall taste well,&rsquo; said Minnikin, and at once set himself
to work to brew.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;But I must have more trolls to help to carry what is wanted,&rsquo; said
Minnikin; &lsquo;these that I have are good for nothing.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
So he got more and so many that there was a swarm of them, and then the brewing
went on. When the sweet-wort was ready they were all, as a matter of course,
anxious to taste it, first the Troll himself and then the others; but Minnikin
had brewed the wort so strong that they all fell down dead like so many flies
as soon as they had drunk any of it. At last there was no one left but one
wretched old hag who was lying behind the stove.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Oh, poor old creature!&rsquo; said Minnikin, &lsquo;you shall have a
taste of the wort too like the rest.&rsquo; So he went away and scooped up a
little from the bottom of the brewing vat in a milk pan, and gave it to her,
and then he was quit of the whole of them.
</p>

<p>
While Minnikin was now standing there looking about him, he cast his eye on a
large chest. This he took and filled it with gold and silver, and then he tied
the cable round himself and the Princess and the chest, and tugged at the rope
with all his might, whereupon his men drew them up safe and sound.
</p>

<p>
As soon as Minnikin had got safely on his ship again, he said: &lsquo;Now go
over salt water and fresh water, over hill and dale, and do not stop until thou
comest unto the King&rsquo;s palace.&rsquo; And in a moment the ship went off
so fast that the yellow foam rose up all round about it.
</p>

<p>
When those who were in the King&rsquo;s palace saw the ship, they lost no time
in going to meet him with song and music, and thus they marched up towards
Minnikin with great rejoicings; but the gladdest of all was the King, for now
he had got his other daughter back again.
</p>

<p>
But now Minnikin was not happy, for both the Princesses wanted to have him, and
he wanted to have none other than the one whom he had first saved, and she was
the younger. For this cause he was continually walking backwards and forwards,
thinking how he could contrive to get her, and yet do nothing that was unkind
to her sister. One day when he was walking about and thinking of this, it came
into his mind that if he only had his brother, King Pippin, with him, who was
so like himself that no one could distinguish the one from the other, he could
let him have the elder Princess and half the kingdom; as for himself, he
thought, the other half was quite enough. As soon as this thought occurred to
him he went outside the palace and called for King Pippin, but no one came. So
he called a second time, and a little louder, but no! still no one came. So
Minnikin called for the third time, and with all his might, and there stood his
brother by his side.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I told you that you were not to call me unless you were in the utmost
need,&rsquo; he said to Minnikin, &lsquo;and there is not even so much as a
midge here who can do you any harm!&rsquo; and with that he gave Minnikin such
a blow that he rolled over on the grass.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Shame on you to strike me!&rsquo; said Minnikin. &lsquo;First have I won
one Princess and half the kingdom, and then the other Princess and the other
half of the kingdom; and now, when I was just thinking that I would give you
one of the Princesses and one of the halves of the kingdom, do you think you
have any reason to give me such a blow?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
When King Pippin heard that he begged his brother&rsquo;s pardon, and they were
reconciled at once and became good friends.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Now, as you know,&rsquo; said Minnikin, &lsquo;we are so like each other
that no one can tell one of us from the other; so just change clothes with me
and go up to the palace, and then the Princesses will think that I am coming
in, and the one who kisses you first shall be yours, and I will have the
other.&rsquo; For he knew that the elder Princess was the stronger, so he could
very well guess how things would go.
</p>

<p>
King Pippin at once agreed to this. He changed clothes with his brother, and
went into the palace. When he entered the Princess&rsquo;s apartments they
believed that he was Minnikin, and both of them ran up to him at once; but the
elder, who was bigger and stronger, pushed her sister aside, and threw her arms
round King Pippin&rsquo;s neck and kissed him; so he got her to wife, and
Minnikin the younger sister. It will be easy to understand that two weddings
took place, and they were so magnificent that they were heard of and talked
about all over seven kingdoms.<a href="#fn27" id="fnref27"><sup>[27]</sup></a>
</p>

<p class="footnote">
<a id="fn27"></a> <a href="#fnref27">[27]</a>
From J. Moe.
</p>

</div><!--end chapter-->

<div class="chapter">

<h2><a id="chap32"></a>BUSHY BRIDE</h2>

<p>
There was once on a time a widower who had a son and a daughter by his first
wife. They were both good children, and loved each other with all their hearts.
After some time had gone by the man married again, and he chose a widow with
one daughter who was ugly and wicked, and her mother was ugly and wicked too.
From the very day that the new wife came into the house there was no peace for
the man&rsquo;s children, and not a corner to be found where they could get any
rest; so the boy thought that the best thing he could do was to go out into the
world and try to earn his own bread.
</p>

<p>
When he had roamed about for some time he came to the King&rsquo;s palace,
where he obtained a place under the coachman; and very brisk and active he was,
and the horses that he looked after were so fat and sleek, that they shone
again.
</p>

<p>
But his sister, who was still at home, fared worse and worse. Both her
step-mother and her step-sister were always finding fault with her, whatsoever
she did and whithersoever she went, and they scolded her and abused her so that
she never had an hour&rsquo;s peace. They made her do all the hard work, and
hard words fell to her lot early and late, but little enough food accompanied
them.
</p>

<p>
One day they sent her to the brook to fetch some water home, and an ugly and
horrible head rose up out of the water, and said, &lsquo;Wash me, girl!&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Yes, I will wash you with pleasure,&rsquo; said the girl, and began to
wash and scrub the ugly face, but she couldn&rsquo;t help thinking that it was
a very unpleasant piece of work. When she had done it, and done it well,
another head rose up out of the water, and this one was uglier still.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Brush me, girl!&rsquo; said the head.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Yes, I will brush you with pleasure,&rsquo; said the girl, and set to
work with the tangled hair, and, as may be easily imagined, this too was by no
means pleasant work.
</p>

<p>
When she had got it done, another and a much more ugly and horrible-looking
head rose up out of the water.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Kiss me, girl!&rsquo; said the head.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Yes, I will kiss you,&rsquo; said the man&rsquo;s daughter, and she did
it, but she thought it was the worst bit of work that she had ever had to do in
her life.
</p>

<p>
So the heads all began to talk to each other, and to ask what they should do
for this girl who was so full of kindliness.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;She shall be the prettiest girl that ever was, and fair and bright as
the day,&rsquo; said the first head.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Gold shall drop from her hair whenever she brushes it,&rsquo; said the
second.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Gold shall drop from her mouth whenever she speaks,&rsquo; said the
third head.
</p>

<p>
So when the man&rsquo;s daughter went home, looking as beautiful and bright as
day, the step-mother and her daughter grew much more ill-tempered, and it was
worse still when she began to talk, and they saw that golden coins dropped from
her mouth. The step-mother fell into such a towering passion that she drove the
man&rsquo;s daughter into the pig-stye&mdash;she might stay there with her fine
show of gold, the step-mother said, but she should not be permitted to set foot
in the house.
</p>

<p>
It was not long before the mother wanted her own daughter to go to the stream
to fetch some water.
</p>

<p>
When she got there with her pails, the first head rose up out of the water
close to the bank. &lsquo;Wash me, girl!&rsquo; it said.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Wash yourself!&rsquo; answered the woman&rsquo;s daughter.
</p>

<p>
Then the second head appeared.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Brush me, girl!&rsquo; said the head.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Brush yourself!&rsquo; said the woman&rsquo;s daughter.
</p>

<p>
So down it went to the bottom, and the third head came up.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Kiss me, girl!&rsquo; said the head.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;As if I would kiss your ugly mouth!&rsquo; said the girl.
</p>

<p>
So again the heads talked together about what they should do for this girl who
was so ill-tempered and full of her own importance, and they agreed that she
should have a nose that was four ells long, and a jaw that was three ells, and
a fir bush in the middle of her forehead, and every time she spoke ashes should
fall from her mouth.
</p>

<p>
When she came back to the cottage door with her pails, she called to her mother
who was inside, &lsquo;Open the door!&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Open the door yourself, my own dear child!&rsquo; said the mother.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I can&rsquo;t get near, because of my nose,&rsquo; said the daughter.
</p>

<p>
When the mother came and saw her you may imagine what a state of mind she was
in, and how she screamed and lamented, but neither the nose nor the jaw grew
any the less for that.
</p>

<p>
Now the brother, who was in service in the King&rsquo;s palace, had taken a
portrait of his sister, and he had carried the picture away with him, and every
morning and evening he knelt down before it and prayed for his sister, so
dearly did he love her.
</p>

<p>
The other stable-boys had heard him doing this, so they peeped through the
key-hole into his room, and saw that he was kneeling there before a picture; so
they told everyone that every morning and evening the youth knelt down and
prayed to an idol which he had; and at last they went to the King himself, and
begged that he too would peep through the key-hole, and see for himself what
the youth did. At first the King would not believe this, but after a long, long
time, they prevailed with him, and he crept on tip-toe to the door, peeped
through, and saw the youth on his knees, with his hands clasped together before
a picture which was hanging on the wall.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Open the door!&rsquo; cried the King, but the youth did not hear.
</p>

<p>
So the King called to him again, but the youth was praying so fervently that he
did not hear him this time either.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Open the door, I say!&rsquo; cried the King again. &lsquo;It is I! I
want to come in.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
So the youth sprang to the door and unlocked it, but in his haste he forgot to
hide the picture.
</p>

<p>
When the King entered and saw it, he stood still as if he were in fetters, and
could not stir from the spot, for the picture seemed to him so beautiful.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;There is nowhere on earth so beautiful a woman as this!&rsquo; said the
King.
</p>

<p>
But the youth told him that she was his sister, and that he had painted her,
and that if she was not prettier than the picture she was at all events not
uglier.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Well, if she is as beautiful as that, I will have her for my
Queen,&rsquo; said the King, and he commanded the youth to go home and fetch
her without a moment&rsquo;s delay, and to lose no time in coming back. The
youth promised to make all the haste he could, and set forth from the
King&rsquo;s palace.
</p>

<p>
When the brother arrived at home to fetch his sister, her stepmother and
step-sister would go too. So they all set out together, and the man&rsquo;s
daughter took with her a casket in which she kept her gold, and a dog which was
called Little Snow. These two things were all that she had inherited from her
mother. When they had travelled for some time they had to cross the sea, and
the brother sat down at the helm, and the mother and the two half-sisters went
to the fore-part of the vessel, and they sailed a long, long way. At last they
came in sight of land.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Look at that white strand there; that is where we shall land,&rsquo;
said the brother, pointing across the sea.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;What is my brother saying?&rsquo; inquired the man&rsquo;s daughter.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;He says that you are to throw your casket out into the sea,&rsquo;
answered the step-mother.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Well, if my brother says so, I must do it,&rsquo; said the man&rsquo;s
daughter, and she flung her casket into the sea.
</p>

<p>
When they had sailed for some time longer, the brother once more pointed over
the sea. &lsquo;There you may see the palace to which we are bound,&rsquo; said
he.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;What is my brother saying?&rsquo; asked the man&rsquo;s daughter.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Now he says that you are to throw your dog into the sea,&rsquo; answered
the step-mother.
</p>

<p>
The man&rsquo;s daughter wept, and was sorely troubled, for Little Snow was the
dearest thing she had on earth, but at last she threw him overboard.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;If my brother says that, I must do it, but Heaven knows how unwilling I
am to throw thee out, Little Snow!&rsquo; said she.
</p>

<p>
So they sailed onwards a long way farther.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;There may&rsquo;st thou see the King coming out to meet thee,&rsquo;
said the brother, pointing to the sea-shore.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;What is my brother saying?&rsquo; asked his sister again.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Now he says that you are to make haste and throw yourself
overboard,&rsquo; answered the step-mother.
</p>

<p>
She wept and she wailed, but as her brother had said that, she thought she must
do it; so she leaped into the sea.
</p>

<p>
But when they arrived at the palace, and the King beheld the ugly bride with a
nose that was four ells long, a jaw that was three ells, and a forehead that
had a bush in the middle of it, he was quite terrified; but the wedding feast
was all prepared, as regarded brewing and baking, and all the wedding guests
were sitting waiting, so, ugly as she was, the King was forced to take her.
</p>

<p>
But he was very wroth, and none can blame him for that; so he caused the
brother to be thrown into a pit full of snakes.
</p>

<p>
On the first Thursday night after this, a beautiful maiden came into the
kitchen of the palace, and begged the kitchen-maid, who slept there, to lend
her a brush. She begged very prettily, and got it, and then she brushed her
hair, and the gold dropped from it.
</p>

<p>
A little dog was with her, and she said to it, &lsquo;Go out, Little Snow, and
see if it will soon be day!&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
This she said thrice, and the third time that she sent out the dog to see, it
was very near dawn. Then she was forced to depart, but as she went she said:
</p>

<p class="poem">
&lsquo;Out on thee, ugly Bushy Bride,<br>
Sleeping so soft by the young King&rsquo;s side,<br>
On sand and stones my bed I make,<br>
And my brother sleeps with the cold snake,<br>
        Unpitied and unwept.&rsquo;
</p>

<p class="noindent">
I shall come twice more, and then never again,&rsquo; said she.
</p>

<p>
In the morning the kitchen-maid related what she had seen and heard, and the
King said that next Thursday night he himself would watch in the kitchen and
see if this were true, and when it had begun to grow dark he went out into the
kitchen to the girl. But though he rubbed his eyes and did everything he could
to keep himself awake it was all in vain, for the Bushy Bride crooned and sang
till his eyes were fast closed, and when the beautiful young maiden came he was
sound asleep and snoring.
</p>

<p>
This time also, as before, she borrowed a brush and brushed her hair with it,
and the gold dropped down as she did it; and again she sent the dog out three
times, and when day dawned she departed, but as she was going she said as she
had said before, &lsquo;I shall come once more, and then never again.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
On the third Thursday night the King once more insisted on keeping watch. Then
he set two men to hold him; each of them was to take an arm, and shake him and
jerk him by the arm whenever he seemed to be going to fall asleep; and he set
two men to watch his Bushy Bride. But as the night wore on the Bushy Bride
again began to croon and to sing, so that his eyes began to close and his head
to droop on one side. Then came the lovely maiden, and got the brush and
brushed her hair till the gold dropped from it, and then she sent her Little
Snow out to see if it would soon be day, and this she did three times. The
third time it was just beginning to grow light, and then she said:
</p>

<p class="poem">
&lsquo;Out on thee, ugly Bushy Bride,<br>
Sleeping so soft by the young King&rsquo;s side,<br>
On sand and stones my bed I make,<br>
And my brother sleeps with the cold snake,<br>
        Unpitied and unwept.&rsquo;
</p>

<p class="noindent">
&lsquo;Now I shall never come again,&rsquo; she said, and then she turned to
go. But the two men who were holding the King by the arms seized his hands and
forced a knife into his grasp, and then made him cut her little finger just
enough to make it bleed.
</p>

<p>
Thus the true bride was freed. The King then awoke, and she told him all that
had taken place, and how her step-mother and step-sister had betrayed her. Then
the brother was at once taken out of the snake-pit&mdash;the snakes had never
touched him&mdash;and the step-mother and step-sister were flung down into it
instead of him.
</p>

<p>
No one can tell how delighted the King was to get rid of that hideous Bushy
Bride, and get a Queen who was bright and beautiful as day itself.
</p>

<p>
And now the real wedding was held, and held in such a way that it was heard of
and spoken about all over seven kingdoms. The King and his bride drove to
church, and Little Snow was in the carriage too. When the blessing was given
they went home again, and after that I saw no more of them.<a href="#fn28" id="fnref28"><sup>[28]</sup></a>
</p>

<p class="footnote">
<a id="fn28"></a> <a href="#fnref28">[28]</a>
From J. Moe.
</p>

</div><!--end chapter-->

<div class="chapter">

<h2><a id="chap33"></a>SNOWDROP</h2>

<p>
Once upon a time, in the middle of winter when the snow-flakes were falling
like feathers on the earth, a Queen sat at a window framed in black ebony and
sewed. And as she sewed and gazed out to the white landscape, she pricked her
finger with the needle, and three drops of blood fell on the snow outside, and
because the red showed out so well against the white she thought to herself:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Oh! what wouldn&rsquo;t I give to have a child as white as snow, as red
as blood, and as black as ebony!&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
And her wish was granted, for not long after a little daughter was born to her,
with a skin as white as snow, lips and cheeks as red as blood, and hair as
black as ebony. They called her Snowdrop, and not long after her birth the
Queen died.
</p>

<p>
After a year the King married again. His new wife was a beautiful woman, but so
proud and overbearing that she couldn&rsquo;t stand any rival to her beauty.
She possessed a magic mirror, and when she used to stand before it gazing at
her own reflection and ask:
</p>

<p class="poem">
&lsquo;Mirror, mirror, hanging there,<br>
Who in all the land&rsquo;s most fair?&rsquo;
</p>

<p class="noindent">
it always replied:
</p>

<p class="poem">
&lsquo;You are most fair, my Lady Queen,<br>
None fairer in the land, I ween.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Then she was quite happy, for she knew the mirror always spoke the truth.
</p>

<p>
But Snowdrop was growing prettier and prettier every day, and when she was
seven years old she was as beautiful as she could be, and fairer even than the
Queen herself. One day when the latter asked her mirror the usual question, it
replied:
</p>

<p class="poem">
&lsquo;My Lady Queen, you are fair, &lsquo;tis true,<br>
But Snowdrop is fairer far than you.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Then the Queen flew into the most awful passion, and turned every shade of
green in her jealousy. From this hour she hated poor Snowdrop like poison, and
every day her envy, hatred, and malice grew, for envy and jealousy are like
evil weeds which spring up and choke the heart. At last she could endure
Snowdrop&rsquo;s presence no longer, and, calling a huntsman to her, she said:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Take the child out into the wood, and never let me see her face again.
You must kill her, and bring me back her lungs and liver, that I may know for
certain she is dead.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
The Huntsman did as he was told and led Snowdrop out into the wood, but as he
was in the act of drawing out his knife to slay her, she began to cry, and
said:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Oh, dear Huntsman, spare my life, and I will promise to fly forth into
the wide wood and never to return home again.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
And because she was so young and pretty the Huntsman had pity on her, and said:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Well, run along, poor child.&rsquo; For he thought to himself:
&lsquo;The wild beasts will soon eat her up.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
And his heart felt lighter because he hadn&rsquo;t had to do the deed himself.
And as he turned away a young boar came running past, so he shot it, and
brought its lungs and liver home to the Queen as a proof that Snowdrop was
really dead. And the wicked woman had them stewed in salt, and ate them up,
thinking she had made an end of Snowdrop for ever.
</p>

<p>
Now when the poor child found herself alone in the big wood the very trees
around her seemed to assume strange shapes, and she felt so frightened she
didn&rsquo;t know what to do. Then she began to run over the sharp stones, and
through the bramble bushes, and the wild beasts ran past her, but they did her
no harm. She ran as far as her legs would carry her, and as evening approached
she saw a little house, and she stepped inside to rest. Everything was very
small in the little house, but cleaner and neater than anything you can
imagine. In the middle of the room there stood a little table, covered with a
white tablecloth, and seven little plates and forks and spoons and knives and
tumblers. Side by side against the wall there were seven little beds, covered
with snow-white counterpanes. Snowdrop felt so hungry and so thirsty that she
ate a bit of bread and a little porridge from each plate, and drank a drop of
wine out of each tumbler. Then feeling tired and sleepy she lay down on one of
the beds, but it wasn&rsquo;t comfortable; then she tried all the others in
turn, but one was too long, and another too short, and it was only when she got
to the seventh that she found one to suit her exactly. So she lay down upon it,
said her prayers like a good child, and fell fast asleep.
</p>

<p>
When it got quite dark the masters of the little house returned. They were
seven dwarfs who worked in the mines, right down deep in the heart of the
mountain. They lighted their seven little lamps, and as soon as their eyes got
accustomed to the glare they saw that someone had been in the room, for all was
not in the same order as they had left it.
</p>

<p>
The first said:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Who&rsquo;s been sitting on my little chair?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
The second said:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Who&rsquo;s been eating my little loaf?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
The third said:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Who&rsquo;s been tasting my porridge?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
The fourth said:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Who&rsquo;s been eating out of my little plate?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
The fifth said:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Who&rsquo;s been using my little fork?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
The sixth said:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Who&rsquo;s been cutting with my little knife?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
The seventh said:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Who&rsquo;s been drinking out of my little tumbler?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Then the first Dwarf looked round and saw a little hollow in his bed, and he
asked again:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Who&rsquo;s been lying on my bed?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
The others came running round, and cried when they saw their beds:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Somebody has lain on ours too.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
But when the seventh came to his bed, he started back in amazement, for there
he beheld Snowdrop fast asleep. Then he called the others, who turned their
little lamps full on the bed, and when they saw Snowdrop lying there they
nearly fell down with surprise.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Goodness gracious!&rsquo; they cried, &lsquo;what a beautiful
child!&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
And they were so enchanted by her beauty that they did not wake her, but let
her sleep on in the little bed. But the seventh Dwarf slept with his companions
one hour in each bed, and in this way he managed to pass the night.
</p>

<p>
In the morning Snowdrop awoke, but when she saw the seven little Dwarfs she
felt very frightened. But they were so friendly and asked her what her name was
in such a kind way, that she replied:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I am Snowdrop.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Why did you come to our house?&rsquo; continued the Dwarfs.
</p>

<p>
Then she told them how her stepmother had wished her put to death, and how the
Huntsman had spared her life, and how she had run the whole day till she had
come to their little house. The Dwarfs, when they had heard her sad story,
asked her:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Will you stay and keep house for us, cook, make the beds, the washing,
sew and knit? and if you give satisfaction and keep everything neat and clean,
you shall want for nothing.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Yes,&rsquo; answered Snowdrop, &lsquo;I will gladly do all you
ask.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
And so she took up her abode with them. Every morning the Dwarfs went into the
mountain to dig for gold, and in the evening, when they returned home, Snowdrop
always had their supper ready for them. But during the day the girl was left
quite alone, so the good Dwarfs warned her, saying:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Beware of your step-mother. She will soon find out you are here, and
whatever you do don&rsquo;t let anyone into the house.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Now the Queen, after she thought she had eaten Snowdrop&rsquo;s lungs and
liver, never dreamed but that she was once more the most beautiful woman in the
world; so stepping before her mirror one day she said:
</p>

<p class="poem">
&lsquo;Mirror, mirror, hanging there,<br>
Who in all the land&rsquo;s most fair?&rsquo;
</p>

<p class="noindent">
and the mirror replied:
</p>

<p class="poem">
&lsquo;My Lady Queen, you are fair, &lsquo;tis true,<br>
But Snowdrop is fairer far than you.<br>
Snowdrop, who dwells with the seven little men,<br>
Is as fair as you, as fair again.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
When the Queen heard these words she was nearly struck dumb with horror, for
the mirror always spoke the truth, and she knew now that the Huntsman must have
deceived her, and that Snowdrop was still alive. She pondered day and night how
she might destroy her, for as long as she felt she had a rival in the land her
jealous heart left her no rest. At last she hit upon a plan. She stained her
face and dressed herself up as an old peddler wife, so that she was quite
unrecognisable. In this guise she went over the seven hills till she came to
the house of the seven Dwarfs. There she knocked at the door, calling out at
the same time:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Fine wares to sell, fine wares to sell!&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Snowdrop peeped out of the window, and called out:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Good-day, mother, what have you to sell?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Good wares, fine wares,&rsquo; she answered; &lsquo;laces of every shade
and description,&rsquo; and she held one up that was made of some gay coloured
silk.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Surely I can let the honest woman in,&rsquo; thought Snowdrop; so she
unbarred the door and bought the pretty lace.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Good gracious! child,&rsquo; said the old woman, &lsquo;what a figure
you&rsquo;ve got. Come! I&rsquo;ll lace you up properly for once.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Snowdrop, suspecting no evil, stood before her and let her lace her bodice up,
but the old woman laced her so quickly and so tightly that it took
Snowdrop&rsquo;s breath away, and she fell down dead.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Now you are no longer the fairest,&rsquo; said the wicked old woman, and
then she hastened away.
</p>

<p>
In the evening the seven Dwarfs came home, and you may think what a fright they
got when they saw their dear Snowdrop lying on the floor, as still and
motionless as a dead person. They lifted her up tenderly, and when they saw how
tightly laced she was they cut the lace in two, and she began to breathe a
little and gradually came back to life. When the Dwarfs heard what had
happened, they said:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Depend upon it, the old peddler wife was none other than the old Queen.
In future you must be sure to let no one in, if we are not at home.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
As soon as the wicked old Queen got home she went straight to her mirror, and
said:
</p>

<p class="poem">
&lsquo;Mirror, mirror, hanging there,<br>
Who in all the land&rsquo;s most fair?&rsquo;
</p>

<p class="noindent">
and the mirror answered as before:
</p>

<p class="poem">
&lsquo;My Lady Queen, you are fair, &lsquo;tis true,<br>
But Snowdrop is fairer far than you.<br>
Snowdrop, who dwells with the seven little men,<br>
Is as fair as you, as fair again.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
When she heard this she became as pale as death, because she saw at once that
Snowdrop must be alive again.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;This time,&rsquo; she said to herself, &lsquo;I will think of something
that will make an end of her once and for all.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
And by the witchcraft which she understood so well she made a poisonous comb;
then she dressed herself up and assumed the form of another old woman. So she
went over the seven hills till she reached the house of the seven Dwarfs, and
knocking at the door she called out:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Fine wares for sale.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Snowdrop looked out of the window and said:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;You must go away, for I may not let anyone in.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;But surely you are not forbidden to look out?&rsquo; said the old woman,
and she held up the poisonous comb for her to see.
</p>

<p>
It pleased the girl so much that she let herself be taken in, and opened the
door. When they had settled their bargain the old woman said:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Now I&rsquo;ll comb your hair properly for you, for once in the
way.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Poor Snowdrop thought no evil, but hardly had the comb touched her hair than
the poison worked and she fell down unconscious.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Now, my fine lady, you&rsquo;re really done for this time,&rsquo; said
the wicked woman, and she made her way home as fast as she could.
</p>

<p>
Fortunately it was now near evening, and the seven Dwarfs returned home. When
they saw Snowdrop lying dead on the ground, they at once suspected that her
wicked step-mother had been at work again; so they searched till they found the
poisonous comb, and the moment they pulled it out of her head Snowdrop came to
herself again, and told them what had happened. Then they warned her once more
to be on her guard, and to open the door to no one.
</p>

<p>
As soon as the Queen got home she went straight to her mirror, and asked:
</p>

<p class="poem">
&lsquo;Mirror, mirror, hanging there,<br>
Who in all the land&rsquo;s most fair?&rsquo;
</p>

<p class="noindent">
and it replied as before:
</p>

<p class="poem">
&lsquo;My Lady Queen, you are fair, &lsquo;tis true,<br>
But Snowdrop is fairer far than you.<br>
Snowdrop, who dwells with the seven little men,<br>
Is as fair as you, as fair again.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
When she heard these words she literally trembled and shook with rage.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Snowdrop shall die,&rsquo; she cried; &lsquo;yes, though it cost me my
own life.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Then she went to a little secret chamber, which no one knew of but herself, and
there she made a poisonous apple. Outwardly it looked beautiful, white with red
cheeks, so that everyone who saw it longed to eat it, but anyone who might do
so would certainly die on the spot. When the apple was quite finished she
stained her face and dressed herself up as a peasant, and so she went over the
seven hills to the seven Dwarfs&rsquo;. She knocked at the door, as usual, but
Snowdrop put her head out of the window and called out:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I may not let anyone in, the seven Dwarfs have forbidden me to do
so.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Are you afraid of being poisoned?&rsquo; asked the old woman.
&lsquo;See, I will cut this apple in half. I&rsquo;ll eat the white cheek and
you can eat the red.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
But the apple was so cunningly made that only the red cheek was poisonous.
Snowdrop longed to eat the tempting fruit, and when she saw that the peasant
woman was eating it herself, she couldn&rsquo;t resist the temptation any
longer, and stretching out her hand she took the poisonous half. But hardly had
the first bite passed her lips than she fell down dead on the ground. Then the
eyes of the cruel Queen sparkled with glee, and laughing aloud she cried:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;As white as snow, as red as blood, and as black as ebony, this time the
Dwarfs won&rsquo;t be able to bring you back to life.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
When she got home she asked the mirror:
</p>

<p class="poem">
&lsquo;Mirror, mirror, hanging there,<br>
Who in all the land&rsquo;s most fair?&rsquo;
</p>

<p class="noindent">
and this time it replied:
</p>

<p class="poem">
&lsquo;You are most fair, my Lady Queen,<br>
None fairer in the land, I ween.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Then her jealous heart was at rest&mdash;at least, as much at rest as a jealous
heart can ever be.
</p>

<p>
When the little Dwarfs came home in the evening they found Snowdrop lying on
the ground, and she neither breathed nor stirred. They lifted her up, and
looked round everywhere to see if they could find anything poisonous about.
They unlaced her bodice, combed her hair, washed her with water and wine, but
all in vain; the child was dead and remained dead. Then they placed her on a
bier, and all the seven Dwarfs sat round it, weeping and sobbing for three
whole days. At last they made up their minds to bury her, but she looked as
blooming as a living being, and her cheeks were still such a lovely colour,
that they said:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;We can&rsquo;t hide her away in the black ground.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
So they had a coffin made of transparent glass, and they laid her in it, and
wrote on the lid in golden letters that she was a royal Princess. Then they put
the coffin on the top of the mountain, and one of the Dwarfs always remained
beside it and kept watch over it. And the very birds of the air came and
bewailed Snowdrop&rsquo;s death, first an owl, and then a raven, and last of
all a little dove.
</p>

<p>
Snowdrop lay a long time in the coffin, and she always looked the same, just as
if she were fast asleep, and she remained as white as snow, as red as blood,
and her hair as black as ebony.
</p>

<p>
Now it happened one day that a Prince came to the wood and passed by the
Dwarfs&rsquo; house. He saw the coffin on the hill, with the beautiful Snowdrop
inside it, and when he had read what was written on it in golden letters, he
said to the Dwarf:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Give me the coffin. I&rsquo;ll give you whatever you like for it.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
But the Dwarf said: &lsquo;No; we wouldn&rsquo;t part with it for all the gold
in the world.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Well, then,&rsquo; he replied, &lsquo;give it to me, because I
can&rsquo;t live without Snowdrop. I will cherish and love it as my dearest
possession.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
He spoke so sadly that the good Dwarfs had pity on him, and gave him the
coffin, and the Prince made his servants bear it away on their shoulders. Now
it happened that as they were going down the hill they stumbled over a bush,
and jolted the coffin so violently that the poisonous bit of apple Snowdrop had
swallowed fell out of her throat. She gradually opened her eyes, lifted up the
lid of the coffin, and sat up alive and well.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Oh! dear me, where am I?&rsquo; she cried.
</p>

<p>
The Prince answered joyfully, &lsquo;You are with me,&rsquo; and he told her
all that had happened, adding, &lsquo;I love you better than anyone in the
whole wide world. Will you come with me to my father&rsquo;s palace and be my
wife?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Snowdrop consented, and went with him, and the marriage was celebrated with
great pomp and splendour.
</p>

<p>
Now Snowdrop&rsquo;s wicked step-mother was one of the guests invited to the
wedding feast. When she had dressed herself very gorgeously for the occasion,
she went to the mirror, and said:
</p>

<p class="poem">
&lsquo;Mirror, mirror, hanging there,<br>
Who in all the land&rsquo;s most fair?&rsquo;
</p>

<p class="noindent">
and the mirror answered:
</p>

<p class="poem">
&lsquo;My Lady Queen, you are fair, &lsquo;tis true,<br>
But Snowdrop is fairer far than you.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
When the wicked woman heard these words she uttered a curse, and was beside
herself with rage and mortification. At first she didn&rsquo;t want to go to
the wedding at all, but at the same time she felt she would never be happy till
she had seen the young Queen. As she entered Snowdrop recognised her, and
nearly fainted with fear; but red-hot iron shoes had been prepared for the
wicked old Queen, and she was made to get into them and dance till she fell
down dead.<a href="#fn29" id="fnref29"><sup>[29]</sup></a>
</p>

<p class="footnote">
<a id="fn29"></a> <a href="#fnref29">[29]</a>
Grimm.
</p>

</div><!--end chapter-->

<div class="chapter">

<h2><a id="chap34"></a>THE GOLDEN GOOSE</h2>

<p>
There was once a man who had three sons. The youngest of them was called
Dullhead, and was sneered and jeered at and snubbed on every possible
opportunity.
</p>

<p>
One day it happened that the eldest son wished to go into the forest to cut
wood, and before he started his mother gave him a fine rich cake and a bottle
of wine, so that he might be sure not to suffer from hunger or thirst.
</p>

<p>
When he reached the forest he met a little old grey man who wished him
&lsquo;Good-morning,&rsquo; and said: &lsquo;Do give me a piece of that cake
you have got in your pocket, and let me have a draught of your wine&mdash;I am
so hungry and thirsty.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
But this clever son replied: &lsquo;If I give you my cake and wine I shall have
none left for myself; you just go your own way;&rsquo; and he left the little
man standing there and went further on into the forest. There he began to cut
down a tree, but before long he made a false stroke with his axe, and cut his
own arm so badly that he was obliged to go home and have it bound up.
</p>

<p>
Then the second son went to the forest, and his mother gave him a good cake and
a bottle of wine as she had to his elder brother. He too met the little old
grey man, who begged him for a morsel of cake and a draught of wine.
</p>

<p>
But the second son spoke most sensibly too, and said: &lsquo;Whatever I give to
you I deprive myself of. Just go your own way, will you?&rsquo; Not long after
his punishment overtook him, for no sooner had he struck a couple of blows on a
tree with his axe, than he cut his leg so badly that he had to be carried home.
</p>

<p>
So then Dullhead said: &lsquo;Father, let me go out and cut wood.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
But his father answered: &lsquo;Both your brothers have injured themselves. You
had better leave it alone; you know nothing about it.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
But Dullhead begged so hard to be allowed to go that at last his father said:
&lsquo;Very well, then&mdash;go. Perhaps when you have hurt yourself, you may
learn to know better.&rsquo; His mother only gave him a very plain cake made
with water and baked in the cinders, and a bottle of sour beer.
</p>

<p>
When he got to the forest, he too met the little grey old man, who greeted him
and said: &lsquo;Give me a piece of your cake and a draught from your bottle; I
am so hungry and thirsty.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
And Dullhead replied: &lsquo;I&rsquo;ve only got a cinder-cake and some sour
beer, but if you care to have that, let us sit down and eat.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
So they sat down, and when Dullhead brought out his cake he found it had turned
into a fine rich cake, and the sour beer into excellent wine. Then they ate and
drank, and when they had finished the little man said: &lsquo;Now I will bring
you luck, because you have a kind heart and are willing to share what you have
with others. There stands an old tree; cut it down, and amongst its roots
you&rsquo;ll find something.&rsquo; With that the little man took leave.
</p>

<p>
Then Dullhead fell to at once to hew down the tree, and when it fell he found
amongst its roots a goose, whose feathers were all of pure gold. He lifted it
out, carried it off, and took it with him to an inn where he meant to spend the
night.
</p>

<p>
Now the landlord of the inn had three daughters, and when they saw the goose
they were filled with curiosity as to what this wonderful bird could be, and
each longed to have one of its golden feathers.
</p>

<p>
The eldest thought to herself: &lsquo;No doubt I shall soon find a good
opportunity to pluck out one of its feathers,&rsquo; and the first time
Dullhead happened to leave the room she caught hold of the goose by its wing.
But, lo and behold! her fingers seemed to stick fast to the goose, and she
could not take her hand away.
</p>

<p>
Soon after the second daughter came in, and thought to pluck a golden feather
for herself too; but hardly had she touched her sister than she stuck fast as
well. At last the third sister came with the same intentions, but the other two
cried out: &lsquo;Keep off! for Heaven&rsquo;s sake, keep off!&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
The younger sister could not imagine why she was to keep off, and thought to
herself: &lsquo;If they are both there, why should not I be there too?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
So she sprang to them; but no sooner had she touched one of them than she stuck
fast to her. So they all three had to spend the night with the goose.
</p>

<p>
Next morning Dullhead tucked the goose under his arm and went off, without in
the least troubling himself about the three girls who were hanging on to it.
They just had to run after him right or left as best they could. In the middle
of a field they met the parson, and when he saw this procession he cried:
&lsquo;For shame, you bold girls! What do you mean by running after a young
fellow through the fields like that? Do you call that proper behaviour?&rsquo;
And with that he caught the youngest girl by the hand to try and draw her away.
But directly he touched her he hung on himself, and had to run along with the
rest of them.
</p>

<p>
Not long after the clerk came that way, and was much surprised to see the
parson following the footsteps of three girls. &lsquo;Why, where is your
reverence going so fast?&rsquo; cried he; &lsquo;don&rsquo;t forget there is to
be a christening to-day;&rsquo; and he ran after him, caught him by the sleeve,
and hung on to it himself: As the five of them trotted along in this fashion
one after the other, two peasants were coming from their work with their hoes.
On seeing them the parson called out and begged them to come and rescue him and
the clerk. But no sooner did they touch the clerk than they stuck on too, and
so there were seven of them running after Dullhead and his goose.
</p>

<p>
After a time they all came to a town where a King reigned whose daughter was so
serious and solemn that no one could ever manage to make her laugh. So the King
had decreed that whoever should succeed in making her laugh should marry her.
</p>

<p>
When Dullhead heard this he marched before the Princess with his goose and its
appendages, and as soon as she saw these seven people continually running after
each other she burst out laughing, and could not stop herself. Then Dullhead
claimed her as his bride, but the King, who did not much fancy him as a
son-in-law, made all sorts of objections, and told him he must first find a man
who could drink up a whole cellarful of wine.
</p>

<p>
Dullhead bethought him of the little grey man, who could, he felt sure, help
him; so he went off to the forest, and on the very spot where he had cut down
the tree he saw a man sitting with a most dismal expression of face.
</p>

<p>
Dullhead asked him what he was taking so much to heart, and the man answered:
&lsquo;I don&rsquo;t know how I am ever to quench this terrible thirst I am
suffering from. Cold water doesn&rsquo;t suit me at all. To be sure I&rsquo;ve
emptied a whole barrel of wine, but what is one drop on a hot stone?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I think I can help you,&rsquo; said Dullhead. &lsquo;Come with me, and
you shall drink to your heart&rsquo;s content.&rsquo; So he took him to the
King&rsquo;s cellar, and the man sat down before the huge casks and drank and
drank till he drank up the whole contents of the cellar before the day closed.
</p>

<p>
Then Dullhead asked once more for his bride, but the King felt vexed at the
idea of a stupid fellow whom people called &lsquo;Dullhead&rsquo; carrying off
his daughter, and he began to make fresh conditions. He required Dullhead to
find a man who could eat a mountain of bread. Dullhead did not wait to consider
long but went straight off to the forest, and there on the same spot sat a man
who was drawing in a strap as tight as he could round his body, and making a
most woeful face the while. Said he: &lsquo;I&rsquo;ve eaten up a whole oven
full of loaves, but what&rsquo;s the good of that to anyone who is as hungry as
I am? I declare my stomach feels quite empty, and I must draw my belt tight if
I&rsquo;m not to die of starvation.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Dullhead was delighted, and said: &lsquo;Get up and come with me, and you shall
have plenty to eat,&rsquo; and he brought him to the King&rsquo;s Court.
</p>

<p>
Now the King had given orders to have all the flour in his kingdom brought
together, and to have a huge mountain baked of it. But the man from the wood
just took up his stand before the mountain and began to eat, and in one day it
had all vanished.
</p>

<p>
For the third time Dullhead asked for his bride, but again the King tried to
make some evasion, and demanded a ship &lsquo;which could sail on land or
water! When you come sailing in such a ship,&rsquo; said he, &lsquo;you shall
have my daughter without further delay.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Again Dullhead started off to the forest, and there he found the little old
grey man with whom he had shared his cake, and who said: &lsquo;I have eaten
and I have drunk for you, and now I will give you the ship. I have done all
this for you because you were kind and merciful to me.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Then he gave Dullhead a ship which could sail on land or water, and when the
King saw it he felt he could no longer refuse him his daughter.
</p>

<p>
So they celebrated the wedding with great rejoicings; and after the
King&rsquo;s death Dullhead succeeded to the kingdom, and lived happily with
his wife for many years after.<a href="#fn30" id="fnref30"><sup>[30]</sup></a>
</p>

<p class="footnote">
<a id="fn30"></a> <a href="#fnref30">[30]</a>
Grimm.
</p>

</div><!--end chapter-->

<div class="chapter">

<h2><a id="chap35"></a>THE SEVEN FOALS</h2>

<p>
There was once upon a time a couple of poor folks who lived in a wretched hut,
far away from everyone else, in a wood. They only just managed to live from
hand to mouth, and had great difficulty in doing even so much as that, but they
had three sons, and the youngest of them was called Cinderlad, for he did
nothing else but lie and poke about among the ashes.
</p>

<p>
One day the eldest lad said that he would go out to earn his living; he soon
got leave to do that, and set out on his way into the world. He walked on and
on for the whole day, and when night was beginning to fall he came to a royal
palace. The King was standing outside on the steps, and asked where he was
going.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Oh, I am going about seeking a place, my father,&rsquo; said the youth.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Wilt thou serve me, and watch my seven foals?&rsquo; asked the King.
&lsquo;If thou canst watch them for a whole day and tell me at night what they
eat and drink, thou shalt have the Princess and half my kingdom, but if thou
canst not, I will cut three red stripes on thy back.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
The youth thought that it was very easy work to watch the foals, and that he
could do it well enough.
</p>

<p>
Next morning, when day was beginning to dawn, the King&rsquo;s Master of the
Horse let out the seven foals; and they ran away, and the youth after them just
as it chanced, over hill and dale, through woods end bogs. When the youth had
run thus for a long time he began to be tired, and when he had held on a little
longer he was heartily weary of watching at all, and at the same moment he came
to a cleft in a rock where an old woman was sitting spinning with her distaff
in her hand.
</p>

<p>
As soon as she caught sight of the youth, who was running after the foals till
the perspiration streamed down his face, she cried:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Come hither, come hither, my handsome son, and let me comb your hair for
you.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
The lad was willing enough, so he sat down in the cleft of the rock beside the
old hag, and laid his head on her knees, and she combed his hair all day while
he lay there and gave himself up to idleness.
</p>

<p>
When evening was drawing near, the youth wanted to go.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I may just as well go straight home again,&rsquo; said he, &lsquo;for it
is no use to go to the King&rsquo;s palace.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Wait till it is dusk,&rsquo; said the old hag, &lsquo;and then the
King&rsquo;s foals will pass by this place again, and you can run home with
them; no one will ever know that you have been lying here all day instead of
watching the foals.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
So when they came she gave the lad a bottle of water and a bit of moss, and
told him to show these to the King and say that this was what his seven foals
ate and drank.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Hast thou watched faithfully and well the whole day long?&rsquo; said
the King, when the lad came into his presence in the evening.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Yes, that I have!&rsquo; said the youth.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Then you are able to tell me what it is that my seven foals eat and
drink,&rsquo; said the King.
</p>

<p>
So the youth produced the bottle of water and the bit of moss which he had got
from the old woman, saying:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Here you see their meat, and here you see their drink.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Then the King knew how his watching had been done, and fell into such a rage
that he ordered his people to chase the youth back to his own home at once; but
first they were to cut three red stripes in his back, and rub salt into them.
</p>

<p>
When the youth reached home again, anyone can imagine what a state of mind he
was in. He had gone out once to seek a place, he said, but never would he do
such a thing again.
</p>

<p>
Next day the second son said that he would now go out into the world to seek
his fortune. His father and mother said &lsquo;No,&rsquo; and bade him look at
his brother&rsquo;s back, but the youth would not give up his design, and stuck
to it, and after a long, long time he got leave to go, and set forth on his
way. When he had walked all day he too came to the King&rsquo;s palace, and the
King was standing outside on the steps, and asked where he was going; and when
the youth replied that he was going about in search of a place, the King said
that he might enter into his service and watch his seven foals. Then the King
promised him the same punishment and the same reward that he had promised his
brother.
</p>

<p>
The youth at once consented to this and entered into the King&rsquo;s service,
for he thought he could easily watch the foals and inform the King what they
ate and drank.
</p>

<p>
In the grey light of dawn the Master of the Horse let out the seven foals, and
off they went again over hill and dale, and off went the lad after them. But
all went with him as it had gone with his brother. When he had run after the
foals for a long, long time and was hot and tired, he passed by a cleft in the
rock where an old woman was sitting spinning with a distaff, and she called to
him:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Come hither, come hither, my handsome son, and let me comb your
hair.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
The youth liked the thought of this, let the foals run where they chose, and
seated himself in the cleft of the rock by the side of the old hag. So there he
sat with his head on her lap, taking his ease the livelong day.
</p>

<p>
The foals came back in the evening, and then he too got a bit of moss and a
bottle of water from the old hag, which things he was to show to the King. But
when the King asked the youth: &lsquo;Canst thou tell me what my seven foals
eat and drink?&rsquo; and the youth showed him the bit of moss and the bottle
of water, and said: &lsquo;Yes here may you behold their meat, and here their
drink,&rsquo; the King once more became wroth, and commanded that three red
stripes should be cut on the lad&rsquo;s back, that salt should be strewn upon
them, and that he should then be instantly chased back to his own home. So when
the youth got home again he too related all that had happened to him, and he
too said that he had gone out in search of a place once, but that never would
he do it again.
</p>

<p>
On the third day Cinderlad wanted to set out. He had a fancy to try to watch
the seven foals himself, he said.
</p>

<p>
The two others laughed at him, and mocked him. &lsquo;What! when all went so
ill with us, do you suppose that you are going to succeed? You look like
succeeding&mdash;you who have never done anything else but lie and poke about
among the ashes!&rsquo; said they.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Yes, I will go too,&rsquo; said Cinderlad, &lsquo;for I have taken it
into my head.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
The two brothers laughed at him, and his father and mother begged him not to
go, but all to no purpose, and Cinderlad set out on his way. So when he had
walked the whole day, he too came to the King&rsquo;s palace as darkness began
to fall.
</p>

<p>
There stood the King outside on the steps, and he asked whither he was bound.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I am walking about in search of a place,&rsquo; said Cinderlad.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;From whence do you come, then?&rsquo; inquired the King, for by this
time he wanted to know a little more about the men before he took any of them
into his service.
</p>

<p>
So Cinderlad told him whence he came, and that he was brother to the two who
had watched the seven foals for the King, and then he inquired if he might be
allowed to try to watch them on the following day.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Oh, shame on them!&rsquo; said the King, for it enraged him even to
think of them. &lsquo;If thou art brother to those two, thou too art not good
for much. I have had enough of such fellows.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Well, but as I have come here, you might just give me leave to make the
attempt,&rsquo; said Cinderlad.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Oh, very well, if thou art absolutely determined to have thy back
flayed, thou may&rsquo;st have thine own way if thou wilt,&rsquo; said the
King.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I would much rather have the Princess,&rsquo; said Cinderlad.
</p>

<p>
Next morning, in the grey light of dawn, the Master of the Horse let out the
seven foals again, and off they set over hill and dale, through woods and bogs,
and off went Cinderlad after them. When he had run thus for a long time, he too
came to the cleft in the rock. There the old hag was once more sitting spinning
from her distaff, and she cried to Cinderlad;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Come hither, come hither, my handsome son, and let me comb your hair for
you.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Come to me, then; come to me!&rsquo; said Cinderlad, as he passed by
jumping and running, and keeping tight hold of one of the foals&rsquo; tails.
</p>

<p>
When he had got safely past the cleft in the rock, the youngest foal said:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Get on my back, for we have still a long way to go.&rsquo; So the lad
did this.
</p>

<p>
And thus they journeyed onwards a long, long way.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Dost thou see anything now?&rsquo; said the Foal.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;No,&rsquo; said Cinderlad.
</p>

<p>
So they journeyed onwards a good bit farther.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Dost thou see anything now?&rsquo; asked the Foal.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Oh, no,&rsquo; said the lad.
</p>

<p>
When they had gone thus for a long, long way, the Foal again asked:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Dost thou see anything now?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Yes, now I see something that is white,&rsquo; said Cinderlad. &lsquo;It
looks like the trunk of a great thick birch tree.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Yes, that is where we are to go in,&rsquo; said the Foal.
</p>

<p>
When they got to the trunk, the eldest foal broke it down on one side, and then
they saw a door where the trunk had been standing, and inside this there was a
small room, and in the room there was scarcely anything but a small fire-place
and a couple of benches, but behind the door hung a great rusty sword and a
small pitcher.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Canst thou wield that sword?&rsquo; asked the Foal.
</p>

<p>
Cinderlad tried, but could not do it; so he had to take a draught from the
pitcher, and then one more, and after that still another, and then he was able
to wield the sword with perfect ease.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Good,&rsquo; said the Foal; &lsquo;and now thou must take the sword away
with thee, and with it shalt thou cut off the heads of all seven of us on thy
wedding-day, and then we shall become princes again as we were before. For we
are brothers of the Princess whom thou art to have when thou canst tell the
King what we eat and drink, but there is a mighty Troll who has cast a spell
over us. When thou hast cut off our heads, thou must take the greatest care to
lay each head at the tail of the body to which it belonged before, and then the
spell which the Troll has cast upon us will lose all its power.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Cinderlad promised to do this, and then they went on farther.
</p>

<p>
When they had travelled a long, long way, the Foal said:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Dost thou see anything?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;No,&rsquo; said Cinderlad.
</p>

<p>
So they went on a great distance farther.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;And now?&rsquo; inquired the Foal, &lsquo;seest thou nothing now?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Alas! no,&rsquo; said Cinderlad.
</p>

<p>
So they travelled onwards again, for many and many a mile, over hill and dale.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Now, then,&rsquo; said the Foal, &lsquo;dost thou not see anything
now?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Yes,&rsquo; said Cinderlad; &lsquo;now I see something like a bluish
streak, far, far away.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;That is a river,&rsquo; said the Foal, &lsquo;and we have to cross
it.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
There was a long, handsome bridge over the river, and when they had got to the
other side of it they again travelled on a long, long way, and then once more
the Foal inquired if Cinderlad saw anything. Yes, this time he saw something
that looked black, far, far away, and was rather like a church tower.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Yes,&rsquo; said the Foal, &lsquo;we shall go into that.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
When the Foals got into the churchyard they turned into men and looked like the
sons of a king, and their clothes were so magnificent that they shone with
splendour, and they went into the church and received bread and wine from the
priest, who was standing before the altar, and Cinderlad went in too. But when
the priest had laid his hands on the princes and read the blessing, they went
out of the church again, and Cinderlad went out too, but he took with him a
flask of wine and some consecrated bread. No sooner had the seven princes come
out into the churchyard than they became foals again, and Cinderlad got upon
the back of the youngest, and they returned by the way they had come, only they
went much, much faster.
</p>

<p>
First they went over the bridge, and then past the trunk of the birch tree, and
then past the old hag who sat in the cleft of the rock spinning, and they went
by so fast that Cinderlad could not hear what the old hag screeched after him,
but just heard enough to understand that she was terribly enraged.
</p>

<p>
It was all but dark when they got back to the King at nightfall, and he himself
was standing in the courtyard waiting for them.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Hast thou watched well and faithfully the whole day?&rsquo; said the
King to Cinderlad.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I have done my best,&rsquo; replied Cinderlad.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Then thou canst tell me what my seven foals eat and drink?&rsquo; asked
the King.
</p>

<p>
So Cinderlad pulled out the consecrated bread and the flask of wine, and showed
them to the King. &lsquo;Here may you behold their meat, and here their
drink,&rsquo; said he.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Yes, diligently and faithfully hast thou watched,&rsquo; said the King,
&lsquo;and thou shalt have the Princess and half the kingdom.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
So all was made ready for the wedding, and the King said that it was to be so
stately and magnificent that everyone should hear of it, and everyone inquire
about it.
</p>

<p>
But when they sat down to the marriage-feast, the bridegroom arose and went
down to the stable, for he said that he had forgotten something which he must
go and look to. When he got there, he did what the foals had bidden him, and
cut off the heads of all the seven. First the eldest, and then the second, and
so on according to their age, and he was extremely careful to lay each head at
the tail of the foal to which it had belonged, and when that was done, all the
foals became princes again. When he returned to the marriage-feast with the
seven princes, the King was so joyful that he both kissed Cinderlad and clapped
him on the back, and his bride was still more delighted with him than she had
been before.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Half my kingdom is thine already,&rsquo; said the King, &lsquo;and the
other half shall be thine after my death, for my sons can get countries and
kingdoms for themselves now that they have become princes again.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Therefore, as all may well believe, there was joy and merriment at that
wedding.<a href="#fn31" id="fnref31"><sup>[31]</sup></a>
</p>

<p class="footnote">
<a id="fn31"></a> <a href="#fnref31">[31]</a>
From J. Moe.
</p>

</div><!--end chapter-->

<div class="chapter">

<h2><a id="chap36"></a>THE MARVELLOUS MUSICIAN</h2>

<p>
There was once upon a time a marvellous musician. One day he was wandering
through a wood all by himself, thinking now of one thing, now of another, till
there was nothing else left to think about. Then he said to himself:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Time hangs very heavily on my hands when I&rsquo;m all alone in the
wood. I must try and find a pleasant companion.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
So he took his fiddle out, and fiddled till he woke the echoes round. After a
time a wolf came through the thicket and trotted up to the musician.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Oh! it&rsquo;s a Wolf, is it?&rsquo; said he. &lsquo;I&rsquo;ve not the
smallest wish for his society.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
But the Wolf approached him and said:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Oh, my dear musician, how beautifully you play! I wish you&rsquo;d teach
me how it&rsquo;s done.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;That&rsquo;s easily learned,&rsquo; answered the fiddler; &lsquo;you
must only do exactly as I tell you.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Of course I will,&rsquo; replied the Wolf. &lsquo;I can promise that you
will find me a most apt pupil.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
So they joined company and went on their way together, and after a time they
came to an old oak tree, which was hollow and had a crack in the middle of the
trunk.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Now,&rsquo; said the Musician, &lsquo;if you want to learn to fiddle,
here&rsquo;s your chance. Lay your front paws in this crack.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
The Wolf did as he was told, and the Musician quickly seized a stone, and
wedged both his fore paws so firmly into the crack that he was held there, a
fast prisoner.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Wait there till I return,&rsquo; said the Fiddler, and he went on his
way.
</p>

<p>
After a time he said to himself again:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Time hangs very heavily on my hands when I&rsquo;m all alone in the
wood; I must try and find a companion.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
So he drew out his fiddle, and fiddled away lustily. Presently a fox slunk
through the trees.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Aha! what have we here?&rsquo; said the Musician. &lsquo;A fox; well, I
haven&rsquo;t the smallest desire for his company.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
The Fox came straight up to him and said:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;My dear friend, how beautifully you play the fiddle; I would like to
learn how you do it.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Nothing easier,&rsquo; said the Musician, &lsquo;if you&rsquo;ll promise
to do exactly as I tell you.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Certainly,&rsquo; answered the Fox, &lsquo;you have only to say the
word.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Well, then, follow me,&rsquo; replied the Fiddler.
</p>

<p>
When they had gone a bit of the way, they came to a path with high trees on
each side. Here the Musician halted, bent a stout hazel bough down to the
ground from one side of the path, and put his foot on the end of it to keep it
down. Then he bent a branch down from the other side and said:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Give me your left front paw, my little Fox, if you really wish to learn
how it&rsquo;s done.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
The Fox did as he was told, and the Musician tied his front paw to the end of
one of the branches.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Now, my friend,&rsquo; he said, &lsquo;give me your right paw.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
This he bound to the other branch, and having carefully seen that his knots
were all secure, he stepped off the ends of the branches, and they sprang back,
leaving the poor Fox suspended in mid-air.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Just you wait where you are till I return,&rsquo; said the Musician, and
he went on his way again.
</p>

<p>
Once more he said to himself:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Time hangs heavily on my hands when I&rsquo;m all alone in the wood; I
must try and find another companion.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
So he took out his fiddle and played as merrily as before. This time a little
hare came running up at the sound.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Oh! here comes a hare,&rsquo; said the Musician; &lsquo;I&rsquo;ve not
the smallest desire for his company.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;How beautifully you play, dear Mr. Fiddler,&rsquo; said the little Hare.
&lsquo;I wish I could learn how you do it.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;It&rsquo;s easily learnt,&rsquo; answered the Musician; &lsquo;just do
exactly as I tell you.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;That I will,&rsquo; said the Hare, &lsquo;you will find me a most
attentive pupil.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
They went on a bit together, till they came to a thin part of the wood, where
they found an aspen tree growing. The Musician bound a long cord round the
little Hare&rsquo;s neck, the other end of which he fastened to the tree.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Now, my merry little friend,&rsquo; said the Musician, &lsquo;run twenty
times round the tree.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
The little Hare obeyed, and when it had run twenty times round the tree, the
cord had twisted itself twenty times round the trunk, so that the poor little
beast was held a fast prisoner, and it might bite and tear as much as it liked,
it couldn&rsquo;t free itself, and the cord only cut its tender neck.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Wait there till I return,&rsquo; said the Musician, and went on his way.
</p>

<p>
In the meantime the Wolf had pulled and bitten and scratched at the stone, till
at last he succeeded in getting his paws out. Full of anger, he hurried after
the Musician, determined when he met him to tear him to pieces. When the Fox
saw him running by, he called out as loud as he could:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Brother Wolf, come to my rescue, the Musician has deceived me
too.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
The Wolf pulled the branches down, bit the cord in two, and set the Fox free.
So they went on their way together, both vowing vengeance on the Musician. They
found the poor imprisoned little Hare, and having set him free also, they all
set out to look for their enemy.
</p>

<p>
During this time the Musician had once more played his fiddle, and had been
more fortunate in the result. The sounds pierced to the ears of a poor woodman,
who instantly left his work, and with his hatchet under his arm came to listen
to the music.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;At last I&rsquo;ve got a proper sort of companion,&rsquo; said the
Musician, &lsquo;for it was a human being I wanted all along, and not a wild
animal.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
And he began playing so enchantingly that the poor man stood there as if
bewitched, and his heart leapt for joy as he listened.
</p>

<p>
And as he stood thus, the Wolf and Fox and little Hare came up, and the woodman
saw at once that they meant mischief. He lifted his glittering axe and placed
himself in front of the Musician, as much as to say: &lsquo;If you touch a hair
of his head, beware, for you will have to answer for it to me.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Then the beasts were frightened, and they all three ran back into the wood, and
the Musician played the woodman one of his best tunes, by way of thanks, and
then continued his way.<a href="#fn32" id="fnref32"><sup>[32]</sup></a>
</p>

<p class="footnote">
<a id="fn32"></a> <a href="#fnref32">[32]</a>
Grimm.
</p>

</div><!--end chapter-->

<div class="chapter">

<h2><a id="chap37"></a>THE STORY OF SIGURD</h2>

<p>
(This is a very old story: the Danes who used to fight with the English in King
Alfred&rsquo;s time knew this story. They have carved on the rocks pictures of
some of the things that happen in the tale, and those carvings may still be
seen. Because it is so old and so beautiful the story is told here again, but
it has a sad ending&mdash;indeed it is all sad, and all about fighting and
killing, as might be expected from the Danes.)
</p>

<p class="p2">
Once upon a time there was a King in the North who had won many wars, but now
he was old. Yet he took a new wife, and then another Prince, who wanted to have
married her, came up against him with a great army. The old King went out and
fought bravely, but at last his sword broke, and he was wounded and his men
fled. But in the night, when the battle was over, his young wife came out and
searched for him among the slain, and at last she found him, and asked whether
he might be healed. But he said &lsquo;No,&rsquo; his luck was gone, his sword
was broken, and he must die. And he told her that she would have a son, and
that son would be a great warrior, and would avenge him on the other King, his
enemy. And he bade her keep the broken pieces of the sword, to make a new sword
for his son, and that blade should be called Gram.
</p>

<p>
Then he died. And his wife called her maid to her and said, &lsquo;Let us
change clothes, and you shall be called by my name, and I by yours, lest the
enemy finds us.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
So this was done, and they hid in a wood, but there some strangers met them and
carried them off in a ship to Denmark. And when they were brought before the
King, he thought the maid looked like a Queen, and the Queen like a maid. So he
asked the Queen, &lsquo;How do you know in the dark of night whether the hours
are wearing to the morning?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
And she said:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I know because, when I was younger, I used to have to rise and light the
fires, and still I waken at the same time.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;A strange Queen to light the fires,&rsquo; thought the King.
</p>

<p>
Then he asked the Queen, who was dressed like a maid, &lsquo;How do you know in
the dark of night whether the hours are wearing near the dawn?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;My father gave me a gold ring,&rsquo; said she, &lsquo;and always, ere
the dawning, it grows cold on my finger.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;A rich house where the maids wore gold,&rsquo; said the King.
&lsquo;Truly you are no maid, but a King&rsquo;s daughter.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
So he treated her royally, and as time went on she had a son called Sigurd, a
beautiful boy and very strong. He had a tutor to be with him, and once the
tutor bade him go to the King and ask for a horse.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Choose a horse for yourself,&rsquo; said the King; and Sigurd went to
the wood, and there he met an old man with a white beard, and said,
&lsquo;Come! help me in horse-choosing.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Then the old man said, &lsquo;Drive all the horses into the river, and choose
the one that swims across.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
So Sigurd drove them, and only one swam across. Sigurd chose him: his name was
Grani, and he came of Sleipnir&rsquo;s breed, and was the best horse in the
world. For Sleipnir was the horse of Odin, the God of the North, and was as
swift as the wind.
</p>

<p>
But a day or two later his tutor said to Sigurd, &lsquo;There is a great
treasure of gold hidden not far from here, and it would become you to win
it.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
But Sigurd answered, &lsquo;I have heard stories of that treasure, and I know
that the dragon Fafnir guards it, and he is so huge and wicked that no man
dares to go near him.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;He is no bigger than other dragons,&rsquo; said the tutor, &lsquo;and if
you were as brave as your father you would not fear him.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I am no coward,&rsquo; says Sigurd; &lsquo;why do you want me to fight
with this dragon?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Then his tutor, whose name was Regin, told him that all this great hoard of red
gold had once belonged to his own father. And his father had three
sons&mdash;the first was Fafnir, the Dragon; the next was Otter, who could put
on the shape of an otter when he liked; and the next was himself, Regin, and he
was a great smith and maker of swords.
</p>

<p>
Now there was at that time a dwarf called Andvari, who lived in a pool beneath
a waterfall, and there he had hidden a great hoard of gold. And one day Otter
had been fishing there, and had killed a salmon and eaten it, and was sleeping,
like an otter, on a stone. Then someone came by, and threw a stone at the otter
and killed it, and flayed off the skin, and took it to the house of
Otter&rsquo;s father. Then he knew his son was dead, and to punish the person
who had killed him he said he must have the Otter&rsquo;s skin filled with
gold, and covered all over with red gold, or it should go worse with him. Then
the person who had killed Otter went down and caught the Dwarf who owned all
the treasure and took it from him.
</p>

<p>
Only one ring was left, which the Dwarf wore, and even that was taken from him.
</p>

<p>
Then the poor Dwarf was very angry, and he prayed that the gold might never
bring any but bad luck to all the men who might own it, for ever.
</p>

<p>
Then the otter skin was filled with gold and covered with gold, all but one
hair, and that was covered with the poor Dwarf&rsquo;s last ring.
</p>

<p>
But it brought good luck to nobody. First Fafnir, the Dragon, killed his own
father, and then he went and wallowed on the gold, and would let his brother
have none, and no man dared go near it.
</p>

<p>
When Sigurd heard the story he said to Regin:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Make me a good sword that I may kill this Dragon.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
So Regin made a sword, and Sigurd tried it with a blow on a lump of iron, and
the sword broke.
</p>

<p>
Another sword he made, and Sigurd broke that too.
</p>

<p>
Then Sigurd went to his mother, and asked for the broken pieces of his
father&rsquo;s blade, and gave them to Regin. And he hammered and wrought them
into a new sword, so sharp that fire seemed to burn along its edges.
</p>

<p>
Sigurd tried this blade on the lump of iron, and it did not break, but split
the iron in two. Then he threw a lock of wool into the river, and when it
floated down against the sword it was cut into two pieces. So Sigurd said that
sword would do. But before he went against the Dragon he led an army to fight
the men who had killed his father, and he slew their King, and took all his
wealth, and went home.
</p>

<p>
When he had been at home a few days, he rode out with Regin one morning to the
heath where the Dragon used to lie. Then he saw the track which the Dragon made
when he went to a cliff to drink, and the track was as if a great river had
rolled along and left a deep valley.
</p>

<p>
Then Sigurd went down into that deep place, and dug many pits in it, and in one
of the pits he lay hidden with his sword drawn. There he waited, and presently
the earth began to shake with the weight of the Dragon as he crawled to the
water. And a cloud of venom flew before him as he snorted and roared, so that
it would have been death to stand before him.
</p>

<p>
But Sigurd waited till half of him had crawled over the pit, and then he thrust
the sword Gram right into his very heart.
</p>

<p>
Then the Dragon lashed with his tail till stones broke and trees crashed about
him.
</p>

<p>
Then he spoke, as he died, and said:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Whoever thou art that hast slain me this gold shall be thy ruin, and the
ruin of all who own it.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Sigurd said:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;I would touch none of it if by losing it I should never die. But all men
die, and no brave man lets death frighten him from his desire. Die thou,
Fafnir,&rsquo; and then Fafnir died.
</p>

<p>
And after that Sigurd was called Fafnir&rsquo;s Bane, and Dragonslayer.
</p>

<p>
Then Sigurd rode back, and met Regin, and Regin asked him to roast
Fafnir&rsquo;s heart and let him taste of it.
</p>

<p>
So Sigurd put the heart of Fafnir on a stake, and roasted it. But it chanced
that he touched it with his finger, and it burned him. Then he put his finger
in his mouth, and so tasted the heart of Fafnir.
</p>

<p>
Then immediately he understood the language of birds, and he heard the
Woodpeckers say:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;There is Sigurd roasting Fafnir&rsquo;s heart for another, when he
should taste of it himself and learn all wisdom.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
The next bird said:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;There lies Regin, ready to betray Sigurd, who trusts him.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
The third bird said:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Let him cut off Regin&rsquo;s head, and keep all the gold to
himself.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
The fourth bird said:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;That let him do, and then ride over Hindfell, to the place where
Brynhild sleeps.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
When Sigurd heard all this, and how Regin was plotting to betray him, he cut
off Regin&rsquo;s head with one blow of the sword Gram.
</p>

<p>
Then all the birds broke out singing:
</p>

<p class="poem">
&lsquo;We know a fair maid,<br>
A fair maiden sleeping;<br>
Sigurd, be not afraid,<br>
Sigurd, win thou the maidv Fortune is keeping.<br>
<br>
&lsquo;High over Hindfell<br>
Red fire is flaming,<br>
There doth the maiden dwell<br>
She that should love thee well,<br>
Meet for thy taming.<br>
<br>
&lsquo;There must she sleep till thou<br>
Comest for her waking<br>
Rise up and ride, for now<br>
Sure she will swear the vow<br>
Fearless of breaking.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Then Sigurd remembered how the story went that somewhere, far away, there was a
beautiful lady enchanted. She was under a spell, so that she must always sleep
in a castle surrounded by flaming fire; there she must sleep for ever till
there came a knight who would ride through the fire and waken her. There he
determined to go, but first he rode right down the horrible trail of Fafnir.
And Fafnir had lived in a cave with iron doors, a cave dug deep down in the
earth, and full of gold bracelets, and crowns, and rings; and there, too,
Sigurd found the Helm of Dread, a golden helmet, and whoever wears it is
invisible. All these he piled on the back of the good horse Grani, and then he
rode south to Hindfell.
</p>

<p>
Now it was night, and on the crest of the hill Sigurd saw a red fire blazing up
into the sky, and within the flame a castle, and a banner on the topmost tower.
Then he set the horse Grani at the fire, and he leaped through it lightly, as
if it had been through the heather. So Sigurd went within the castle door, and
there he saw someone sleeping, clad all in armour. Then he took the helmet off
the head of the sleeper, and behold, she was a most beautiful lady. And she
wakened and said, &lsquo;Ah! is it Sigurd, Sigmund&rsquo;s son, who has broken
the curse, and comes here to waken me at last?&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
This curse came upon her when the thorn of the tree of sleep ran into her hand
long ago as a punishment because she had displeased Odin the God. Long ago,
too, she had vowed never to marry a man who knew fear, and dared not ride
through the fence of flaming fire. For she was a warrior maid herself, and went
armed into the battle like a man. But now she and Sigurd loved each other, and
promised to be true to each other, and he gave her a ring, and it was the last
ring taken from the dwarf Andvari. Then Sigurd rode away, and he came to the
house of a King who had a fair daughter. Her name was Gudrun, and her mother
was a witch. Now Gudrun fell in love with Sigurd, but he was always talking of
Brynhild, how beautiful she was and how dear. So one day Gudrun&rsquo;s witch
mother put poppy and forgetful drugs in a magical cup, and bade Sigurd drink to
her health, and he drank, and instantly he forgot poor Brynhild and he loved
Gudrun, and they were married with great rejoicings.
</p>

<p>
Now the witch, the mother of Gudrun, wanted her son Gunnar to marry Brynhild,
and she bade him ride out with Sigurd and go and woo her. So forth they rode to
her father&rsquo;s house, for Brynhild had quite gone out of Sigurd&rsquo;s
mind by reason of the witch&rsquo;s wine, but she remembered him and loved him
still. Then Brynhild&rsquo;s father told Gunnar that she would marry none but
him who could ride the flame in front of her enchanted tower, and thither they
rode, and Gunnar set his horse at the flame, but he would not face it. Then
Gunnar tried Sigurd&rsquo;s horse Grani, but he would not move with Gunnar on
his back. Then Gunnar remembered witchcraft that his mother had taught him, and
by his magic he made Sigurd look exactly like himself, and he looked exactly
like Gunnar. Then Sigurd, in the shape of Gunnar and in his mail, mounted on
Grani, and Grani leaped the fence of fire, and Sigurd went in and found
Brynhild, but he did not remember her yet, because of the forgetful medicine in
the cup of the witch&rsquo;s wine.
</p>

<p>
Now Brynhild had no help but to promise she would be his wife, the wife of
Gunnar as she supposed, for Sigurd wore Gunnar&rsquo;s shape, and she had sworn
to wed whoever should ride the flames. And he gave her a ring, and she gave him
back the ring he had given her before in his own shape as Sigurd, and it was
the last ring of that poor dwarf Andvari. Then he rode out again, and he and
Gunnar changed shapes, and each was himself again, and they went home to the
witch Queen&rsquo;s, and Sigurd gave the dwarf&rsquo;s ring to his wife,
Gudrun. And Brynhild went to her father, and said that a King had come called
Gunnar, and had ridden the fire, and she must marry him. &lsquo;Yet I
thought,&rsquo; she said, &lsquo;that no man could have done this deed but
Sigurd, Fafnir&rsquo;s bane, who was my true love. But he has forgotten me, and
my promise I must keep.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
So Gunnar and Brynhild were married, though it was not Gunnar but Sigurd in
Gunnar&rsquo;s shape, that had ridden the fire.
</p>

<p>
And when the wedding was over and all the feast, then the magic of the
witch&rsquo;s wine went out of Sigurd&rsquo;s brain, and he remembered all. He
remembered how he had freed Brynhild from the spell, and how she was his own
true love, and how he had forgotten and had married another woman, and won
Brynhild to be the wife of another man.
</p>

<p>
But he was brave, and he spoke not a word of it to the others to make them
unhappy. Still he could not keep away the curse which was to come on every one
who owned the treasure of the dwarf Andvari, and his fatal golden ring.
</p>

<p>
And the curse soon came upon all of them. For one day, when Brynhild and Gudrun
were bathing, Brynhild waded farthest out into the river, and said she did that
to show she was Gudrun&rsquo;s superior. For her husband, she said, had ridden
through the flame when no other man dared face it.
</p>

<p>
Then Gudrun was very angry, and said that it was Sigurd, not Gunnar, who had
ridden the flame, and had received from Brynhild that fatal ring, the ring of
the dwarf Andvari.
</p>

<p>
Then Brynhild saw the ring which Sigurd had given to Gudrun, and she knew it
and knew all, and she turned as pale as a dead woman, and went home. All that
evening she never spoke. Next day she told Gunnar, her husband, that he was a
coward and a liar, for he had never ridden the flame, but had sent Sigurd to do
it for him, and pretended that he had done it himself. And she said he would
never see her glad in his hall, never drinking wine, never playing chess, never
embroidering with the golden thread, never speaking words of kindness. Then she
rent all her needlework asunder and wept aloud, so that everyone in the house
heard her. For her heart was broken, and her pride was broken in the same hour.
She had lost her true love, Sigurd, the slayer of Fafnir, and she was married
to a man who was a liar.
</p>

<p>
Then Sigurd came and tried to comfort her, but she would not listen, and said
she wished the sword stood fast in his heart.
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;Not long to wait,&rsquo; he said, &lsquo;till the bitter sword stands
fast in my heart, and thou will not live long when I am dead. But, dear
Brynhild, live and be comforted, and love Gunnar thy husband, and I will give
thee all the gold, the treasure of the dragon Fafnir.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Brynhild said:
</p>

<p>
&lsquo;It is too late.&rsquo;
</p>

<p>
Then Sigurd was so grieved and his heart so swelled in his breast that it burst
the steel rings of his shirt of mail.
</p>

<p>
Sigurd went out and Brynhild determined to slay him. She mixed serpent&rsquo;s
venom and wolf&rsquo;s flesh, and gave them in one dish to her husband&rsquo;s
younger brother, and when he had tasted them he was mad, and he went into
Sigurd&rsquo;s chamber while he slept and pinned him to the bed with a sword.
But Sigurd woke, and caught the sword Gram into his hand, and threw it at the
man as he fled, and the sword cut him in twain. Thus died Sigurd,
Fafnir&rsquo;s bane, whom no ten men could have slain in fair fight. Then
Gudrun wakened and saw him dead, and she moaned aloud, and Brynhild heard her
and laughed; but the kind horse Grani lay down and died of very grief. And then
Brynhild fell a-weeping till her heart broke. So they attired Sigurd in all his
golden armour, and built a great pile of wood on board his ship, and at night
laid on it the dead Sigurd and the dead Brynhild, and the good horse, Grani,
and set fire to it, and launched the ship. And the wind bore it blazing out to
sea, flaming into the dark. So there were Sigurd and Brynhild burned together,
and the curse of the dwarf Andvari was fulfilled.<a href="#fn33" id="fnref33"><sup>[33]</sup></a>
</p>

<p class="footnote">
<a id="fn33"></a> <a href="#fnref33">[33]</a>
The <i>Volsunga Saga</i>.
</p>

</div><!--end chapter-->

<div style='text-align:center'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 540 ***</div>
</body>

</html>
generated by cgit v1.2.3 (git 2.25.1) at 2026-03-04 14:19:18 +0000