 Chapter 26 The Yellow Fairy Book Once upon a time a great and powerful king married a lovely princess. No couple were ever so happy, but before their honeymoon was over, they were forced to part. For the king had to go on a war-like expedition to a far country and leave his young wife alone at home. Bitter were the tears she shed, while her husband sought in vain to soothe her with words of comfort and counsel, warning her, above all things, never to leave the castle, to hold no intercourse with strangers, to beware of evil counsel. And especially to be on her guard against strange women. And the queen promised faithfully to obey her royal lord and master in these four matters. So when the king set out on his exhibition, she shut herself up with her ladies in her own apartments, and spent her time in spinning and weaving, and in thinking of her royal husband. Often she was very sad and lonely, and it happened that one day, while she was seated at the window, letting salt tears drop on her work, an old woman, a kind, homely-looking old body, stepped up to the window, and leaning upon her crutch, addressed the queen in friendly, flattering tones, saying, Why are you sad and cast down, fair queen? You should not mope all day in your rooms, but you should come out into the green garden, and hear the birds sing with joy among the trees, and see the butterflies fluttering above the flowers, and hear the bees and insects hum, and watch the sunbeams chase the dewdrops through the rose leaves in the lily cups. All the brightness outside would help to drive away your cares, O queen. For long the queen resisted her coaxing words, remembering the promise she had given the king, her husband, but at last she thought to herself, After all, what harm would it do if I were to go into the garden for a short time and enjoy myself among the trees and flowers, and the singing birds and fluttering butterflies, and humming insects, and look at the dewdrops hiding from the sunbeams in the hearts of the roses and lilies, and wander about in the sunshine, instead of remaining all gay in this room? For she had no idea that the kind-looking old woman leaning on her crutch was in reality a wicked witch, who envied the queen her good fortune, and was determined to ruin her. And so, in all ignorance, the queen followed her out into the garden and listened to her smooth, flattering words. Now, in the middle of the garden, there was a pond of water, clear as a crystal, and the old woman said to the queen, The day is so warm and the sun's rays so scorching that the water in the pond looks very cool and inviting. Would you not like to bathe in a fair queen? No, I think not, answered the queen. But the next moment she regretted her words and thought to herself, Why shouldn't I bathe in that cool, fresh water? No harm could come of it. And so saying, she slipped off her robes and stepped into the water. But scarcely had her tender feet touched the cool ripples when she felt a great shove on her shoulders, and the wicked witch had pushed her into the deep water, exclaiming, Swim, henceforth, white duck, and the witch herself assumed the form of the queen, and decked herself out in the royal robes, and sat among the court ladies, awaiting the king's return. And suddenly the tramp of horse's hoofs was heard, and the barking of dogs, and the witch hastened forward to meet the royal carriages, and throwing her arms round the king's neck, kissed him. And in his great joy the king did not know that the woman he held in his arms was not his own dear wife, but a wicked witch. In the meantime outside the palace falls the poor white duck spun up and down the pond, and near it laid three eggs, and out of which there came one morning two little fluffy ducklings and a little ugly drape. And the white duck brought the little creatures up, and they paddled after her in the pond, and caught goldfish, and hopped upon the bank and modelled about, ruffling their feathers and saying, quack quack, as they strutted about on the green banks of the pond. But their mother used to warn them not to stray too far, telling them that a wicked witch lived in the castle beyond the garden, adding, she has ruined me, and she will do her best to ruin you. But the young ones did not listen to their mother, and playing about the garden one day, they strayed close up to the castle windows. The witch at once recognised them by their smell, and ground her teeth with anger, but she hid her feelings, and pretending to be very kind she called them to her and joked with them, and led them into a beautiful room, where she gave them food to eat, and showed them a soft cushion on which they might sleep. Then she left them and went down into the palace kitchens, where she told the servants to sharpen the knives, and to make a great fire ready, and hang a large kettle full of water over it. In the meantime the two little ducklings had fallen asleep, and the little drake lay between them, covered up by their wings, to be kept warm under their feathers. But the little drake could not go to sleep, and as he lay there wide awake in the night, he heard the witch come to the door and say, Little ones are you asleep, and the little drake answered for the other two. We cannot sleep, we wake and weep. Sharp is the knife to take our life. The fire is hot, now boils the pot, and so we wake and lie and quake. They are not asleep yet, muttered the witch to herself, and she walked up and down in the passage, and then came back to the door and said, Little ones are you asleep, and again the little drake answered for his sisters. We cannot sleep, we wake and weep. Sharp is the knife to take our life. The fire is hot, now boils the pot, and so we wake and lie and quake. Just the same answer, muttered the witch. I think I'll go in and see. So she opened the door gently, and seeing the two little ducklings sound asleep, she there and then killed them. The next morning the white duck wandered round the pond in a distracted manner, looking for her little ones. She called and she searched, but could find no trace of them. And in her heart she had a foreboding that evil had befallen them, and she fluttered up out of the water and flew to the palace. And there laid out on the marble floor of the court, dead and stone cold, were her three children. The white duck threw herself upon them, and, covering up their little bodies with their wings, she cried. Quack quack my little loves, quack quack my turtle doves. I brought you up with grief and pain, and now before my eyes you're slain. I gave you always of the best. I kept you warm in my soft nest. I loved and watched you day and night. You were my joy, my one delight. The king heard the sad complaint of the white duck, and called to the witch, Why, what a wonder is this? Listen to that white duck. But the witch answered, My dear husband, what do you mean? There is nothing wonderful in a duck's quacking. Here, servants, chase that duck out of the courtyard, but though the servants chased and cheered, they could not get rid of the duck, for she circled round and round, and always came back to the spot where her children lay crying. Quack quack my little loves, quack quack my turtle doves. The wicked witch your lives did take, the wicked witch the cunning snake. First she stole my king away, then my children did she slay. Change me from a happy wife to a duck for all my life. Would I were the queen again? Would that you had never been slain? And as the king heard her words, he began to suspect that he had been deceived, and he called out to the servants, catch that duck and bring it here. But though they ran to and fro, the duck always fled past them, and would not let herself be caught. So the king himself stepped down amongst them, and instantly the duck fluttered down into his hands. And as he stroked her wings, she was changed into a beautiful woman, and he recognized his dear wife. And she told him that a bottle would be found in her nest in the garden, containing some drops from the spring of healing. And it was brought to her. And the ducklings, a little break, were sprinkled with the water, and from the little dead bodies three lovely children arose. And the king and queen were overjoyed when they saw their children, and they all lived happily together in the beautiful palace. But the wicked witch was taken by the king's command, and she came to no good end. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. This recording is by Mark Smith of Simpsonville, South Carolina. The Yellow Fairy Book. Edited by Andrew Lang. Chapter 27. The Witch and Her Servants. A long time ago there lived a king who had three sons. The eldest was called Sabo, the second Wurza, and the youngest Iwanich. One beautiful spring morning the king was walking through his gardens with these three sons, gazing with admiration at the various fruit trees, some of which were a massive blossom, whilst others were bowed to the ground laden with rich fruit. During their wanderings they came unperceived on a piece of wasteland where three splendid trees grew. The king looked on them for a moment, and then, shaking his head sadly, he passed on in silence. The sons who could not understand why he did this asked him the reason of his dejection, and the king told them as follows. These three trees, which I cannot see without sorrow, were planted by me on this spot when I was a youth of twenty. A celebrated magician who had given the seed to my father promised him that they would grow into the three finest trees the world had ever seen. My father did not live to see his words come true, but on his deathbed he bade me transplant them here, and to look after them with the greatest care, which I accordingly did. At last, upon the lapse of five long years, I noticed some blossoms on the branches, and a few days later the most exquisite fruit my eyes had ever seen. I gave my head gardener the strict disorders to watch the trees carefully, for the magician had warned my father that if one unripe fruit was plucked from the tree, all the rest would become rotten at once. When it was quite ripe the fruit would become a golden yell. Every day I gazed on the lovely fruit, which became gradually more and more tempting looking, and it was all I could do not to break the magician's commands. One night I dreamt that the fruit was perfectly ripe. I ate some of it, and it was more delicious than anything I had ever tasted in real life. As soon as I awoke, I sent for the gardener and asked him if the fruit on the three trees had not ripened in the night to perfection. But instead of replying, the gardener threw himself at my feet and swore that he was innocent. He said that he had watched by the trees all night, but in spite of it, and as if by magic, the beautiful trees had been robbed of all their fruit. Grieved as I was over the theft, I did not punish the gardener of whose fidelity I was well assured, but I determined to pluck off all the fruit in the following year before it was ripe, as I had not much belief in the magician's warning. I carried out my intention, and had all the fruit picked off the tree, but when I tasted one of the apples, it was bitter and unpleasant, and the next morning the rest of the fruit had all rotted away. After this, I had the beautiful fruit of these trees carefully guarded by my most faithful servants. But every year, on this very night, the fruit was plucked and stolen by an invisible hand, and next morning not a single apple remained on the trees. For some time past I have given up even having the trees watched. When the king had finished his story, Cebo, his eldest son, said to him, Forgive me, Father, if I say I think you are mistaken. I am sure there are many men in your kingdom who could protect these trees from the cunning arts of a thieving magician. I myself, who, as your eldest son, claimed the first right to do so, will mount guard over the fruit this very night. The king consented, and as soon as evening drew on, Cebo climbed up onto one of the trees, determined to protect the fruit even if it cost him his life. So he kept watch half the night. But a little after midnight he was overcome by an irresistible drowsiness, and fell fast asleep. He did not awake till it was bright daylight, and all the fruit on the trees had vanished. The following year Wurza, the second brother, tried his luck, but with the same result. Then it came to the turn of the third and youngest son. Iwanich was not the least discouraged by the failure of his elder brothers, though they were both much older and stronger than he was, and when night came climbed up the tree as they had done. The moon had risen, and with her soft light lit up the whole neighborhood, so that the observant prince could distinguish the smallest object distinctly. At midnight a gentle west wind shook the tree, and at the same moment a snow-white, swan-like bird sank down gently on his breast. The prince hastily seized the bird's wings in his hands, when, lo! to his astonishment, he found he was holding in his arms not a bird but the most beautiful girl he had ever seen. You need not there, Melitza, said the beautiful girl, looking at the prince with friendly eyes. An evil magician has not robbed you of your fruit, but he stole the seed from my mother, and thereby caused her death. When she was dying she bade me take the fruit which you have no right to possess from the trees every year as soon as it was ripe. This I would have done to-night, too, if you had not seized me with such force, and so broken the spell I was under. Iwanich, who had been prepared to meet a terrible magician and not a lovely girl, felt desperately in love with her. They spent the rest of the night in pleasant conversation, and when Melitza wished to go away he begged her not to leave him. I would gladly stay with you longer, said Melitza, but a wicked witch once cut off a lock of my hair when I was asleep, which has put me in her power, and if morning were still to find me here, she would do me some harm, and you too, perhaps. Having said these words, she drew a sparkling diamond ring from her finger, which she handed to the prince, saying, Keep this ring in memory of Melitza, and think of her sometimes if you never see her again. But if your love is really true, come and find me in my own kingdom. I may not show you the way there, but this ring will guide you. If you have love and courage enough to undertake this journey, whenever you come to a cross-road, always look at this diamond before you settle which way you are going to take. If it sparkles as brightly as ever, go straight on, but if its luster is dimmed, choose another path. Then Melitza bent over the prince and kissed him on his forehead, and before he had time to say a word, she vanished through the branches of the tree in a little white cloud. Morning broke, and the prince, still full of the wonderful apparition, left his perch and returned to the palace like one in a dream, without even knowing if the fruit had been taken or not, for his whole mind was absorbed by thoughts of Melitza and how he was to find her. As soon as the head gardener saw the prince going towards the palace, he ran to the trees, and when he saw them laden with ripe fruit, he hastened to tell the king the joyful news. The king was beside himself for joy and hurried at once to the garden to make the gardener pick him some of the fruit. He tasted it, and found the apple quite as luscious as it had been in his dream. He went at once to a sunny Wenich, and after embracing him tenderly and heaping praises on him, he asked him how he had succeeded in protecting the costly fruit from the power of the magician. This question placed Wenich in a dilemma. But as he did not want the real story to be known, he said that about midnight a huge wasp had flown through the branches and buzzed incessantly round him. He had worn it off with his sword, and at dawn, when he was becoming quite worn out, the wasp had vanished as suddenly as it had appeared. The king, who never doubted the truth of this tale, bade his son go to rest at once and recover from the fatigues of the night. But he himself went and ordered many feasts to be held in honor of the preservation of the wonderful fruit. The whole capital was in a stir, and everyone shared in the king's joy the prince alone took no part in the festivities. While the king was at a banquet, he Wenich took some purses of gold and mounting the quickest horse in the royal stable, he sped off like the wind without a single soul being any the wiser. It was only on the next day that they missed him. The king was very distressed at his disappearance and sent search parties all over the kingdom to look for him, but in vain, and after six months they gave him up his dead, and in another six months they had forgotten all about him. But in the meantime the prince, with the help of his ring, had had a most successful journey and no evil had befallen him. At the end of three months he came to the entrance of a huge forest, which looked as if it had never been trodden by human foot before, and which seemed to stretch out indefinitely. The prince was about to enter the wood by a little path he had discovered when he heard a voice shouting to him, "'Hold, youth! Where are you going?' Wenich turned round and saw a tall, gaunt-looking man clad in miserable rags, leaning on a crooked staff and seated at the foot of an oak tree, which was so much the same color as himself that it was little wonder the prince had ridden past the tree without noticing him. "'Where else should I be going?' he said. Then through the wood.' "'Through the wood,' said the old man in amazement, "'it's easily seen that you have heard nothing of this forest, "'that you rush so blindly to meet your doom. "'Well, listen to me before you ride any further. "'Let me tell you that this wood hides in its depths "'a countless number of the fiercest tigers, hyenas, "'wolves, bears, and snakes, "'and all sorts of other monsters. "'If I were to cut you and your horse up into tiny morsels "'and throw them to the beasts, "'wouldn't be one bit for each hundred of them. "'Take my advice, therefore, "'and if you wish to save your life, follow some other path.'" The prince was rather taken aback by the old man's words and considered for a minute what he should do. Then looking at his ring and perceiving that it sparkled as brightly as ever, he called out, "'If this wood held even more terrible things than it does, "'I cannot help myself, for I must go through it.'" Here he spurred his horse and rode on, but the old beggar screamed so loudly after him that the prince turned round and rode back to the oak tree. "'I am really sorry for you,' said the beggar, "'but if you are quite determined "'to brave the dangers of the forest, "'let me at least give you a piece of advice "'which will help you against these monsters.'" "'Take this bag full of breadcrumbs and this live hare. "'I will make you a present of them both "'as I am anxious to save your life. "'But you must leave your horse behind you, "'for it would stumble over the fallen trees "'or get entangled in the briars and thorns. "'Why do you have gone about a hundred yards into the wood? "'The wild beasts will surround you. "'Then you must instantly seize your bag "'and scatter the breadcrumbs among them. "'They will rush to eat them up greedily, "'and when you have scattered the last crumb, "'you must lose no time in throwing the hare to them. "'As soon as the hare feels itself on the ground, "'it will run away as quickly as possible, "'and the wild beasts will turn to pursue it. "'In this way you will be able "'to get through the wood unhurt.'" Even each thank the old man for his counsel dismounted from his horse and taking the bag and the hare in his arms. He entered the forest. He had hardly lost sight of his gaunt gray friend when he heard growls and snarls and the thicket close to him, and before he had time to think he found himself surrounded by the most dreadful-looking creatures. On one side he saw the glittering eye of a cruel tiger, on the other the gleaming teeth of a great she-wolf. Here a huge bear growled fiercely, and there a horrible snake coiled itself in the grass at his feet. But he when each did not forget the old man's advice and quickly put his hand into the bag and took out as many bread-crumbs as he could hold in his hand at a time. He threw them to the beasts and soon the bag grew lighter and lighter and the prince began to feel a little frightened. And now the last crumb was gone and the hungry beasts throng round him greedy for fresh prey. Then he seized the hare and threw it to them. No sooner did the little creature feel itself on the ground than it lay back its ears and flew through the wood like an arrow from a bow, closely pursued by the wild beasts and the prince was left alone. He looked at his ring and when he saw that it sparkled as brightly as ever he looked straight on through the forest. He hadn't gone very far when he saw a most extraordinary looking man coming towards him. He was not more than three feet high, his legs were quite crooked and all his body was covered with prickles like a hedgehog. Two lions walked with him fastened to his side by the two ends of his long beard. He stopped the prince and asked him in a harsh voice, Are you the man who has just fed my bodyguard? Ewen H. was so startled that he could hardly reply. But the little man continued, I am most grateful to you for your kindness. What can I give you as a reward? All I ask, replied Ewen H., is that I should be allowed to go through this wood in safety. Most certainly answered the little man and for greater security I will give you one of my lions as a protector. But when you leave this wood and come near a palace which does not belong to my domain, let the lion go in order that he may not fall into the hands of an enemy and be killed. With these words he loosened the lion from his beard and bade the beast guard the youth carefully. With this new protector Ewen H. wandered on through the forest and though he came upon a great many more wolves, hyenas, leopards, and other wild beasts, they always kept at a respectful distance when they saw what sort of an escort the prince had with him. Ewen H. hurried through the wood as quickly as his legs would carry him, but nevertheless hour after hour went by and not a trace of a green field or a human habitation met his eyes. At length towards evening the mass of trees grew more transparent and through the interlaced branches a wide plain was visible. At the exit of the wood the lion stood still and the prince took leave of him having first thanked him warmly for his kind protection. It had become quite dark and Ewen H. was forced to wait for daylight before continuing his journey. He made himself a bed of grass and leaves, lit a fire of dry branches, and slept soundly till the next morning. Then he got up and walked towards a beautiful white palace which he saw gleaming in the distance. In about an hour he reached the building and opening the door he walked in. After wandering through many marble halls he came to a huge staircase made of porphyry leading down to a lovely garden. The prince burst into a shout of joy when he suddenly perceived Melissa in the center of a group of girls who were weaving wreaths of flowers with which to deck their mistress. As soon as Melissa saw the prince she ran up to him and embraced him tenderly and after he had told her all his adventures they went into the palace where a sumptuous meal awaited them. Then the princess called her court together and introduced Iwanich to them as her future husband. Preparations were at once made for the wedding which was held soon after with great pomp and magnificence. Three months of great happiness followed when Melissa received one day an invitation to visit her mother's sister. Although the princess was very unhappy at leaving her husband she did not like to refuse the invitation and promising to return in seven days at the latest she took a tender farewell of the prince and said, Before I go I will hand you over all the keys of the castle. Go everywhere and do anything you like only one thing I beg and beseech you do not open the little iron door in the north tower which is closed with seven locks and seven bolts for if you do we shall both suffer for it. Iwanich promised what she asked and Melissa departed repeating her promise to return in seven days. When the prince found himself alone he began to be tormented by pangs of curiosity as to what the room in the tower contained. For two days he resisted the temptation to go and look but on the third he could stand it no longer and taking a torch in his hand he hurried to the tower and unfastened one lock after the other of the little iron door until it burst open. What an unexpected sight met his gaze. The prince perceived a small room black with smoke lit up feebly by a fire from which issued long blue flames. Over the fire hung a huge cauldron full of boiling pitch and fastened into the cauldron by iron chains stood a wretched man screaming with agony. Iwanich was much horrified at the sight before him and asked the man what terrible crime he had committed to be punished in the strenful fashion. I will tell you everything, said the man in the cauldron but first relieve my torment so little I implore you. How can I do that? asked the prince. With a little water replied the man. Only sprinkle a few drops over me and I shall feel better. The prince, moved by pity, without thinking what he was doing ran to the courtyard of the castle and filled a jug with water which he poured over the man in the cauldron. In a moment a most fearful crash was heard as if all the pillars of the palace were giving way and the palace itself with towers and doors windows and the cauldron whirled round the bewildered prince's head. This continued for a few minutes and then everything vanished into thin air and Iwanich found himself suddenly alone upon a desolate heath covered with rocks and stones. The prince, who now realized what his heedlessness had done cursed too late his spirit of curiosity. In his despair he wandered on over the heath never looking where he put his feet and full of sorrowful thoughts. At last he saw a light in the distance which came from a miserable looking little hut. The owner of it was none other than the kindhearted gaunt gray beggar who had given the prince the breadcrumbs and the hair. Without recognizing Iwanich he opened the door when he knocked and gave him shelter for the night. On the following morning the prince asked his host if he could get him any work to do as he was quite unknown in the neighborhood and had not enough money to take him home. "'My son,' replied the old man, "'all this country round here is uninhabited. "'I myself have to wander to distant villages "'for my living, and even then I do not very often "'fine enough to satisfy my hunger. "'But if you would like to take service "'with the old witch Corva, go straight up "'the little stream which flows below my hut "'for about three hours, and you will come "'to a sand hill on the left-hand side. "'That is where she lives.' Iwanich thanked the gaunt gray beggar for his information and went on his way. After walking for about three hours the prince came upon a dreary-looking gray stone wall. This was the back of the building and did not attract him, but when he came upon the front of the house he found it even less inviting for the old witch had surrounded her dwelling with a fence of spikes on every one of which a man's skull was stuck. And this horrible enclosure stood a small black house which had only two grated windows all covered with cobwebs and a battered iron door. The prince knocked and a rasping woman's voice told him to enter. Iwanich opened the door and found himself in a smoke-begrimed kitchen in the presence of a hideous old woman who was warming her skinny hands at a fire. The prince offered to become her servant and the old hag told him she was badly in want of one and he seemed to be just the person to suit her. When Iwanich asked what was his work and how much his wages would be the witch made him follow her and led the way through a narrow damp passage into a vault which served as a stable. Here he perceived two pitch-black horses in a stall. You see before you, said the old woman, a mare and her foal, you have nothing to do but to lead them out to the fields every day and to see that neither of them runs away from you. If you look after them both for a whole year I will give you anything you like to ask. But if, on the other hand, you let either of the animals escape you your last hour is come and your head shall be stuck on the last spike of my fence. The other spikes, as you see, are already adorned and the skulls are all those of different servants I have had who have failed to do what I demanded. Iwanich, you thought he could not be much worse off than he was already, agreed to the witch's proposal. At daybreak next morning he drove his horses to the field and brought them back in the evening without their ever having attempted to break away from him. The witch stood at her door and received him kindly and set a good meal before him. So it continued for some time and all went well with the prince. Early every morning he led the horses out to the fields and brought them home safe and sound in the evening. One day while he was watching the horses he came to the banks of a river and saw a big fish which through some mischance had been cast on the land struggling hard to get back into the water. Iwanich, who felt sorry for the poor creature, seized it in his arms and flung it into the stream. But no sooner did the fish find itself in the water again than to the prince's amazement it swam up to the bank and said, My kind benefactor, how can I reward you for your goodness? I desire nothing, answered the prince. I'm quite content to have been able to be of some service to you. You must do me the favor, replied the fish, to take a scale from my body and keep it carefully. If you should ever need my help, throw it into the river and I will come to your aid at once. Iwanich bowed, loosened a scale from the body of the grateful beast to put it carefully away and returned home. A short time after this when he was going early one morning to the usual grazing place with his horses he noticed a flock of birds assembled together making a great noise and flying wildly backwards and forwards. Full of curiosity Iwanich hurried up to the spot and saw that a large number of ravens had attacked an eagle and although the eagle was big and powerful and was making a brave fight it was overpowered at last by numbers and had to give in. But the prince, who was sorry for the poor bird seized the branch of a tree and hit out at the ravens with it terrified at this unexpected onslaught they flew away leaving many of their number dead or wounded on the battlefield. As soon as the eagle saw itself free from its tormentors it plucked a feather from its wing and handing it to the prince said Here, my kind benefactor, take this feather as a proof of my gratitude should you ever be in need of my help blow this feather into the air and I will help you as much as is in my power. Iwanich thanked the bird and placing the feather beside the scale he drove the horses home. Another day he had wandered farther than usual and came close to a farmyard the place pleased the prince and as there was plenty of good grass for the horses he determined to spend the day there. Just as he was sitting down under a tree he heard a cry close to him and saw a fox which had been caught in a trap just there by the farmer. In vain did the poor beast try to free itself then the good-natured prince came once more to the rescue and let the fox out of the trap. The fox thanked him heartily tore two hairs out of his bushy tail and said Should you ever stand in need of my help throw these two hairs into the fire and in a moment I shall be at your side ready to obey you. Iwanich put the fox's hairs with the scale and the feather and as it was getting dark he hastened home with his horses. In the meantime his service was drawing near to an end and in three more days the year was up and he would be able to get his reward and leave the witch. On the first evening of these three last days when he came home and was eating his supper he noticed the old woman stealing into the stables. The prince followed her secretly to see what she was going to do. He crouched down in the doorway and heard the wicked witch telling the horses to wait next morning till Iwanich was asleep and then to go and hide themselves in the river and to stay there till she told them to return and if they didn't do as she told them the old woman threatened to beat them till they bled. When Iwanich heard all this he went back to his room determined that nothing should induce him to fall asleep next day. On the following morning he led the mare and foal to the fields as usual but bound a cord round them both which he kept in his hand. But after a few hours by the magic arts of the old witch he was overpowered by sleep and the mare and foal escaped and did as they had been told to do. The prince did not awake till late in the evening and when he did he found to his horror that the horses had disappeared. Filled with despair he cursed the moment when he had entered the service of the cruel witch and already he saw his head sticking up on the sharp spike beside the others. Then he suddenly remembered the fish's scale which with the eagle's feather and the fox's hairs he always carried about with him. He drew the scale from his pocket and hurrying to the river he threw it in. In a minute the grateful fish swam towards the bank on which Iwanich was standing and said, What do you command, my friend in benefactor? The prince replied, I had to look after a mare and foal and they have run away from me and have hidden themselves in the river. If you wish to save my life drive them back to the land. Wait a moment, answered the fish and I and my friends will soon drive them out of the water. With these words the creature disappeared into the depths of the stream. Almost immediately a rushing hissing sound was heard in the waters, the waves dashed against the banks, the foam was tossed into the air and the two horses leaped suddenly on to the dry land moving and shaking with fear. Iwanich sprang at once on to the mare's back, seized the foal by its bridle and hastened home in the highest spirits. When the witch saw the prince bringing the horses home she could hardly conceal her wrath and as soon as she had placed Iwanich's supper before him she stole away again to the stables. The prince followed her and heard her scolding the beast harshly for not having hidden themselves better. She bade them wait next morning till Iwanich was asleep and then to hide themselves in the clouds and to remain there till she called. If they did not do as she told them she would beat them till they bled. The next morning after Iwanich had led his horses to the fields he fell once more into a magic sleep. The horses at once ran away and hid themselves in the clouds which hung down from the mountains in soft billowy masses. When the prince awoke and found that both the mare and the foal had disappeared he bethought him at once of the eagle and taking the feather out of his pocket he blew it into the air. In a moment the bird swooped down beside him and asked, What do you wish me to do? My mare and foal, replied the prince, have run away from me and have hidden themselves in the clouds. If you wish to save my life restore both animals to me. Wait a minute, answered the eagle, with the help of my friends I will soon drive them back to you. With these words the bird flew it into the air and disappeared among the clouds. Almost directly Iwanich saw his two horses being driven towards him by a host of eagles of all sizes. He caught the mare and foal and having thanked the eagle he drove them cheerfully home again. The old witch was more disgusted than ever when she saw him appearing and having said his supper before him she stole into the stables and Iwanich heard her abusing the horses for not having hidden themselves better in the clouds. Then she bade them hide themselves next morning as soon as Iwanich was asleep in the king's hen house which stood on a lonely part of the heath and to remain there till she called. If they failed to do as she told them she would certainly beat them this time till they bled. On the following morning the prince drove his horses as usual to the fields. After he had been overpowered by sleep as on the former days the mare and foal ran away and hid themselves in the royal hen house. When the prince awoke and found the horses gone he determined to appeal to the fox. So, lighting a fire he threw the two hairs into it and in a few moments the fox stood beside him and asked, In what way can I serve you? I wish to know, replied Iwanich, where the king's hen house is. Hardly an hour's walk from here answered the fox and offered to show the prince the way to it. While they were walking along the fox asked him what he wanted to do at the royal hen house. The prince told him of the misfortune that had befallen him and of the necessity of recovering the mare and foal. That is no easy matter, replied the fox. But wait a moment, I have an idea. Stand at the door of the hen house and wait there for your horses. In the meantime I will slip in among the hens through a hole in the wall and give them a good chase so that the noise they make will arouse the royal henwives and they will come to see what is the matter. When they see the horses they will at once imagine them to be the cause of the disturbance and will drive them out. Then you must lay hands on the mare and foal and catch them. All turned out exactly as the sly fox had foreseen. The prince swung himself on the mare, seized the foal by its bridle and hurried home. While he was riding over the heath and the highest of spirits the mare suddenly said to her rider, You are the first person who has ever succeeded in outwitting the old witch Corva and now you may ask what reward you like for your service. If you promise never to betray me I will give you a piece of advice which you will do well to follow. The prince promised never to betray her confidence and the mare continued, Asked nothing else as a reward than my foal, for it is not its like in the world and is not to be bought for love or money, for it can go from one end of the earth to another in a few minutes. Of course the cunning Corva will do her best to dissuade you from taking the foal and will tell you that it is both idle and sickly but do not believe her and stick to your point. Ewenage longed to possess such an animal and promised the mare to follow her advice. This time Corva received him in the most friendly manner and set a sumptuous repass before him. As soon as he had finished she asked him what reward he demanded for his year's service. Nothing more nor less, replied the prince, than the foal of your mare. The witch pretended to be much astonished at his request and said that he deserved something much better than the foal for the beast was lazy and nervous, blind in one eye and in short was quite worthless. But the prince knew what he wanted and when the old witch saw that he had made up his mind to have the foal, she said, I am obliged to keep my promise and to hand you over the foal and as I know who you are and what you want I will tell you in what way the animal will be useful to you. The man in the cauldron of boiling pitch, whom you set free is a mighty magician. Through your curiosity and thoughtlessness Melissa came into his power and ordered her and her castle and belongings into a distant country. You are the only person who can kill him and in consequence he fears you to such an extent that he has set spies to watch you and they report your movements to him daily. When you have reached him beware of speaking a single word to him or you will fall into the power of his friends. But once by the beard and dash him to the ground he went and thanked the old witch, mounted his foal and put spurs to its sides and they flew like lightning through the air. Already it was growing dark when he went and perceived some figures in the distance they soon came up to them and then the prince saw that it was the magician and his friends who were driving through the air in a carriage drawn by owls. When the magician found himself face to face with Iwenich without hope of escape he turned to him with false friendliness and said, Thrice, my kind benefactor! But the prince, without saying a word, seized him at once by his beard and dashed him to the ground. At the same moment the foal sprang on the top of the magician and kicked and stamped on him with his hoofs till he died. Then Iwenich found himself once more in the palace of his bride and Melissa herself flew into his arms. From this time forward they lived an undisturbed peace and happiness till the end of their lives. End of Chapter 27 Chapter 28 of The Yellow Fairy Book This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Jennifer The Yellow Fairy Book Edited by Andrew Lang Chapter 28 The Magic Ring Once upon a time there lived an old couple who had one son called Martin. Now when the old man's time had come he stretched himself out on his bed and died. Though all his long life was spoiled, he only left his widow and son two hundred florins. The old woman determined to put the money by for a rainy day. But alas the rainy day was close at hand for their meal was all consumed and who is prepared to face starvation with two hundred florins at their disposal. So the old woman counted out a hundred of her florins and giving them to Martin told him to go into the town for a meal for a year. So Martin started off for the town. When he reached the meat market he found the whole place in turmoil and a great noise of angry voices and barking of dogs. Mixing in the crowd he noticed a stag hound which the butchers had caught and tied to a post which was being flogged in a merciless manner. Overcome with pity Martin spoke to the butchers saying why are you beating this poor dog so cruelly? We have ever right to beat him they replied. He has just devoured a newly killed pig. Leave off beating him said Martin and sell him to me instead. If you choose to buy him answered the butchers derisively but for such a treasure we won't take a penny less than a hundred florins. A hundred? exclaimed Martin. Well, so be it if you will not take less and taking the money out of his pocket he handed it over in exchange for the dog whose name was Sherka. When Martin got home his mother met him with the question well, what have you bought? Sherka the dog replied Martin pointing to his new possession whereupon his mother became very angry and abused him roundly. He ought to be ashamed of himself when there was scarcely a handful of meal in the house to have spent the money on a useless brute like that. On the following day she sent him back to the town saying here take our last hundred florins and buy provisions with them I have just emptied the last grains of meal out of the chest and baked at Bannock but it won't last over tomorrow. Just as Martin was entering the town he met a rough looking peasant who was dragging a cat after him by a string which was fastened around the poor beast's neck. Stop! cried Martin where are you dragging that poor cat? I mean to drown him. was the answer what harm has the poor beast done? asked Martin it has just killed a goose replied the peasant don't drown him sell him to me instead begged Martin not for a hundred florins was the answer surely for a hundred florins you'll sell him said Martin see here is the money and so saying he handed him the hundred florins which the peasant pocketed and Martin took possession of the cat which was called wasca when he reached his home his mother greeted him with the question well what if you brought back I have brought this cat wasca answered Martin and what besides I had no money over to buy anything else with replied it Martin you useless never do well exclaimed his mother in a great passion leave the house at once and go and beg your bread amongst strangers and as Martin did not dare to contradict her he called shurka and wasca and started off with them to the nearest village in search of work on the way he met a rich peasant who asked him where he was going I want to get work as a day laborer he answered come along with me then but I must tell you I engage my laborers without wages if you serve me faithfully for a year I promise you I shall be for your advantage so Martin consented and for a year he worked diligently and served his master faithfully not sparing himself in any way when the day of reckoning had come the peasant led him into a barn and pointing to two full sacks said take whichever of these you choose Martin examined the contents of the sacks and seeing that one was full of silver and the other of sand he said to himself hmm there must be some trick about this I had better take the sand and throwing the sack over his shoulders he started out into the world in search of fresh work on and on he walked and at last he reached a great gloomy wood in the middle of the wood he came upon he was burning and in the midst of the fires surrounded by flames was a lovely damsel more beautiful than anything that Martin had ever seen and when she saw him she called to him Martin if you would win happiness save my life extinguish the flames with the sand that you earned in payment of your faithful service truly thought Martin to himself it would be more sensible to save Martin's life with the sand then to drag it about on one's back seeing what a weight it is and forthwith he lowered the sack from his shoulders and emptied its contents on the flame and instantly the fire was extinguished but at the same moment low and behold the lovely damsel turned into a serpent and darting upon him coiled itself around his neck and whispered lovingly in his ear do not be afraid of me Martin I love you and will go with you through the world but first you must follow me boldly into my father's kingdom underneath the earth and when we get there remember this he will offer you gold and silver and dazzling gems but do not touch them ask him instead for the ring which he wears on his little finger for in that ring lies a magic power you have only to throw it from one hand to the other and at once twelve young men will appear who will do your bidding no matter how difficult in a single night so they started on their way and after much wandering they reached a spot where great rock rose straight up in the middle of the road instantly the serpent uncoiled itself from his neck and as it touched the damp earth it resumed the shape of the lovely damsel pointing to the rock she showed him an opening just big enough for a man to wiggle through passing into it they entered a long underground passage which led out onto a wide field above which spread a blue sky in the middle of the field stood a magnificent castle built out of porphyry with a roof of gold and with glittering paddlements and his beautiful guide told him that this was the palace in which her father lived and reigned over his kingdom in the underworld together they entered the palace and were received by the king turning to his daughter he said my child I had almost given up the hope of ever seeing you again where have you been all these years? my father she replied I owe my life to this youth who saved me from a terrible death upon which the king turned to Martin with a gracious smile saying I will reward your courage by granting you whatever your heart desires stick as much gold, silver and precious stones as you choose thank you mighty king for your gracious offer answered Martin but I do not covet either gold, silver or precious stones yet if you will grant me a favor give me I beg the ring from off the little finger of your royal hand every time my eye falls on it I shall think of your gracious majesty my merry I shall present it to my bride so the king took the ring from his finger and gave it to Martin saying take it good youth but with it I make one condition you are never to confide to anyone that this is a magic ring if you do you will straight away bring misfortune on yourself Martin took the ring and having thanked the king he set out on the same road by which he had come down into the underworld when he had regained the upper air he started for his old home and having found his mother still living in the old house where he had left her they settled down together very happily so uneventful was their life that it almost seemed as if it would go on this way always without let or hindrance but one day it suddenly came into his mind that he would like to get married and moreover that he would choose a very grand wife a king's daughter in short but as he did not trust himself as a wooer he determined to send his old mother on the mission you must go to the king he said to her and demand the hand of his lovely daughter in marriage for me what are you thinking of my son answered the old woman aghast at the idea why cannot you marry someone on your own rank that would be far more fitting then to send a poor old woman like me a wooing to the king's court for the hand of a princess why it is as much as our heads are worth neither my life nor yours would be worth anything if I went on such a fool's errand never fear little mother answered martin trust me all will be well but see that you do not come back without an answer of some kind and so obedient to her son's behest the old woman hobbled off to the palace and without being hindered reached the courtyard and began to mount the flight of steps leading to the royal presence chamber at the head of the landing rows of courtiers were collected in magnificent attire who stared at the queer old figure and called to her and explained to her with every kind of sign that it was strictly forbidden to mount those steps but their stern words and forbidding gestures made no impression whatsoever on the old woman and she resolutely continued to climb the stairs bent on carrying out her son's orders upon this some of the courtiers seized her by the arms and held her back by sheer force at which she set up such a yell that the king himself heard it and stepped out on to the balcony to see what was the matter when he beheld the old woman flinging her arms wildly about and hurt her scream that she would not leave the place till she had laid her case before the king he ordered that she should be brought into his presence and forthwith she was conducted into the golden presence chamber where leaning back amongst the cushions of royal purple the king sat surrounded by his counselors and courtiers curtsying low the old woman stood silent before him well my good old dame what can I do for you asked the king I have come replied Martin's mother and your majesty must not be angry with me I have come a wooing is this woman out of her mind said the king with an angry frown but Martin's mother answered boldly if the king will only listen patiently to me and give me a straightforward answer he will see that I am not out of my mind you old king have a lovely daughter to give in marriage I have a son a wooer as clever a youth and as good a son-in-law as you will find in your whole kingdom there is nothing that he cannot do any old king plump and plain will you give your daughter to my son as wife the king listened to the end of the old woman's strange request but every moment his face grew blacker and his features sterner till all at once he thought to himself is it worthwhile that I the king should be angry with this poor old fool and all the courtiers and counselors were amazed when they saw the hard lines round his mouth and the frown on his brow grow smooth and heard the mild but mocking tones in which he answered the old woman saying if your son is as wonderfully clever as you say and if there is nothing in the world that he cannot do let him build a magnificent castle just opposite my palace windows in four and twenty hours the palace must be joined together by a bridge of pure crystal on each side of the bridge there must be growing trees having golden and silver apples and with birds of paradise among the branches at the right of the bridge there must be a church with five golden cupolas in this church and we will keep the wedding festivities in the new castle but if he fails to execute this my royal command then as a just but mild monarch I shall give orders that you and he are taken and first dipped in tar and then in feathers and you shall be executed in the marketplace for the entertainment of my courtiers and a smile played around the king's lips as he finished speaking and his courtiers and counselors shook with laughter when they thought of the old woman's folly and praised the king's wise device and said to each other what a joke it will be when we see the pair of them tarred and feathered the son is just as able to grow a beard on the palm of his hand as to execute such a task in 24 hours now the poor old woman was mortally afraid and in a trembling voice she asked is that really your royal will oh king must I take this order to my poor son yes old dame such is my command if your son carries out my order he shall be rewarded with my daughter but if he fails I will pay to the tar barrel and the stake with you both on her way home the poor old woman shed bitter tears and when she saw martin she told him what the king had said and sobbed out didn't I tell you my son that you should marry someone of your own rank it would have been better for us this day if you had as I told you my going to court has been as much as our lives are worth you will both be tarred and feathered and burnt in the public marketplace it is terrible she moaned and cried never fear little mother answered martin trust me and you will see all will be well you may go to sleep with a quiet mind and stepping to the front of the hut martin threw his ring from the palm of one hand into the other upon which twelve youths instantly appeared and demanded what he wanted them to do then he told them the king's commands and they answered that by next morning all should be accomplished exactly as the king had ordered next morning when the king awoke and looked out of his window to his amazement he beheld a magnificent castle just opposite his own palace and joined to it a bridge of pure crystal at each side of the bridge trees were growing from whose branches hung golden and silver apples among which birds of paradise perched at the bright gleaming in the sun were the five golden cupolas of a splendid church whose bells rang out as if they would summon people from all corners of the earth to come and behold the wonder now though the king would much rather have seen his future son-in-law tarred, feathered and burnt at the stake he remembered his royal oaf and had to make the best of a bad business so he took heart of grace and made Martin a duke and gave his daughter a rich dowry and prepared the grandest wedding feast that had ever been seen so that to this day the old people in the country still talk of it after the wedding his royal bride went to dwell in the magnificent new palace and here Martin lived in the greatest comfort and luxury such luxury as he had never imagined but though he was as happy as the day was long and as merry as a greg the king's daughter fretted all day thinking of the indignity that had been done her in making her marry Martin the poor widow's son and her rich young prince from a foreign country so unhappy was she that she spent all her time wondering how she would get rid of her undesirable husband and first she determined to learn the secret of his power and with flattering caressing words she tried to coax him to tell her how he was so clever that there was nothing in the world that he could not do at first he would tell her nothing but once when he was in a yielding mood she approached him with a winning smile on her lovely face and speaking flattering words to him she gave him a potion to drink with a sweet strong taste and when he had drunk it Martin's lips were unsealed and he told her that all his power lay in the magic ring that he wore on his finger to use it and still speaking he fell into a deep sleep and when she saw that the potion had worked and that he was sound asleep the princess took the magic ring from his finger and going into the courtyard she threw it from the palm of one hand into the other on the instant the twelve youths appeared and asked her what she commanded them to do then she told them that by the next morning they were to do away with the castle and the bridge and the church and put in their stead the humble hut in which Martin used to live with his mother and that while she slept her husband was to be carried to his old lowly room and that they were to bear her away to the utmost ends of the earth where an old king lived who would make her welcome in his palace and surround her with the state that befitted a royal princess you shall be obeyed answered the twelve youths at the same moment and lo and behold the following morning when the king awoke and looked out of his window he beheld to his maisman that the palace, bridge, church and trees had all vanished and there was nothing in their place but a bare miserable looking hut immediately the king sent for his son-in-law and commanded him to explain what had happened but Martin looked at his royal father-in-law and answered never a word then the king was very angry and calling a council together he charged Martin with having been guilty of witchcraft and of having deceived the king and having made away with the princess and he was condemned to imprisonment in a high stone tower with neither meat nor drink till he should die of starvation then in the hour of his dire necessity his old friends Shurka, the dog and Waska, the cat remembered how Martin had once saved them from a cruel death and they took council together as to how they should help him and Shurka growled and was of the opinion that he would like to tear everyone to pieces but Waska purred meditatively and touched the back of her ear with a velvet paw and remained lost in thought at the end of a few minutes she had made up her mind and turning to Shurka said let us go together into the town and the moment we meet a baker you must make a rush between his legs and upset the tray from off his head I will lay hold of the rolls and will carry them off to our master no sooner said than done together the two faithful creatures trotted off into the town and very soon they met a baker bearing a tray on his head and looking round on all sides while he cried out fresh rolls, sweet cake fancy bread of every kind come and buy come and take sure you'll find it to your mind at that moment Shurka made a rush between his legs the baker stumbled the tray was upset the rolls fell to the ground and while the man angrily pursued Shurka Waska managed to drag the rolls out of sight behind a bush and when a moment later Shurka joined her they set off at full tilt to the stone tower where Martin was a prisoner taking the rolls with them Waska being very agile climbed up by the outside to the gated window called in an anxious voice are you alive master? scarcely alive almost starved to death answered Martin in a weak voice I little thought it would come to this that I should die of hunger never fear dear master Shurka and I will look after you said Waska and in another moment she had climbed down and brought him back a roll and then another and another till she had brought him the whole tray load upon which she said dear master Shurka and I are going off to a distant kingdom at the utmost ends of the earth to fetch you back your magic ring you must be careful that the rolls last till our return and Waska took leave of her beloved master and set off with Shurka on their journey on and on they traveled looking always to right and left for traces of the princess following up every track making inquiries of every cat and dog they met listening to the talk of every wayfarer they passed and at last they heard that the kingdom at the utmost ends of the earth where the twelve youths had born the princess was not very far off and at last one day they reached that distant kingdom and going at once to the palace they began to make friends with all the cats and dogs in the place and to question them about the princess and the magic ring but no one could tell them much about either now one day a chance that Waska had gone down to the palace sell her to hunt for mice and rats and seeing an especially fat well fed mouse she pounced upon it buried her claws in its soft fur and was just going to gobble it up when she was stopped by the pleading of the little creature saying if you will only spare my life I may be of great service to you I will do everything in my power for you for I am the king of the mice and if I perish the whole race will die out so be it said Waska I will spare your life but in return you must do something for me in this castle there lives a princess the wicked wife of my dear master she has stolen away his magic ring you must get it away from her at whatever cost do you hear till you have done this I will not take my claws out of your fur good replied the mouse I will do what you ask and so saying he summoned all the mice in his kingdom together a countless number of mice small and big brown and gray assembled and formed a circle around their king who was a prisoner under Waska's claws turning to them he said dear and faithful subjects whoever among you will steal the magic ring from the strange princess will release me from a cruel death and I shall honor him above all the other mice in the kingdom instantly a teeny mouse stepped forward and said I have been creeped about the princess's bedroom at night and I have noticed that she has a ring that she treasures as the apple of her eye all day she wears it on her finger and at night she keeps it in her mouth I will undertake Sire to steal away the ring for you and the teeny mouse tripped away into the bedroom at the princess and waited for nightfall then when the princess had fallen asleep it crept up onto her bed and not a hole in the pillow through which it dragged one by one little down feathers and threw them under the princess's nose and the fluff flew into the princess's nose and into her mouth and starting up she sneezed and coughed and the ring fell out of her mouth onto the coverlet in a flash the teeny mouse had seized it and brought it to Waska as a ransom for the king of the mice where Pound Waska and Shurko started off and traveled night and day till they reached the stone tower where Martin was imprisoned and the cat opened up the window and called out to him Martin dear master are you still alive ah Waska my faithful little cat is that you replied a weak voice I am dying of hunger for three days I have not tasted food be of good heart dear master replied Waska from this day forth you will know nothing but happiness and prosperity if this were a moment to trouble you with riddles I would make you guess what Shurko and I have brought you back only think we have got your ring at these words Martin's joy knew no bounds and he stroked her fondly and she rubbed up against him and purred happily while below Shurko bounded in the air and barked joyfully then Martin took the ring from one hand into the other and instantly the twelve youths appeared and asked what they were to do fetch me for something to eat and drink as quickly as possible and after that bring musicians Heather and let us have music all day long now when the people in the town and palace heard music coming from the tower they were filled with amazement and came to the king with the news that witchcraft must be going on in Martin's tower for instead of dying of starvation he was seemingly making merry to the sound of music and to the clatter of plates and glass and knives and forks and the music was so enchantingly sweet that all the passersby stood still to listen to it on this the king sent at once a messenger to the starvation tower and he was so astonished with what he saw that he remained rooted to the spot then the king sent his chief counselors and they too were transfixed with wonder at last the king came himself and he likewise was spelled down by the beauty of the music then Martin summoned the twelve youths spoke to them saying bring up my castle again and join it to the king's palace with a crystal bridge do not forget the trees with golden and silver apples with birds of paradise in the branches and put back the church with the five cupolas and let the bells ring out summoning the people from the four corners of the kingdom and one more thing bring back my faithless wife and lead her into the women's chamber and it was all done as he commanded and leaving the starvation tower he took the king his father-in-law by the arm and led him into the new palace where the princess sat in fear and trembling awaiting her death and Martin spoke to the king saying king and royal father I have suffered much at the hands of your daughter what punishment shall be dealt to her then the mild king answered beloved prince and son-in-law if you love me let your anger be turned to grace forgive my daughter and restore her to your heart in favor and Martin's heart was softened and he forgave his wife and they lived happily together ever after and his old mother came and lived with him never parted with Sherka and Waska and I need hardly tell you that he never again let the ring out of his possession End of Chapter 28 Recording by Jennifer Hilo, Hawaii The Yellow Fairy Book Edited by Andrew Lang Chapter 29 The Flower Queen's Daughter From the Bucco Winier Von Williolocchi A young prince was riding one day through a meadow that stretched four miles in front of him when he came to a deep open ditch he was turning aside to avoid it when he heard the sound of someone crying in the ditch he dismounted from his horse and the action the sound came from to his astonishment he found an old woman who begged him to help her out of the ditch the prince bent down and lifted her out of her living grave asking her at the same time how she had managed to get there My son answered the old woman I am a very poor woman and soon after midnight I set out for the neighboring town in order to sell my eggs in the market on the following morning but I lost my way in the dark and fell into this deep ditch where I might have remained forever but for your kindness then the prince said to her you can hardly walk I will put you on my horse and lead you home where do you live over there at the edge of the forest in the little hut you see in the distance the prince lifted her onto his horse and soon they reached the hut where the old woman got down and turning to the prince said just wait a moment and I will give you something and she disappeared into her hut but returned very soon and said you are a mighty prince but at the same time you have a kind heart which deserves to be rewarded would you like to have the most beautiful woman in the world wife? most certainly I would replied the prince so the old woman continued the most beautiful woman in the world is the daughter of the queen of the flowers who has been captured by a dragon if you wish to marry her you must first set her free and this I will help you to do I will give you this little bell if you ring it once the king of the eagles will appear if you ring it twice the king of the foxes will come to you and if you ring it three times you will see the king of the fishes by your side these will help you if you are in any difficulty now farewell and heaven prosper your undertaking she handed him the little bell and there disappeared hut and all as though the earth had swallowed her up he was so stunned on the prince that he had been speaking to a good fairy and putting the little bell carefully in his pocket he rode home and told his father that he meant to set the daughter of the flower queen free and intended setting out on the following day into the wide world in search of the maid so the next morning the prince mounted his fine horse and left his home he had roamed around the world for a whole year and his horse had died of exhaustion his wife had suffered much from want and misery but still he had come on no trace of her he was in search of at last one day he came to a hut in front of which sat a very old man the prince asked him do you not know where the dragon lives who keeps the daughter of the flower queen prisoner no I do not answered the old man but if you go straight along this road for a year you will breach a hut where my father lives and possibly he may be able to tell you the prince thanked him for his information and continued his journey for a whole year along the same road and at the end of it came to the little hut where he found a very old man he asked him the same question and the old man answered no I do not know where the dragon lives but go straight along this road for another year and you will come to a hut in which my father lives I know he can help you and so the prince wandered on for another year always on the same road and at last reached the hut where he found the third old man he put the same question to him as he had put to his son and grandson but this time the old man answered the dragon lives up there on the mountain and he has just begun his year of sleep for one whole year he is always awake and the next he sleeps but if you wish to see the flower queen's daughter go up the second mountain the dragon's old mother is there and she has a ball every night to which the flower queen's daughter goes regularly so the prince went up the second mountain where he found a castle all made of gold with diamond windows he opened the big gate leading into the courtyard and was just going to walk in when seven dragons rushed on him and asked him what he wanted the prince replied so much of the beauty and kindness of the dragon's mother and would like to enter her surface this flattering speech pleased the dragons and the eldest of them said well you may come with me and I will take you to the mother dragon they entered the castle and walked through twelve splendid halls all made of gold and diamonds in the twelfth room they found the mother dragon seated on a diamond throne she was the ugliest woman under the sun and added to it all she had three heads her appearance was a great shock to the prince and so was her voice which was like the croaking of many ravens she asked him why have you come here the prince answered at once I have heard so much of your beauty and kindness that I would very much like to enter your service very well said the mother dragon but if you wish to enter my service you must first lead my mare out to the meadow and look after her for three days but if you don't bring her home safely every evening we will eat you up the prince undertook the task and led the mare out to the meadow but no sooner had they reached the grass than she vanished the prince sought her in vain and at last in despair sat down on a big stone and contemplated his sad fate as he sat thus lost in thought he noticed an eagle flying over his head then he suddenly befought him of his little bell and taking it out of his pocket he rang at once in a moment he heard a rustling sound in the air beside him and the king of the eagles said I know what you want of me the bird said you are looking for the mother dragon's mare who is galloping about among the clouds I will summon all the eagles of the air together and order them to catch the mare and bring her to you and with these words the king of the eagles flew away towards evening the prince heard a mighty rushing sound in the air and when he looked up he saw thousands of eagles driving the mare before them they sank at his feet onto the ground and gave the mare over to him then the prince rode home to the old mother dragon who was full of wonder when she saw him and said you have succeeded today in looking after my mare and as a reward you shall come to my ball tonight she gave him at the same time a cloak made of copper and led him to a big room where young he-dragons and she-dragons were dancing together here too was the flower queen's beautiful daughter her dress was woven out of the most lovely flowers in the world and her complexion was like lilies and roses as the prince was dancing with her he managed to whisper in her ear I have come to set you free then the beautiful girl said to him if you succeed in bringing the mare back safely the third day ask the mother dragon to give you a full of the mare as a reward the ball came to an end at midnight and early next morning the prince again led the mother dragon's mare out into the meadow but again she vanished before his eyes then he took out his little bell and rang it twice in a moment the king of the foxes stood before him and said I already know what you want and I will summon all the foxes of the world together to find the mare who has hidden herself in a hill with these words the king of the foxes disappeared and in the evening many thousand foxes brought the mare to the prince then he rode home to the mother dragon from whom he received this time a cloak made of silver and again she led him to the ballroom the flower queen's daughter was delighted to see him safe and sound and when they were dancing together she whispered in his ear Harrow, wait for me with the full in the meadow after the ball we will fly away together on the third day the prince led the mare to the meadow again but once more she vanished before his eyes then the prince took out his little bell and rang it three times in a moment the king of the fishes appeared and said to him I know quite well what you want me to do and I will summon all the people of the sea together and tell them to bring you back the mare who is hiding herself in a river towards evening the mare was returned to him and when he led her home to the mother dragon she said to him you are a brave youth and I will make you my body servant but what shall I give you as a reward to begin with the prince begged for a full of the mare the mother dragon at once gave him and over and above a cloak made of gold for she had fallen in love with him because he had praised her beauty so in the evening he appeared at the ball in his golden cloak but before the entertainment was over he slipped away and went straight to the stables where he mounted his foal and rode out into the meadow to wait for the flower queen's daughter towards midnight the beautiful girl appeared and placing her in front of him the prince and she flew like the wind till they reached the flower queen's dwelling but the dragons had noticed their flight and woke their brother out of his years sleep he flew into a terrible rage when he heard what had happened and determined to lay siege to the flower queen's palace but the queen caused a force to flowers as high as the sky to grow up around her dwelling through which no one could force away when the flower queen heard that her daughter wanted to marry the prince she said to him I will give my consent to your marriage gladly but my daughter can only stay with you in summer in winter when everything is dead and the ground covered with snow she must come and live with me in my palace underground the prince consented to this and led his beautiful bride home where the wedding was held with great pomp and magnificence the young couple lived happily together when the flower queen's daughter departed and went home to her mother in summer she returned to her husband and their life of joy and happiness began again and lasted till the approach of winter when the flower queen's daughter went back again to her mother this coming and going continued all her life long and in spite of it they always lived happily together End of Chapter 29 Recording by Jennifer Hilo Hawaii Chapter 30 of the Yellow Fairy Book this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Craig Stinson The Yellow Fairy Book edited by Andrew Lang Chapter 30 The Flying Ship The Flying Ship from the Russian Once upon a time there lived an old couple who had three sons the two elder were clever but the third was a regular dunce the clever sons were very fond of their mother gave her good clothes and always spoke pleasantly to her but the youngest was always getting in her way and she had no patience with him now one day it was announced in the village that the king had issued a decree offering his daughter, the princess in marriage to whoever should build a ship that could fly immediately the two elder brothers determined to try their luck and asked their parents blessing so the old mother smartened up their clothes and gave them a store of provisions for their journey not forgetting to add a bottle of brandy when they had gone the poor Simpleton began to tease his mother to smarten him up and let him start off what would become of a don't like you she answered why you would be eaten up by wolves but the foolish youth kept repeating I will go, I will go seeing that she could do nothing with him the mother gave him a crust of bread and a bottle of water and took no further heed of him so the Simpleton set off on his way when he had gone a short distance he met a little old mannequin they greeted one another and the mannequin asked him where he was going I am off to the king's court he answered he has promised to give his daughter to whoever can make a flying ship and can you make such a ship not I then why in the world are you going can't tell, replied the Simpleton well, if that is the case said the mannequin sit down beside me we can rest for a little and have something to eat give me what you have got in your satchel now the poor Simpleton was ashamed to show what was in it however he thought it best not to make a fuss so he opened the satchel he believed his own eyes for instead of the hard crust he saw two beautiful fresh rolls and some cold meat he shared them with the mannequin who licked his lips and said now go into that wood and stop in front of the first tree bow three times and then strike the tree with your axe fall on your knees on the ground with your face on the earth and remain there till you are raised up you will then find a ship at your side step into it and fly to the king's palace if you meet anyone along the way take him with you the Simpleton thanked the mannequin very kindly bat him farewell and went into the road when he got to the first tree he stopped in front of it did everything just as he had been told and kneeling on the ground with his face to the earth fell asleep after a little time he was aroused he awoke and rubbing his eyes saw a ready-made ship at his side and it once got into it and the ship rose and rose and in another minute was flying through the air when the Simpleton, who was on the lookout cast his eyes down to the earth and saw a man beneath him on the road who was kneeling with his ear upon the damp ground hello he cried out what are you doing down there I am listening to what is going on in the world replied the man with me in my ship, said the Simpleton so the man was only too glad and got him beside him and the ship flew and flew and flew through the air till again from his outlook the Simpleton saw a man on the road below who was hopping on one leg while his other leg was tied up behind his ear so he hailed him calling out hello what are you doing hopping on one leg I can't help it replied the man I walk so fast that unless I tied up one leg I should be at the end of the earth in a bound come with us on my ship he answered and the man made no objections but joined them and the ship flew on and on and on till suddenly the Simpleton looking down on the road below beheld a man aiming a gun into the distance hello he shouted to him what are you aiming at as far as I can see there is no bird in sight what would be the good of my taking a near shot replied the man I can hit beast or bird at a hundred miles distance that is the kind of shot I enjoy come into the ship with us answered the Simpleton and the man was only too glad to join them and he got in and the ship flew on farther and farther till again the Simpleton from his outlook saw a man on the road below carrying on his back a basket full of bread and he waved to him calling out hello where are you going to fetch bread for my breakfast bread why you have got a whole basket load of it on your back that's nothing answered the man I should finish that in one mouthful come along with us in my ship then and so the glutton joined the party and the ship mounted again into the air and flew up and onward till the Simpleton from his outlook saw a man walking by the shore of a great lake and evidently looking for something hello he cried to him what are you seeking I want water to drink I'm so thirsty replied the man well there's a whole lake in front of you why don't you drink some of that do you call that enough answered the other why I should drink it up in one gulp well come with us in the ship and so the mighty drinker was added to the company and the ship flew farther and even farther till again the Simpleton looked out and this time he saw a man dragging a bundle of wood walking through the forest beneath them hello he shouted to him why are you carrying wood through a forest this is not common wood answered the other what sort of wood is it then said the Simpleton if you throw it upon the ground said the man it will be changed into an army of soldiers come into the ship with us then and so he too joined them and away the ship flew on and on and on and once more the Simpleton looked out and this time he saw a man carrying straw upon his back hello where are you carrying that straw to to the village said the man do you mean to say there is no straw in the village ah but this is quite a peculiar straw if you shoot about even in the hottest summer the air at once becomes cold and snow falls and the people freeze then the Simpleton asked him also to join them at last the ship with its strange crew arrived at the king's court the king was having his dinner but he at once dispatched one of his courtiers to find out what the huge strange new bird could be that had come flying through the air the courtier peeped into the ship and seeing what it was instantly went back to the king it was a flying ship and that it was manned by a few peasants then the king remembered his royal oath but he made up his mind that he would never consent to let the princess marry a poor peasant so he thought and thought and then said to himself I will give him some impossible tasks to perform that will be the best way of getting rid of him and he there and then decided to dispatch one of his courtiers to the Simpleton the command that he was to fetch the king the healing water from the world's end before he had finished his dinner but while the king was still instructing the courtier exactly what he was to say the first man of the ship's company the one with the miraculous power of hearing had overheard the king's words and hastily reported them to the poor Simpleton alas alas he cried what am I to do now it would take me quite a year possibly my whole life to find the water never fear said his fleet-footed comrade I will fetch what the king wants just then the courtier arrived bearing the king's command tell his majesty said the Simpleton that his orders shall be obeyed and forthwith the swift runner unbound the foot that was strung up behind his ear and started off and in less than no time had reached the world's end and drawn the water from the well dear me he thought to himself that's rather tiring I'll just rest for a few minutes it will be some little time yet before the king has got to desert so he threw himself down on the grass and as the sun was very dazzling he closed his eyes and in a few seconds had fallen sound asleep in the meantime all the ship's crew were anxiously awaiting him the king's dinner would soon be finished and had not yet returned so the man with the marvellous quick hearing lay down and putting his ear to the ground listened that's a nice sort of fellow he suddenly exclaimed he's lying on the ground snoring hard at this the marksman seized his gun took aim and fired in the direction of the world's end in order to awaken the sluggard and a moment later the swift runner reappeared and stepping on board the ship handed the healing water to the Simpleton so while the king was still sitting at table finishing his dinner news was brought to him that his orders had been obeyed to the letter what was to be done now? the king determined to think of a still more impossible task so he told another courtier to go to the Simpleton with the command that he and his comrades were instantly to eat up twelve oxen and twelve tons of bread once more the sharp-eared comrade overheard the king's words while he was still at the courtier and reported them to the Simpleton alas alas he sighed what in the world shall I do why it would take us a year possibly our whole lives to eat up twelve oxen and twelve tons of bread never fear said the glutton it will be scarcely enough for me I'm so hungry so when the courtier arrived with the royal message he was told to take back word to the king that his orders should be obeyed then twelve roasted oxen and twelve tons of bread were brought alongside of the ship and at one sitting the glutton had devoured it all I call that a small meal he said I wish they'd brought me some more next the king ordered that forty casks of wine containing forty gallons each were to be drunk up on the spot by the Simpleton and his party when these words were overheard by the sharp-eared comrade and repeated to the Simpleton he was in despair alas alas he exclaimed what is to be done it would take us a year possibly our whole lives to drink so much never fear said his thirsty comrade I'll drink it all up in a gulp see if I don't and sure enough when the forty casks of wine containing forty gallons each were brought alongside of the ship they disappeared down the thirsty comrade's throat in no time they were empty he remarked I am still thirsty I should have been glad of two more casks then the king took counsel with himself and sent an order to the Simpleton that he was to have a bath in a bathroom at the royal palace and after that the betrothal should take place now the bathroom was built of iron and the king gave orders that it was to be heeded to such a pitch that it would suffocate the Simpleton and so when the poor silly youth entered the room he discovered that the iron walls were red hot but fortunately his comrade with a straw on his back had entered behind him and when the door was shut upon him he scattered the straw about and suddenly the red hot walls cooled down and it became so very cold that the Simpleton could scarcely bear to take a bath and all the water in the room froze so the Simpleton climbed up upon the stove and wrapping himself up in the bath blankets lay there the whole night and in the morning when they opened the door there he lay sound and safe singing cheerfully to himself now when this strange tale was told to the king he became quite sad not knowing what he should do to get rid of so undesirable a son-in-law when suddenly a brilliant idea occurred to him tell the rascal to raise me an army now at this instant he exclaimed to one of his courtiers to inform him once of this my royal will and to himself he added I think I shall do for him this time as on former occasions the quick-eared comrade had overheard the king's command and repeated it to the Simpleton alas! alas! he groaned now I am quite done for not at all replied one of his comrades the one who had dragged the bundle of wood through the forest have you quite forgotten me at this time the courtier who had run all the way from the palace reached the ship panting and breathless and delivered the king's message good remarked the Simpleton I will raise an army for the king and he drew himself up but if after that the king refuses to accept me as his son-in-law I will wage war against him and carry the princess off by force during the night the Simpleton and his comrade went together into a big field not forgetting to take the bundle of wood with them which the man spread out in all directions and in a moment a mighty army stood upon the spot regiment on regiment of foot and horse soldiers the bugles sounded and the drums beat the chargers nade and their riders put their lances in rest and the soldiers presented arms in the morning when the king awoke he was startled by these warlike sounds the bugles and the drums and the clatter of the horses and the shouts of the soldiers jumping to the window he saw the lances gleam in the sunlight and the armor and weapons glitter and the proud monarch said to himself I am powerless in comparison with this man so he sent him royal robes and costly jewels and commanded him to come to the palace to be married to the princess and his son-in-law put on the royal robes and he looked so grand and stately that it was impossible to recognize the poor Simpleton so changed was he fell in love with him as soon as ever she saw him never before had so grand a wedding been seen and there was so much food and wine that even the glutton and the thirsty comrade had enough to eat and drink End of Chapter 30