 Chapter 5 The Black Thief and Knight of the Glen 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, and 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. 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 requests I ask of you is that you will build tower in an island in the sea wherein you will keep your three sons until they are 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 of past time requisite for king's sons to learn. This is all I have to say, so farewell. 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. There was greater mourning seen than was throughout the court in 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 pop 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. In the process of time the lords and knights of the kingdom counseled 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, a neighboring king'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, and so much that the late queen, in a manner, was entirely forgotten. That fared well, and king and queen lived happy together for several years. 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 doth. It was worth your while, madam, says the hen-wife. Do pay me well for it. For the reason I prayed so on you concerns you much. What must I pay you? asked the queen. You must give me, says she, 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. How much wool will it take to the pack? says the queen. It will take seven herds of sheep, said she, and their increase for seven years. How much butter will it take to fill your crock? Seven dairies, said she, and their increase for seven years. And how much will it take to fill the barrel you have? says the queen. It will take the increase of seven barrels of wheat for seven years. That is a great quantity, says the queen. But the reason must be extraordinary, and before I want it I will give you all you demand. Well, says the hen-wife, it is because you are so stupid that you don't observe or find out those affairs that are so dangerous and hurtful to yourself and your child. What is that? says the queen. Why? says she. 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't find some means of destroying them, your child and perhaps yourself will be left desolate in the end. And what would you advise me to do? said she. I am holy at a loss in what manner to act in this affair. You must make known to the king, says the hen-wife, 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 court. The king will then do so. There will be a great feast prepared on that account, and also diversions of every sort to amuse the people. And in these sports, said she, ask the king's son to play a game at cards with you, which they will not refuse. Now, says the hen-wife, 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, says she, that I am thinking you will not lose by. 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 she 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. The queen, more jealous with them than ever, didn't age until all the feasting and rejoicing was over, that she might get making her proposal, depending greatly on the power of her hen-wife'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. They accepted the challenge, the eldest son and she played the first game, which she won, then the second son played, and she won the 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. However, everyone was anxious to hear the queen'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 a must-go and bring her the night of the glens wild steed of bells, or they should lose their heads. 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. My brothers, says he, are now going to travel, and, as I understand, a perilous journey wherein they know not what road to take or what may happen to them. I am resolved, therefore, not to stay here, but to go with them, let what will be tied. 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. All things being now fixed, the three princes departed the court in search of the night of the Glen's Palace, and traveling along the road that 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. I am called, said he, the thief of Sloan, and sometimes the black thief from my cap. And so telling the prince the most of his adventures, he asked him again where they were bound for or what they were about. The prince, willing to gratify his request, told him their affairs from the beginning to the end. And now, said he, we are traveling and do not know whether we are on the right road or not. Ah, my brave fellows, says the black thief, 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 of 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 night of the Glen are boiled in a red hot, fiery furnace. Bless me, says the young prince. 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. Well, says the thief of Sloan, if it were my case, I would rather die by the night 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. 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 night's castle. Now, says he, 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 night keeps here. Accordingly, in the dead hour of the night, the king'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 made most terribly and shook himself so, and the bells rung with such noise that the night and all his men were up in a moment. The black thief and the king's sons thought to make their escape, but they were suddenly surrounded by the night's guards and taken prisoners, where they were brought into that dismal part of the palace where the night kept the furnace always boiling, in which he threw all offenders that ever came in his way, which in a few moments would entirely consume them. Audacious villains, says the Knight of the Glem, 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. So, saying, he ordered his servants to stir up the fire. We will boil the eldest looking of these young men first, said he, 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. I was as near death once as the Prince is yet, says the Black Thief, and escaped, and so will he too. No, you never were, said the Knight, for he is within two or three minutes of his latter end. But, says the Black Thief, I was within one moment of my death, and I am here yet. How was that, says the Knight? I would be glad to hear it, for it seems impossible. If you think, sir Knight, says the Black Thief, that the danger I was in surpasses that of this young man, will you pardon him his crime? I will, says the Knight, so go on with your story. I was, sir, says he, 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 when 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. I had not gone far, continued the Thief of Sloan, until I saw a gray hound, a hare, and a hawk in pursuit of me, and began to think it must be the witches that had taken the shapes and order that I might not escape them on scene, 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 broadsword 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's anvil, and another into a piece of iron, of which the third soon made a hatchet. Having the hatchet made, she felt a 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. Now, sir, says he to the Night of the Glen. 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 you yourself. Well, I cannot say, but it is very extraordinary, says the Night of the Glen, and on that account pardon this young man his crime, so stir up the fire till I boil the second one. Indeed, says the Black Thief, I would faint think he would not die this time, either. How so, says the Night, it is impossible for him to escape. I escaped death more wonderfully myself, says the Thief of Sloan, than if you had him ready to throw into the furnace, and I hope it will be the case with them likewise. Why, have you been in another great danger? says the Night. 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. My way of living, sir, says the Black Thief, 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 neighborhood 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 would not be the bishop'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 him as fortunate 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 God, 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 peace 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 would miss, I slipped out, and once away and still away, but they never had the black thief in their power since. Well, my brave fellow, says the night of the glen, 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. That happens well, says the thief of Sloan, for I like him best myself, and have reserved the most curious passage for the last on his account. Well then, says the night, let us hear it. I was one day on my travels, says the black thief, 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 was 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. It is well for you, says the young woman, that the lord of this castle is not at home and present, for he is a monstrous giant with but one eye on his forehead, who lives on human flesh. He brought me this child, says she, and do not know where he got it, and ordered me to make it into a pie, and I cannot help crying at the command. 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. She told me of a house a distance off, where I would get a woman who would take care of it. But what will I do in regard of the pie? Cut a finger off it, said I. 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. She agreed to the scheme I proposed, and cutting off the child'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. Bless me. Said she. 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 rust if he has occasion to go that way. 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 a town before him, he swore it smelled like swine's flush, 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 sharpen in his knife and saying he must have a coloper, too, 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 a 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 and great abundance, so that in a short time he could not hold up his head, but threw himself on a large kreel 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 her handkerchief, and taking the giant spit, reddened it in the fire, and ran it through the eye. It was not able to kill him. 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. 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-pout that was convenient. The giant called again to the ring, but 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 overhead in ears and was drowned. Now, Sir Knight, says the Thief of Sloan, you see what dangers I came through and always escaped, but indeed I am lame for the want of my toe ever since. My Lord and Master, says an old woman that was listening all the time, that story is but too true, as I well know, for I am the very woman that was in the giant'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. The Knight of the Glen greatly surprised at what he had heard from the old woman tell, and knowing he wanted his finger from his childhood, began to understand that the story was true enough. And is this my deliverer, says he, 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. 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. Well, says the Knight of the Glen, if that'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 but times, that we may know each other well. They promised they would, and with great joy they set off for the king, their father's palace, and the Black Thief along with them. 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. The three princes lived happy and well during their father's reign, and always keeping the Black Thief along with them, but how they did after the old king's death is not known. The Red 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 Darla Ely The Red Fairy Book by Andrew Lang Chapter 6 The Master Thief There was, once upon a time, a husband man who had three sons. He had no property to plead to them, and no means of putting them in the way of getting a living. He did not know what to do. So he said that they had his leave to take to anything they most fancy, 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. He 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. Good evening, mother, said the youth. Good evening, said the old woman. Who, Tatoo, it is terrible weather outside tonight, said the young fellow. Indeed it is, said the old woman. Can I sleep here and have shelter for the night? asked the youth. It wouldn't be good for you to sleep here, said the old hag, for if the people of the house come home and find you, they will kill both you and me. What kind of people are they, then, who dwell here? said the youth. Oh, robbers and gravel of that sort, said the old woman. They stole me away when I was little, and I have had to keep house for them ever since. I still think I will go to bed, all the same, said the youth. No matter what happens, I'll not go out tonight in such weather as this. Well, then, it would be the worst for yourself, said the old woman. 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'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. Did you see if he had any money, said the robbers? If he does not want to have money, he is a tramp. If he has a few clothes to his back, that is all. 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 asked them if they did not want a man serving, for he could find pleasure enough in serving them. Yes, said they. If you have a mind to take to the trade that we follow, you may have a place here. It's all the same to me what trade I follow, said the youth. For when I came away from my home, my father gave me leave to take to any trade I fancy. Have you a fancy for stealing, then? said the robbers. Yes, said the boy, for he thought that it was a trade which would not take long to learn. 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. That's a brave shoe, said he. 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 humor for once. For he had a wife who was so cross and ill-tempered that the time between the beating she gave him was very short. But then he even thought 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. 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. I will just run back again and fetch it now," he said to himself, 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. 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. 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 he 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's knowing about it and went on his way to the town with it, but the robbers 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. Well, that will not be a very hard thing to do, thought the youth. 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 rope 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. What a hard lot yours must have been to make you hang yourself, said he. Ah, well, you may hang there for me. I can't breathe life into you again. So on he went with his ox. Then the youth sprang down from the tree, ran by a shortcut and got before him and once more hung himself up on a tree in the road before the man. 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's before me. Said the man. Ah, well, you may hang there for me, whether you are a hobgoblin or not. And on he went with his ox. Once more the youth did just as he had done twice already, jumped down from the tree, ran by a shortcut through the wood and again hanged himself in the very middle of the road before him. But when the man once more saw this, he said to himself, What a bad business this is. Can they all have been so heavy-hearted that they have all three hanged themselves? No, I can't believe that it is anything but witchcraft. But I will know the truth, he said. If the two others are still hanging there, it is true. But if they are not, it's nothing else but witchcraft. 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. Anyone 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 alas, 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 recognized 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 the 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, vessels of gold and of silver, and clothes and other magnificent things, 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 traveling when he came to the robbers, and when he had got very near home and was inside 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 generals, 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. No indeed you can't, said his father. 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. You were always a hard man, said the youth, and hard you are still if you refuse to let your own son come into your house. Are you my son? said the man. Do you not know me again then? said the youth. Then he recognized him and said, But what trade have you taken that has made you such a great man in so short a time? Oh, that I will tell you, answered the youth. 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. Now the governor of the province lived by his father'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. If he asks what trade I follow, you may say that I am a master thief, said he. I think you must be crazy, said the man, for you can't be in your senses if you think of anything so foolish. You must go to the governor and beg for his daughter. There is no help, said the youth. But I dare not go to the governor and say this. He is so rich and has so much wealth of all kinds, said the man. There is no help for it, said the master thief. Go you must, whether you like it or not. If I can't get you to go by using good words, I will soon make you go with bad ones. But the man was still unwilling, so the master thief followed him. Threatening him was a great birch-stick, till he went weeping and wailing through the door to the governor of the province. Now, my man, and what's amiss with you, said the governor. The governor himself and everyone in the house was in the kitchen keeping watch over the joint. While they were doing this, the youth let one of the hair slip out of his bag, and the outfit sat and began to run around the yard. Just look at that hair, said the people in the kitchen, and wanted to go out and catch it. The governor saw it, too, but said, Oh, let it go. It's no use to think of catching a hair when it's running away. It was not long before the youth let another hair 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. Very soon afterwards, however, the youth let slip the third hair, and it set off and ran round and round the courtyard. The people in the kitchen saw this, too, and believed it was still the same hair that was running about, so they wanted to go out and catch it. It's a remarkably fine hair, said the governor. Come and let us see if we can get a hold of it. Out he went, and the others with him, and away went the hair, and they after it in real earnest. 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 hair, 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. For my part, said the priest, I can't imagine myself being made a fool of by such a fellow as that. Well, I advise you to be careful, said the governor, for he may be with you before you are at all aware. But the priest repeated what he had said, and mocked the governor for having allowed himself to be made such a fool of. Later in the afternoon the master thief came and wanted to have the governor's daughter as he had promised. You must first give me some more samples of your skill, said the governor, trying to speak him fair. For what you did today was no such very great thing after all. Couldn'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. Well, it wouldn't be very hard to do that, said the master thief. So he dressed himself up like a bird, and threw a great white sheet over himself, broke off a goose's wings, and set them on his back. And in this attire climbed into a great maple tree which stood in the priest's garden. So when the priest returned home in the evening, the youth began to cry, Father Lawrence, Father Lawrence! For the priest was called Father Lawrence. Who is calling me? said the priest. I am an angel sent to announce to thee that because of thy piety thou shalt be taken away alive into heaven. So the master thief, 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 mayst possess of this world's wealth. And a heap in thy best parlor. 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. 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. Oh! Oh! cried the priest in the sack. Where are you taking me? This is the way to heaven. The way to heaven is not an easy one, said the master thief, and dragged him along till he all but killed him. At last he flung him into the governor's goose house and the geese began to hiss and peck at him till he felt more dead than alive. Oh! Oh! Oh! Where am I now? asked the priest. Now you are in purgatory, 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 parlor. 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. Oh! heavens! Who is that and what ails you? said she. Oh! said the priest, 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. The little fiends nipped me so with their tongs. I am no angel, said the girl, and helped the priest out of the sack. I only look after the governor's geese. That's what I do. And they are the little fiends which have pinched your reverence. This is the master thief's doing. Oh! my gold and my silver and my best clothes! shrieked the priest, and wild with rage he ran home so fast that the goose girl thought he had suddenly gone mad. When the governor learnt what had happened to the priest he'd 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 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. What you set me to do can be done, said the master thief, but am I certain to get your daughter when it is? Yes. If you can do that I will do my best for you, said the governor. 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'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'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. What on earth do you want here? said one of them to the old woman. Oh dear, oh dear, how cold it is. She said sobbing and shivering with cold. Oh dear, oh dear, it's cold enough to freeze a poor old body to death. And she shivered and shook again and said, for heaven's sakes, give me leave to stay here and sit just inside the stable door. He 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, said one. Oh, what a poor helpless old creature, said another, who felt sorry for her. That poor old woman can do no harm to anyone. She may sit there and welcome. 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 the rest sat down behind the door. And when once she was inside no one took any more notice of her. As the night wore on the stable boys found it rather cold work to sit still on horseback. Hote, too, but it is fearfully cold, said one, and began to beat his arms backwards and forwards across his breast. Yes, I am so cold that my teeth are chattering, said another. If one had but a little tobacco, said a third. While 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. Hote, too, said one of them, shivering and gone. Hote, too, said the old woman gnashing her teeth together until they chattered inside her mouth. And then she got out the flask which contained nothing but brandy and her hands trembled so that and when she drank it made a great gulp in her throat. What is that you have in your flask, old woman? asked one of the stable boys. Oh, it is only a little drop of brandy, your honor, she said. Brandy? What? Let me have a drop. Let me have a drop. screamed all the twelve at once. Oh, but what I have is so little, whimpered the old woman, it will not even wet your mouths. But they were determined to have it and nothing to be done but give it. So she took out the flask with a 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. When the master thief flung off his beggar'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 outside and they rode off with the governor's horses. 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. Oh, well, said the governor, it is easy to see who has been here but what a worthless set of fellows you must be to sit here and the master thief steal the horses from under you. And they all got a beating for not having kept watch better. Later in the day the master thief came and related what he had done and wanted to have the governor'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. Do you think you can steal my horse from under me when I am out riding on it? Said he. Well, it might be done. Said the master thief. If I were absolutely certain that I should get your daughter. 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. 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, 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 a tap hole into which he was going to stick his finger. No harm would 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 to recognize him, and went to the parade ground where the governor had already been riding about a long time. 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 it 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 the wood that was close by. No, said the man. That have I not. Hark you, said the governor. If you will ride into that wood and search it carefully to see if you can light upon a fellow who was hiding in there he shall have the loan of my horse and a good present of money for your trouble. I am not sure that I can do it, said the man. 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 taphole as I drive. Oh, just ride off, said the governor. I will look after the cask and the horse too. 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 taphole and take it out. So the governor said that he would do his very best and the master's thief got on the governor's horse. But time passed and it grew later and later and still the man did not come back and at last the governor grew so wary of keeping his finger in the taphole that he took it out. Now I shall have ten dollars more! cried the old woman inside the cask so he soon saw what kind of mead it was and set out homewards. He had gone a very little way he met his servant bringing him the horse for the master's thief had already taken it home. 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 able to do that he should have her. Well, the master's thief thought you can steal the sheet off our bed and my wife's nightgown said the governor that is by no means impossible said the master's thief I only wish I could get your daughter as easily. So late at night the master's 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's bedroom window and climbed up and moved the dead man's head up and down just as if he were someone who was standing outside and peeping in. There's the master's thief mother said the governor nudging his wife now I'll just shoot him that I will. So he took up a rifle which he had laid at his bedside. Oh no you must not do that said his wife you yourself arrange that he was to come here. Yes mother I will shoot him said he and laid there aiming and then aiming again for no sooner was the head up and he caught sight of it then it was gone again. At last he got a chance and fired and the dead body fell with a loud thug to the ground and down went the master's thief too as fast as he could. Well said the governor 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 and do as to go out and bury him. Just do what you think best father said his wife so the governor got up and went downstairs and as soon as he had gone out to the door the master's thief stole in and went straight upstairs to the woman. Well father dear said she for she thought it was her husband have you got done already oh yes I only put him into a hole said he and raked a little over him that's all I have been able to do tonight 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 so she gave him the sheet he will have to let me have your nightgown too he said for I begin to see that the sheet won't be enough then she gave him her nightgown 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 up before he could lie down in bed again so off he went with the sheet and the nightgown too an hour later the real governor returned well what a time it has taken to lock the house door father said his wife and what have you done with the sheet and the nightgown what do you mean asked the governor oh I am asking you what have done with the nightgown and sheet that you got to wipe the ball off yourself with such she good heavens said the governor has he actually got the better of me again one day came the master thief came too and wanted to have the governor's daughter as had been promised and the governor dared do no otherwise then give her to him and much money besides her 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 past time end of chapter 6 the master thief chapter 7 at the red fairy book this is a lubberbox recording all lubberbox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit lubberbox.org the red fairy book by Andrew Lane chapter 7 brother and sister brother took sister by the hand and said look here we haven't had one single happy hour since our mother died stepmother avows 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 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 let's go forth into the wide world together so off they started through fields and meadows over hedges and ditches and walked the whole day long and when it rained sister said heaven and our hearts are weeping together 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 next morning when they woke up the sun was already high in the heavens and were shining down bright and worn into the tree then said brother I'm so thirsty sister if I did but know where to find a little stream I'd go and have a drink I do believe I hear one he jumped up took sister by the hand and they set off to hunt for the brook now their cruel step mother 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 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 her drinks of me will be a tiger her drinks of me will be a tiger so she cried out oh dear brother pray don't drink or you'll be turned into a wild beast and tear me to pieces brother was dreadfully thirsty but he did not drink very well said he I'll wait till we come to the next spring when they came to the second brook sister heard it repeating to her drinks of me will be a wolf I who drinks of me will be a wolf and she cried oh brother pray don't drink here either or you'll be turned into a wolf and eat me up again brother did not drink but he said well I'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 and when they got to the third brook sister heard it saying as it rushed past her drinks of me will be a row her drinks of me will be a row and she begged ah brother don't drink yet or you'll become a row and run away from me but her brother was already kneeling by the brook and bending over to drink and sure enough no sooner had his lips touched the water then he fell on the grass transformed into a little row buck sister cried bitterly over her poor bewitched brother and the little row wept too and sat sadly by her side at last the girl said never mind dear little fawn I will never forsake you and she took off her golden garter and tied it round the row's neck 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 row father and father right into the depths of the forest 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 perhaps we might stay and live here so she hunted up leaves and moths to make a soft bed for the little row and every morning and evening she went out and gathered roots nuts and berries for herself and tending on 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's back and fell sound asleep with it as a pillow and kept his natural form really it would have been a most delightful kind of life 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 rung with such a blowing of horns baying of dogs and joyful cries of huntsmen that the little row and long to join him too ah said he to his sister do let me go off to the hunt I can't keep still any longer and he begged and prayed till at last she consented but said she 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 my sister dear open I'm here if you don't speak I shan't open the door so off sprung the little row and he felt quite well and happy in the free open air 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 my sister dear open I'm here the door opened and he ran in and rested all night on his soft mossy bed next morning the hunt begun again and as soon as the little row heard the horns and the ho ho of the huntsmen he could not rest another moment and said sister open the door I must get out so sister open the door and said now mind and get back by nightfall and say your little rhyme as soon as the king and his huntsmen saw the row 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 row and one of them wounded it slightly in the foot so that it limped and ran off slowly then the huntsmen stole after it as far as the little house and heard it call out my sister dear open I'm here and he saw the door open and closed immediately the fawn had run in the huntsmen remembered all this carefully and went off straight to the king and told him all he had seen and heard tomorrow we will hunt again said the king poor sister was terribly frightened when she saw how her little fawn had been wounded and washed off the blood bound up their injured foot with herbs and said now dear go and lie down and rest so that your wound may heal the wound was really so slight that it was quite well next day and the little row did not feel it at all no sooner did it hear the sounds of hunting in the forest than it cried yes I must be there too I'll take care they shan't catch me sister began to cry and said they are certain to kill you and then I shall be left all alone in the forest and forsaken by everyone I can't and won't let you out then I shall die of grief replied the row for when I hear that horn I feel as if I must jump right out of my skin so at last when sister found there was nothing else to be done she opened the door with a heavy heart and the row darted forth full of glee and health into the forest as soon as the king saw the row he said to his huntsman now then give chase to it all day till evening but mind and be careful when the son had said the king said to his huntsman now come and show me the little house in the wood and when he got to the house he knocked at the door and said my sister dear open I'm here then the door opened and the king walked in and there stood the loveliest maiden he had ever seen the girl was much startled when instead of the little row she expected she saw a man with a gold crown on his head walking but the king looked kindly at her held out his hand and said will you come with me to my castle and be my dear wife oh yes replied the maiden but you must let my row come too I could not possibly forsake it it shall stay with you as long as you live and she'll want for nothing the king promised in the meantime the row came bounding in and sister tied the rush cord once more to its collar took the end in her hand and so they let the little house in the forest together the king lifted the lonely maiden onto his horse and led her to his castle where the wedding was celebrated with the greatest splendour the row was petted and caressed and ran about at will in the palace gardens now all this time the wicked stepmother who had been the cause of these poor children's misfortunes and trying adventures was feeling fully persuaded that sister had been torn to pieces by wild beasts and brother shot to death of a row 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 it is I who ought to have had this good luck be quiet will you said the old woman when the time comes I shall be at hand 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 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 her daughter was at hand too and between them they carried the queen who was still very weak into the bathroom and laid her in the bath then they locked the door and ran away they took care beforehand to make a blazing hot fire under the bath so that the lovely young queen might be suffocated as soon as they were sure this was the case the old witch tied a cap on her daughter's head and laid her in the queen's bed she managed to to make her figure and general appearance 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's noticing anything in the evening when the king came home and heard the news of his son's birth he was full of delight and insisted on going at once to his dear wife's bedside to see how she was getting on but the old witch cried out take care and keep the curtains drawn don't let the light get into the queen's eyes she must be kept perfectly quiet so the king went away and never knew that it was a false queen who lay in the bed when midnight came and everyone in the palace was sound asleep the nurse who alone by the baby'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 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 anyone go into the castle that night they all said no we saw no one at all 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 after some little time had elapsed the queen spoke one night and said is my child well is my row well I'll come back twice and then farewell 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 good heavens what do you say I'll watch myself tonight by the child's bed when the evening came he went to the nursery and at midnight the queen appeared and said is my child well is my row well I'll come back once and then farewell 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 that night when the queen came she said is my child well is my row well I've come this once and now farewell then the king could restrain himself no longer but sprung to her side and cried you can be no one but my dear wife yes said she I am your dear wife 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 and they fled into the forest where the wild beasts tore her to pieces and the old witch was burnt at the stake as soon as she reduced to ashes the spell was taken off the little row and he was restored to his natural shape once more and so brother and sister lived happily ever after grim end of chapter seven at the red fairy book chapter eight of the red 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 this recording is by Mark Smith of Simpsonville, South Carolina the red fairy book by Andrew Lang chapter eight 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 as she always did sent for all the fairies to be present at the ceremony and afterwards invited them to a splendid banquet when it was over and they were preparing to go away the queen said to them let your usual good custom tell me what is going to happen to Rosette for that was the name they had given the princess but the fairies said they had left their book of magic at home and they would come another day and tell her ah said the queen I know very well what that means you have nothing good to say but at least I beg that you will not hide anything from me so after a great deal of persuasion they said madam we fear that Rosette may be the cause of great misfortunes to her brothers they may even beat 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 then they went away leaving the queen very sad so sad that the king noticed it and asked her what was the matter the queen said that she had been sitting too near the fire and had burnt all the flax that was upon her distaff oh is that all 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 looks 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 oh if that's all said the king and he went to all the shoemakers in his kingdom and they very soon made the queen ten thousand green satin slippers but still she looks 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 I know you are not telling me the truth for I have your ring here in my purse 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 then it was the king's turn to look sad and at last he said I see no way of saving our sons except by having rosette's head cut off while she is still little 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 the people came from far and near to consult him so she said to ask his advice perhaps he will know what to do to prevent the misfortunes which the fairies foretold 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 recognized the queen he said you are welcome, queen what do you come to ask of me 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 the great prince and the second the little prince 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 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 told then all the dukes and counselors put the great prince upon a golden throne and crowned him with a diamond crown and they all cried long live the king and after that there was nothing but feasting and rejoicing the new king and his brother said to one another now that we are the masters let us take our sister out of that dull tower which she is so tired of 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's hand cried good morning dear brother now that you are king please take me out of this dull tower for I am so tired of it 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 pocket full of sugar plums he had brought for her and said make haste and let us get away from this ugly tower and very soon the king will arrange a grand marriage for you 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 had but one ear dance before her crying pow wow wow and turning head over heels in the most enchanting way everybody was amused at Frisk'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 what said the princess do they dare to kill that beautiful creature and eat it I declare that I will never marry anyone but the king of the peacocks and when I am queen I will take very good care that nobody eats any of my subjects at this the king was very much astonished but little sister said he where shall we find the king of the peacocks oh wherever you like sire she answered but I will never marry anyone else 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 dresses and ribbons and sweet meats diamonds and pearls and dolls and embroidered slippers and she was so well brought up and said thank you so prettily and was so gracious that everyone went away delighted with her 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 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 should be very glad in the meantime mind you take good care of our kingdom 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 so they set out and asked everyone they met do you know the king of the peacocks but the answer was always no, no then they went on and on so far that no one had ever been farther and at last they came to the kingdom of the cockchafers 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 cockchaffer they met if he knew where they could find the king of the peacocks sire replied the cockchaffer his kingdom is thirty thousand leagues from this you have come the longest way and how do you know that said the king oh said the cockchaffer we all know you very well since we spend two or three months in your garden every year there upon the king and the prince made great friends with him and they all walked arm in arm and dined together and afterwards the cockchaffer showed them all the curiosities of his strange country where the tiniest green leaf cost 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 when they reached the city they found it full of men and women who were dressed entirely in peacocks feathers which were evidently thought prettier than anything else 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 feathers when he saw Rosette'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 Sire, we have come from very far away to show you a beautiful portrait so saying they drew from their traveling bag the picture of Rosette the king looked at it in silence a long time but at last he said I could not have believed that there was such a beautiful princess in the world indeed she is really a hundred times as pretty as that, said her brothers I think you must be making fun of me replied the king of the peacocks Sire said the prince is a king like yourself he is called the king I am called the prince 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 oh, with all my heart replied the king 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 oh, certainly we quite agree to that said the brothers in one breath very well off with you into prison and stay there until the princess arrives said the king of the peacocks 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's portrait that was taken up to the palace and the king did nothing but gaze at it all day and all night 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 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 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 guns were fired and fireworks let off everyone had as many cakes and sweet meats as he wanted and for three days every body who came to see the princess was presented with a slice of bread and jam a nightingale's egg and some hippocross after having thus entertained her friends she distributed her dolls among them and left her brother'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 their nurse's daughter and the little green dog Frisk 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 can you take us can you take us to the kingdom of the peacocks but he answered oh no oh no then she said you must take us you must take us and he answered very soon very soon then the nurse said will you take us will you take us and the boatman answered yes yes then she whispered in his ear do you want to make your fortune and he said certainly I do I can tell you how to get a bag of gold said she I asked nothing better said the boatman well said the nurse tonight 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 the boatman was very much surprised at this proposal and said but what a pity to drown such a pretty princess however at last the nurse persuaded him to help her and when the night came he passed to sleep 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'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's bed with her great heads as for her, she said to herself 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 the wicked nurse and the boatman who were by this time quite a long way off heard Frisk barking and said to each other that hard 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 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 somersaults and dance on a tightrope with 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 the nurse had taken all the pains imaginable to deck out her daughter she put on her Rosette's prettiest frock and covered her with diamonds from head to foot but she was so ugly she looked nice and what was worse she was sulky and ill-tempered and did nothing but grumble all the time 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 now then look alive cried the false princess if you don't bring me something to eat I will have all your heads cut off and covered one to another here'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 but she went on ordering them all about and for no fault at all would give slaps and pinches to everyone she could reach as the procession was so long it advanced but slowly and the nurse'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 long live our beautiful queen when they caught sight of the false bride could not help crying instead oh how ugly she is which offended her so much that she said to the guards make haste and kill all these insolent peacocks who have dared to insult me but the peacocks only flew away laughing at her the rogue of abotement who noticed all this said softly to the nurse this is a bad business for us gossip your daughter ought to have been prettier but she answered be quiet stupid or you will spoil everything now they told the king that the princess was approaching well said he did her brothers tell me truly is she prettier than her portrait sire they answered if she were as pretty that would do very well that's true said the king I for one shall be quite satisfied if she is let us go and meet her 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 how ugly she is how ugly she is 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 the princess rosette's portrait was carried at the head of the procession and after it walked the king surrounded by his courtiers he was all impatient to see the lovely princess but when he caught sight of the nurse's daughter he was furiously angry and would not advance another step for she was really ugly enough to have frightened anybody what? he cried have the two rascals who are my prisoners dared to play me such a trick as this do they propose that I should 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 meanwhile the king and 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 jailer 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 than they were this is a dismal kind of wedding they said what can have happened that we should be treated like this they must mean to kill us and this idea annoyed them very much three days passed before they heard any news and then the king and the peacocks came and berated them through a hole in the wall you have called yourselves king and prince he cried try and make me marry your sister but you are nothing but beggars and 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 king of the peacocks answered the king angrily 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 grounds 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 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 imposters and that they had promised the king a beautiful princess in marriage who, when she arrived proved to be an ugly peasant girl 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 favor but at last he was persuaded to do so 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 alas she said 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 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't like them at all when night came the princess was so frightened that she said to Frisk oh do please keep on barking for fear the souls should come and eat us up now it happened he went into the shore where a poor old man lived all alone in a little cottage when he heard Frisk barking he thought to himself there must have been a shipwreck 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 do save me or I shall die of cold and hunger 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's bed and dragging it on shore 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'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 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's orders that she had been thrown overboard and now my daughter what is to be done said the old man 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 oh no cried Rosette he must be wicked he tried to drown me don't let us tell him but if you have a little basket give it to me the old man gave her a basket and tying it round Frisk's neck she said to him go and find out the best cooking pot in the town and bring the contents to me and as there was no better dinner cooking in all the town than the kings he adroitly took the cover off the pot and brought all it contained to the princess who said now go back to the pantry and bring the best of everything you find there so Frisk went back and filled his basket with white bread and red wine and every kind of sweet meat until it was almost too heavy for him to carry 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 oh well he said if there is no dinner I cannot dine but take care that plenty of things are roasted for supper when evening came the princess said to Frisk go into the town and find out the best kitchen and bring me all the nicest morsels that are being roasted upon the spit Frisk did as he was told and as he knew of no better kitchen than the kings he went in softly and when the cook'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 had once sent him back to the pantry to bring all the tarts and sugar-plums that had been prepared for the king's supper 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 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 the king ordered that they should be seized and bound with ropes and frisk also when they were brought back to the palace someone told the king who said today is the last day of the respite granted to those imposters they shall have their heads cut off at the same time as these stealers of my dinner and the old man went down on his knees before the king and begged for time to tell him everything while he spoke the king and 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 messengers were sent to bring the princes out of the 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 just how sorry he was 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 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 End of story