 Chapter Zero of the Orange Fairy Book. The children who read fairy books, or have fairy books read to them, do not read prefaces, and the parents, aunts, uncles, and cousins who give fairy books to their daughters, nieces, and cousins leave prefaces unread. For whom, then, are prefaces written? When an author publishes a book out of his own head, he writes the preface for his own pleasure. After reading over his book in print, to make sure that all the use are not printed as ends, and all the ends as use in the proper names, then the author says, mildly, in his preface, what he thinks about his own book, and what he means it to prove, if he means it to prove anything, and why it is not a better book than it is. But perhaps, nobody reads prefaces except other authors, and critics, who hope that they will find enough in the preface to enable them to do without reading any of the book. This appears to be the philosophy of prefaces in general, and perhaps authors might be more daring and candid than they are with advantage, and write regular criticisms of their own books and their prefaces, for nobody can be so good a critic of himself as the author, if he has a sense of humor. If he has not, the less he says in his preface the better. These fairy books, however, are not written by the editor, as he has often explained out of his own head. The stories are taken from those told by grannies to grandchildren in many countries and in many languages, French, Italian, Spanish, Catalan, Gaelic, Icelandic, Cherokee, African, Indian, Australian, Slavonic, Eskimo, and what not. The stories are not literal, or word-by-word translations, but have been altered in many ways to make them suitable for children. Much has been left out in places, and the narrative has been broken up into conversations. The characters telling each other how matters stand and speaking for themselves, as children and some older people prefer them to do. In many tales, fairly cruel and savage deeds are done, and these have been softened down as much as possible. Though it is impossible, even if it were desirable, to conceal the circumstance that popular stories were never intended to be tracts and nothing else. Though they usually take the side of courage and kindness and the virtues in general, the old storytellers admire successful cunning as much as Homer does in the Odyssey. At least, if the cunning hero, human or animal, is the weaker, like Odysseus, Brer Rabbit, and many others, the storytellers sees little in intellect, but superior cunning, by which Tiny Jack gets the better of the giants. In the fairy tales of no country are improper incidents common, which is to the credit of human nature, as they were obviously composed mainly for children. It is not difficult to get rid of this element when it does occur in popular tales. The old puzzle remains a puzzle. Why do the stories of the remotest people so closely resemble each other? Of course, in the immeasurable past they have been carried about by conquering races, and learned by conquering races from vanquished peoples. Slaves carried far from home brought their stories with them into captivity. Wanderers, travelers, shipwrecked men, merchants and wives stolen from alien tribes have diffused the stories. Gypsies and Jews have passed them about. Roman soldiers of many different races, moving here and there about the empire, have trafficked in them. From the remotest days men have been wanderers, and wherever they went, their stories accompanied them. The slave trade might take a Greek to Persia, a Persian to Greece, an Egyptian woman to Phoenicia, a Babylonian to Egypt, a Scandinavian child might be carried with the amber from the Baltic to the Adriatic, or a Sedonian to Ophir, wherever Ophir may have been, while the Portuguese may have borne their tales to South Africa or to Asia, and then brought back other tales to Egypt. The stories wandered wherever the Buddhist missionaries went, and the earliest French voyageurs told them to the Red Indians. These facts help to account for the sameness of the stories everywhere, and the uniformity of human fancy in early societies must be the cause of many other resemblances. In this volume there are stories from the natives of Rhodesia, collected by Mr. Fairbridge, who speaks the native language, and one is brought by Mr. Cripps from another part of Africa, Uganda. Three tales from the Punjab were collected and translated by Major Campbell. Various savage tales, which needed a good deal of editing, are derived from the learned pages of the Journal of the Anthropological Institute. With these exceptions, and the magic book translated by Mrs. Peterson from Eventur Frajulland by Ewald Tang Christensen, stories from Jutland, all the tales have been done from various sources by Mrs. Lang, who has modified where it seemed desirable all the narratives. The Orange Fairy Book by Andrew Lang The Story of the Hero Makoma From the Sena Oral Tradition Once upon a time, at the town of Sena, on the banks of the Zambezi, was born a child. He was not like other children, for he was very tall and strong. Over his shoulder he carried a big sack, and in his hand an iron hammer. He could also speak like a grown man, but usual he was very silent. One day his mother said to him, My child, by what name shall we know you? And he answered, Call all the headmen of Sena here to the river's bank. And his mother called the headmen of the town, and when they had come he led them down to a deep black pole in the river, where all the fierce crocodiles lived. Oh great men, he said, while they all listened. Which of you will leap into the pool and overcome the crocodiles? But no one would come forward, so he turned and sprang into the water and disappeared. The people held their breath, for they thought, Surely the boy is bewitched, and throws away his life, for the crocodiles will eat him. Then suddenly the ground trembled, and the pool, heaving and swirling, became red with blood, and presently the boy rising to the surface swam on shore. But he was no longer just a boy. He was stronger than any man and very tall and handsome, so that the people shouted with gladness when they saw him. Now, oh my people, he cried, waving his hand. You know my name, I'm Makoma, the greater. For have I not slain the crocodiles into the pool where none could venture? Then he said to his mother, Rest gently, my mother, for I go to make a home for myself and become a hero. Then, entering his hut, he took a new window, his iron hammer, and throwing the sack over his shoulder, he went away. Makoma crossed the Zambezi, and for many moons he wandered towards the north and west, until he came to a very hilly country, where, one day, he met a huge giant making mountains. Greetings, shouted Makoma. Who are you? I'm Kieswa Mapiri, who makes the mountains, answered the giant. And who are you? I'm Makoma, which signifies greater, answered he. Greater than who? asked the giant. Greater than you? answered Makoma. The giant gave a roar and rushed upon him. Makoma said nothing but swinging his great hammer, Nuendo. He struck the giant upon the head. He struck him so hard a blow that the giant shrank into quite a little man who fell upon his knees, saying, You are indeed greater than I, O Makoma. Take me with you to be your slave. So Makoma picked him up and dropped him into the sack, which he carried upon his back. He was greater than ever now, for all the giant's strength had gone into him, and he resumed his journey, carrying his burden with as little difficulty as an ego might carry a hair. Before long he came to a country broken up with huge stones and immense clouds of earth. Looking over one of the heaps, he saw a giant wrapped in dust, dragging out the very earth, and hurling it in handfuls on either side of him. Who are you? cried Makoma, that pulls up the earth in this way. I am Kiedubula Taka, said he, and I am making the riverbeds. Do you know who I am? said Makoma. I am he that is called Greater. Greater than who? thundered the giant. Greater than you? answered Makoma. With a shout, Kiedubula Taka seized a great clod of earth and launched it at Makoma. But the hero had his sack held over his left arm, and the stones and earth fell harmlessly upon it, and tightly gripping his iron hammer, he rushed in and struck the giant to the ground. Kiedubula Taka groveled before him, all the while growing smaller and smaller, and when he had become a convenient size, Makoma picked him up and put him into the sack beside Kieswama Piri. He went on his way even greater than before, as all the river makers power had become his, and at last he came to a forest of baobabs and thorn trees. He was astonished at their size, for everyone was full-grown and larger than any trees he had ever seen, and close by he saw Kiguiza Miti, the giant who was planting the forest. Kiguiza Miti was taller than either of his brothers, but Makoma was not afraid and called out to him. Who are you, O big one? I, said the giant, am Kiguiza Miti, and I am planting these baobabs and thorns as food for my children, the elephants. Leave off, shouted the hero, for I am Makoma and would like to exchange a blow with thee. The giant, plucking up a monster baobab by the roots, struck heavily at Makoma, but the heroes sprang aside, and the weapons sank deep into the soft earth, world's noendo the hammer round his head, and fell the giant with one blow. So terrible was the stroke that Kiguiza Miti shriveled up as the other giants had done, and when he had got back his breath, he begged Makoma to take him as a servant. For, said he, it is honourable to serve a man so great as thou. Makoma, after placing him in a sack, proceeded upon his journey, and travelling for many days, he had last reached a country so barren and rocky that not a single living thing grew upon it. Everywhere reigned grim desolation, and in the midst of this dead region, he found a man eating fire. What are you doing? demanded Makoma. I am eating fire, answered the man, laughing, and my name is Kiidia Moto, for I am the flame spirit, and can waste and destroy what I like. You are wrong, said Makoma, for I am Makoma, who is greater than you, and you cannot destroy me. The fire eater laughed again, and blew a flame at Makoma, but the hero sprang behind a rock just in time, for the ground upon which he had been standing was turned to molten glass like an overbaked pot by the heat of the flame spirit's breath. Then the hero flung his iron hammer at Kiidia Moto, and striking him, it knocked him helpless. So Makoma placed him in the sack, wore a know-who, with the other great men that he had overcome. And now, truly, Makoma was a very great hero, for he had the strength to make hills, the industry to lead rivers over dry wastes, foresight and wisdom in planting trees, and the power of producing fire when he wished. Wandering on, he arrived one day at a great plain, well-watered and full of game, and in the very middle of it, close to a large river, was a grassy spot, very pleasant to make a home upon. Makoma was so delighted with the little meadow that he sat down under a large tree, and removing the sack from his shoulder, took out all the giants and set them before him. My friends, said he, I have travelled far and I am weary. Is not this such a place as would suit a hero for his home? Let us then go, tomorrow, to bring in timber to make a crawl. So the next day, Makoma and the giants set out to get poles to build the crawl, leaving only Kiaswama Piri to look after the place and cook some venison which they had killed. In the evening, when they returned, they found the giant helpless and tied to a tree by one enormous hair. How is it, said Makoma, astonished, that we find you thus bound and helpless. O chief, answered Kiaswama Piri, at midday a man came out of the river. He was of immense stature, and his grey moustaches were of such length that I could not see where they ended. He demanded of me who is thy master, and I answered Makoma, the greatest of heroes, then the man seized me, and pulling a hair from his moustache tied me to this tree, even as you see me. Makoma was very wroth, but he said nothing, and drawing his fingernail across the hair, which was as thick and strong as palm rope, cut it and set free the mountain maker. The three following days exactly the same thing happened, only each time with a different one of the parties, and on the fourth day Makoma stayed in camp when the others went to cut bowls, saying that he would see for himself what sort of man this was that lived in the river, and whose moustaches were so long that they ended beyond men's sight. So, when the giants had gone, he swept up and tidied the camp, and put some venison on the fire to roast. At midday, when the sun was right overhead, he heard a rumbling noise from the river, and looking up, he saw the head and shoulders of an enormous man emerging from it. And behold, right down the river-bed, and up the river-bed, till they faded into the blue distance, stretched the giant's grey moustaches. Who are you? bellowed the giant, as soon as he was out of the water. I am he that is called Makoma, answered the hero, and before I slay thee, tell me also what is thy name, and what thou dost in the river. My name is Chin Debu Maugidi, said the giant. My home is in the river, for my moustache is the grey fever mist that hangs above the water, and with which I bind all those that come unto me so that they die. You cannot bind me, shouted Makoma, rushing upon him and striking with his hammer. But the river giant was so slimy that the blow slid harmlessly off his green chest, and as Makoma stumbled and tried to regain his balance, the giant swung one of his long hairs around him and tripped him up. For a moment Makoma was helpless, but remembering the power of the flame spirit which had entered into him, he breathed a fiery breath upon the giant's hair and cut himself free. As Chin Debu Maugidi leaned forward to seize him, the hero flung his sack waro nobu over the giant's slippery head, and gripping his iron hammer struck him again. This time the blow alighted upon the dry sack, and Chin Debu Maugidi fell dead. When the four giants returned at sunset with the poles, they rejoiced to find that Makoma had overcome the fever spirit, and they feasted on the roast venison till far into the night. But in the morning when they awoke, Makoma was already warming his hands to the fire, and his face was gloomy. In the darkness of the night, oh my friends, he said presently, the white spirits of my fathers came upon me and spoke, saying, Get thee hence, Makoma, for thou shalt have no rest until thou hast found and fought with Sakatirina, who had five heads and is very great and strong. So take leave of thy friends, for thou must go alone. Then the giants were very sad, and bewailed the laws of their hero. But Makoma comforted them, and gave back to each the gifts he had taken from them. Then bidding them farewell, he went on his way. Makoma travelled far towards the west, over rough mountains and waterlogged morasses, fording deep rivers, and trumping for days across dry deserts where most men would have died, until at length he arrived at a hut standing near some large peaks, and inside the hut were two beautiful women. Greeting, said the hero, is this the country of Sakatirina, of five heads whom I am seeking? We greet you, oh great one, answered the women. We are the wives of Sakatirina, your search is at an end, for there stands he whom you seek. And they pointed to what Makoma had thought were two tall mountain peaks. Those are his legs, they said, his body you cannot see, for it is hidden in the clouds. Makoma was astonished when he beheld how tall was the giant. But, nothing daunted, he went forward until he reached one of Sakatirina's legs, which he struck heavily with no endo. Nothing happened, so he hit again, and then again, until presently, he heard a tired, far away voice saying, Who is it that scratches my feet? And Makoma shouted as loud as he could, answering, It is I, Makoma, who is called greater, and he listened, but there was no answer. Then Makoma collected all the dead brushwood and trees that he could find, and making an enormous pile round the giant's legs, set a light to it. This time the giant spoke, his voice was very terrible, for it was a rumble of thunder in the clouds. Who is it, he said, making that fire a smolder round my feet? It is I, Makoma, shouted the hero, and I have come from far away to see thee, O Sakatirina, for the spirits of my fathers bade me go seek and fight with thee, lest I should grow fat and weary of myself. There was silence for a while, and then the giant spoke softly. It is good, O Makoma, he said, for I too have grown weary. There is no man as great as I, therefore I am all alone. Guard thyself, and bending suddenly, he seized the hero in his hands and dashed him upon the ground. And lo, instead of death, Makoma had found life, for he sprang to his feet mightier in strength and stature than before, and, rushing in, he gripped the giant by the waist and wrestled with him. Hour by hour they fought, and mountains rolled beneath their feet, like pebbles in a flood. Now Makoma would break away, and summoning up his strength, strike the giant with Luendo, his iron hammer, and Sakatirina would pluck up the mountains and hurl them upon the hero, but neither one could slay the other. At last, upon the second day, they grappled so strongly that they could not break away, but their strength was failing, and, just as the sun was sinking, they fell together to the ground, insensible. In the morning, when they awoke, Mulimo the Great Spirit was standing by them, and he said, O Makoma and Sakatirina, ye are heroes so great that no man may come against you, therefore ye will leave the world and take up your home with me in the clouds. And as he spake, the heroes became invisible to the people of the earth, and were no more seen among them. End of the Story of the Hero Makoma Chapter 2 of the Orange 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. The Orange Fairy Book by Andrew Lank The Magic Mirror Native Rhodesian Tale from the Senna A long, long while ago, before ever the white men were seen in Senna, there lived a man called Gopani Kufa. One day, as he was out hunting, he came upon a strange sight. An enormous python had caught an antelope, and called itself around it. The antelope, striking out in despair with its horns, had pinned the python's neck to a tree, and so deeply had its horns sunk in the soft wood that neither creature could get away. Help! cried the antelope, for I was doing no harm, yet I have been caught, and would have been eaten had I not defended myself. Help me! said the python, for I am in Sato, king of all the reptiles, and will reward you well. Gopani Kufa, considered for a moment, then, stabbing the antelope with his atheguy, he set the python free. I thank you, said the python. Come back here with the new moon, when I shall have eaten the antelope, and I will reward you as I promised. Yes, said the dying antelope, he will reward you, and lo, your reward shall be your own undoing. Gopani Kufa went back to his crawl, and with the new moon he returned again to the spot where he had saved the python. In Sato was lying upon the ground, still sleepy from the effects of his huge meal, and when he saw the man, he thanked him again, and said, Come with me now to Peter, which is my own country, and I will give you what you will of all my possessions. Gopani Kufa at first was afraid, thinking of what the antelope had said, but finally he consented, and followed In Sato into the forest. For several days they travelled, and at last they came to a hole leading deep into the earth. It was not very wide, but large enough to admit a man. Hold on to my tail, said In Sato, and I will go down first, drawing you after me. The man did so, and In Sato entered. Down, down, down they went for days, all the while getting deeper and deeper into the earth, until at last the darkness ended, and they dropped into a beautiful country. Around them grew short green grass, on which browsed herds of cattle, and sheep, and goats. In the distance, Gopani Kufa saw a great collection of houses, all square, built of stone and very tall, and their roofs were shining with gold and burnished iron. Gopani Kufa turned to In Sato, but found, in the place of the python, a man strong and handsome, with the great snake skin wrapped around him for covering, and on his arms and neck were rings of pure gold. The man smiled, I am In Sato, said he, but in my own country I take man's shape, even as you see me, for this is Peter, the land over which I am king. He then took Gopani Kufa by the hand, and led him towards the sun. On the way they passed rivers in which men and women were bathing and fishing and boating, and farther on they came to gardens covered with heavy crops of rice and maize, and many other grains which Gopani Kufa did not even know the name of. And as they passed, the people who were singing at their work in the fields abandoned their labours and saluted In Sato with delight, bringing also palm wine and green coconuts for refreshment, as to one returned from a long journey. These are my children, said In Sato, waving his hands towards the people. Gopani Kufa was much astonished at all that he saw, but he said nothing. Presently they came to the town. Everything here too was beautiful, and everything that a man might desire he could obtain. Even the grains of dust in the streets were of gold and silver. In Sato conducted Gopani Kufa to the palace, and showing him his rooms and the maidens who would wait upon him told him that they would have a great feast that night, and on the morrow he might name his choice of the riches of Peter, and it should be given him. Then he was away. Now Gopani Kufa had a wasp called Zengimezi. Zengimezi was not an ordinary wasp, for the spirit of the father of Gopani Kufa had entered it, so that it was exceedingly wise. In times of doubt, Gopani Kufa always consulted the wasp as to what had better be done, so on this occasion he took it out of the little rush basket in which he carried it, saying, Zengimezi, what gift shall I ask of in Sato tomorrow, when he would know the reward he shall bestow on me for saving his life? Bzzz, hummed Zengimezi, asked him for Sipao the Mira, and it flew back into its basket. Gopani Kufa was astonished at this answer, but knowing that the words of Zengimezi were true words, he determined to make the request. So that night they feasted, and on the morrow in Sato came to Gopani Kufa, and giving him greeting joyfully, he said, Now, O my friend, name your choice amongst my possessions, and you shall have it. O King, answered Gopani Kufa, Out of all your possessions I will have the Mira, Sipao. The King started, O friend, Gopani Kufa, he said, Ask anything but that, I did not think that you would request that which is most precious to me. Let me think over it again, then, O King, said Gopani Kufa, and tomorrow I will let you know if I change my mind. But the King was still much troubled, fearing the loss of Sipao, for the Mira had magic powers, so that he, who owned it, had but to ask, and his wish would be fulfilled. To it in Sato owed all that he possessed. As soon as the King left him, Gopani Kufa again took Zengimezi out of his basket. Zengimezi, he said, The King seems lots to grant my request for the Mira. Is there not some other thing of equal value for which I might ask? And the Wasp answered, There is nothing in the world, O Gopani Kufa, which is of such value as this Mira, for it is a wishing Mira, and accomplishes the desires of him who owns it. If the King hesitates, go to him the next day, and the day after, and in the end he will bestow the Mira upon you, for you saved his life. And it was even so, for three days, Gopani Kufa returned the same answer to the King, and at last, with tears in his eyes, in Sato gave him the Mira, which was of polished iron, saying, Take Sipao, then, O Gopani Kufa, and may their wishes come true. Go back now to thine own country, Sipao will show you the way. Gopani Kufa was greatly rejoiced, and, taking farewell of the King, said to the Mira, Sipao, Sipao, I wish to be back upon the earth again. Instantly, he found himself standing upon the upper earth, but, not knowing the spot, he said again to the Mira, Sipao, Sipao, I want the path to my own crowd. And behold, right before him lay the path. When he arrived home, he found his wife and daughter mourning for him, for they thought that he had been eaten by lions, but he conferred them, saying that while following a wounded antelope, he had missed his way, and had wandered for a long time before he had found the path again. That night he asked Zengi Mese, in whom sat the spirit of his father, what he had better asked Sipao for next. Bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz said the wasp, would you not like to be as great a chief as Insato? And Gopani Kufa smiled, and took the Mira, and said to it, Sipao, Sipao, I want a town as great as that of Insato, the king of Peter, Peter, and I wish to be the chief over it. Then all along the banks of the Zambezi river, which flowed nearby, sprang up streets of stone buildings and their roofs shone with gold and burnished iron like those in Peter. And in the streets men and women were walking, and young boys were driving out the sheep and cattle to pasture, and from the river came shouts and laughter from the young men and maidens who had launched their canoes and were fishing. And when the people of the new town beheld Gopani Kufa, they rejoiced greatly and hailed him as chief. Gopani Kufa was now as powerful as in Sato the king of the reptiles had been, and he and his family moved into the palace that stood high above the other buildings right in the middle of the town. His wife was too astonished at all these wonders to ask any questions, but his daughter Shazaza kept begging him to tell her how he had suddenly become so great. So at last he revealed the whole secret and even entrusted Sipao the mirror to her care, saying, It will be safer with you, my daughter, for you dwell apart, whereas men come to consult me on affairs of state, and the mirror might be stolen. Then Shazaza took the magic mirror and hid it beneath her pillow, and after that for many years Gopani Kufa ruled his people both well and wisely, so that all men loved him and never once did he need to ask Sipao to grant him a wish. Now it happened that after many years when the hair of Gopani Kufa was turning grey with age, there came white men to that country. Up the Zambizi they came and they fought long and fiercely with Gopani Kufa, but because of the power of the magic mirror he beat them and they fled to the sea coast. Chief among them was one Ray, a man of much cunning, who sought to discover when sprang Gopani Kufa's power. So one day he called to him a trusty servant named Bhutto, and said, Go you to the town and find out for me what is the secret of its greatness. And Bhutto dressed himself in rags, set out, and when he came to Gopani Kufa's town he asked for the chief, and the people took him into the presence of Gopani Kufa. When the white man saw him he humbled himself and said, Oh chief take pity on me for I have no home. When Ray marched against you I alone stood apart, for I knew that all the strength of the Zambizi lay in your hands, and because I would not fight against you he turned me forth into the forest to starve. And Gopani Kufa believed the white man's story, and he took him in and feasted him and gave him a house. In this way the end came. For the heart of Shazaza, the daughter of Gopani Kufa, went forth to Bhutto the traitor, and from her he learned the secret of the magic mirror. One night when all the town slept he felt beneath her pillow, and finding the mirror he stole it and fled back with it to Ray the chief of the white men. So it befell that one day as Gopani Kufa was gazing up at the river from a window of the palace, he again saw the war canoes of the white men, and the light his spirit misgave him. Shazaza, my daughter, he cried wildly, go fetch me the mirror, for the white men are at hand. Woe is me, my father, she sobbed. The mirror is gone, for I loved Bhutto the traitor, and he has stolen Cipao from me. Then Gopani Kufa calmed himself and drew out Zengi Mizi from its rushed basket. O spirit of my father, he said, what now shall I do? O Gopani Kufa, hummed the wasp. There is nothing now that can be done for the words of the antelope which you slew are being fulfilled. Alas, I am an old man, I had forgotten, cried the chief. The words of the antelope were true words, my reward shall be my undoing, they are being fulfilled. Then the white men fell upon the people of Gopani Kufa and slew them together with the chief and his daughter Shazaza, and since then all the power of the earth has rested in the hands of the white men, for they have in their possession Cipao the magic mirror. Once upon a time there was king, who, one day out hunting, came upon a fakir in a lonely place in the mountains. The fakir was seated on a little old bedstead, reading the Quran with his patched cloak thrown over his shoulders. The king asked him what he was reading, and he said he was reading about paradise and praying that he might be worthy to enter there. Then they began to talk, and by and by, the king asked the fakir if he could show him a glimpse of paradise, for he found it very difficult to believe in what he could not see. The fakir replied that he was asking a very difficult and perhaps a very dangerous thing, but that he would pray for him, and perhaps he might be able to do it. Only he warned the king both against the dangers of his unbelief and against the curiosity which prompted him to ask the saint. However, the king was not to be turned for his purpose, and he promised the fakir always to provide him with food if he in return would pray for him. To this the fakir agreed, and so they parted. Time went on, and the king always sent the old fakir his food according to his promise. But whenever he sent to ask him when he was going to show him paradise, the fakir always replied, not yet, not yet. After a year or two had passed by, the king heard one day that the fakir was very ill. Indeed, he was believed to be dying. Instantly he hurried off himself and found that it was really true and that the fakir was even then breathing his last. There and then the king besought him to remember his promise and to show him a glimpse of paradise. The dying fakir replied that if the king would come to his funeral and when the grave was filled in and everyone else was gone away, he would come and lay his hand upon the grave, he would keep his word and show him a glimpse of paradise. At the same time he implored the king not to do this thing but to be content to see paradise when God called him there. Still the king's curiosity was so aroused that he would not give way. Accordingly, after the fakir was dead and had been buried, he stayed behind when all the rest went away and then when he was quite alone he stepped forward and laid his hand upon the grave. Instantly the ground opened and the astonished king peeping in saw a flight of rough steps and at the bottom of them the fakir sitting just as he used to sit on his wickety bedstead reading the Quran. At first the king was so surprised and frightened that he could only stare but the fakir beckoned to him to come down so mustering up his courage he boldly stepped down into the grave. The fakir rose and making a sign to the king to follow walked a few paces along a dark passage. Then he stopped turned solemnly to his companion and with a movement of his hand drew aside as it were a heavy curtain and revealed what? No one knows what was there shown to the king nor did he ever tell anyone but when the fakir at length dropped the curtain and the king turned to leave the place he had had his glimpse of paradise. Trumbling in every limp he staggered back along the passage and stumbled up the steps out of the tomb into the fresh air again. Dawn was breaking it seemed odd to the king that he had been so long in the grave. It appeared but a few minutes ago that he had descended passed along a few steps to the place where he had peeped beyond the wheel and returned again after perhaps five minutes of that wonderful view. And what was it he had seen? He wracked his brains to remember but he could not call to mind a single thing. How curious everything looked too. Why, his own city which by now he was entering seemed changed and strange to him. The son was already up when he turned it to the palace gate and entered the public Durbar hall. It was full, a chamberlain came across and asked him why he sat unbidden in the king's presence. But I am the king, he cried. What king said the chamberlain? The true king of this country said he, indignantly. Then the chamberlain went away and spoke to the king who sat on the throne and the old king heard words like mad, age, compassion. Then the king on the throne called him to come forward and as he went he caught sight of himself reflected in the polished steel shield of the bodyguard and started back in horror. He was old, decrepit, dirty and wracked. His long white beard and locks were unkempt and straggled chest and shoulders. Only one sign of royalty remained to him and that was the signatory upon his right hand. He dragged it off with shaking fingers and held it up to the king. Tell me who I am. He cried, there is my signet who once sat where you sit even yesterday. The king looked at him compassionately and examined the signet with curiosity. Then he commanded and they brought out dusty records of the kingdom and old coins of previous reigns and compared them faithfully. At last the king turned to the old man and said old man such a king as this whose signet thou hast reigned seven hundred years ago but he is said to have disappeared, none no wither. Where got you the ring? Then the old man smooth his breast and cried out a loud lamentation for he understood that he who was not content to wait patiently to see the paradise where the faithful had been judged already. And he turned and left the hall without a word and went into the jungle where he lived for twenty-five years a life of prayer and meditation until at last the angel of death came for him and mercifully released him, purged and purified through his punishment. End of Story of the King Who Would See Paradise CHAPTER IV OF THE ORANGE FAIRY BOOK For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Paul Brown The Orange Fairy Book Edited by Andrew Lang How Isuro the Rabbit Tricked Goudou A Path and Story Told to Major Campbell Far away in a hot country where the forests are very thick and dark and the rivers very swift, and the rivers are very where the forests are very thick and dark and the rivers very swift and strong there once lived a strange pair of friends. Now one of the friends was a big white rabbit named Isuro and the other was a tall baboon called Goudou and so fond were they of each other that they were seldom seen apart. One day when the sun was hotter even than usual the rabbit awoke from his mid-day sleep and saw Goudou the baboon standing beside him. Get up! said Goudou. I'm going courting and you must come with me so put some food in a bag and sling it around your neck for we may not be able to find anything to eat for a long while. Then the rabbit rubbed his eyes and gathered a store of fresh green things from under the bushes and told Goudou that he was ready for the journey. They went on quite happily for some distance and at last they came to a river with rocks scattered here and there across the stream. We can never jump those wide spaces if we are burdened with food said Goudou. We must throw it into the river unless we wish to fall in ourselves. And stooping down, unseen by Isuro who was in front of him Goudou picked up a big stone and threw it into the water with a loud splash. It is your turn now he cried to Isuro and with a heavy sigh the rabbit unfastened his bag of food which fell into the river. The road on the other side led down an avenue of trees and before they had gone very far Goudou opened the bag that lay hidden in the thick hair about his neck and began to eat some delicious looking fruit. Where did you get that from? asked Isuro inviously. Goudou found after all that I could get across the rocks quite easily so it seemed a pity not to keep my bag answered Goudou Well, as you tricked me into throwing away mine you ought to let me share with you said Isuro but Goudou pretended not to hear him and strode along the path. By and by they entered a wood and right in front of them was a tree so laden with fruit that its branches swept the ground and some of the fruit was still green and some yellow. The rabbit hopped forward with joy for he was very hungry but Goudou said to him pluck the green fruit you will find it much the best I will leave it all for you as you have had no dinner and take the yellow for myself so the rabbit took one of the green oranges and began to bite it but its skin was so hard that he could hardly get his teeth through the rind. It does not taste at all nice he cried screwing up his face I would rather have one of the yellow ones no no I really could not allow that answered Goudou they would only make you ill be content with the green fruit and as they were all he could get Isuro was forced to put up with them after this had happened two or three times Isuro at last had his eyes opened and made up his mind that whatever Goudou told him he would do exactly the opposite however by this time they had reached the village where Goudou's future wife and as they entered Goudou pointed to a clump of bushes and said to Isuro whenever I am eating and you hear me call out that my food has burnt me run as fast as you can and gather some of those leaves that they may heal my mouth the rabbit would have liked to ask him why he ate food that he knew would burn him only he was afraid and just nodded in reply but when they had gone on a little further he said to Goudou I have dropped my needle wait here a moment while I go and fetch it be quick then answered Goudou, climbing into a tree and the rabbit hastened back to the bushes and gathered a quantity of the leaves which he hid among his fur for, thought he if I get them now I shall save myself the trouble of a walk by and by he plucked as many as he wanted he returned to Goudou and they went on together the sun was almost setting by the time they reached their journey's end and being very tired they gladly sat down by a well then Goudou's betrothed who had been watching for him brought out a pitcher of water which she poured over them to wash off the dust of the road and two portions of food but once again the rabbit's hopes were dashed to the ground Goudou said hastily the costume of the village forbids you to eat till I have finished and Isuru did not know that Goudou was lying and that he only wanted more food so he saw hungrily looking on waiting till his friend had had enough in a little while Goudou screamed loudly I am burnt I am burnt though he was not burnt at all now though Isuru had the leaves about him he did not dare to produce them at the last moment lest the baboon should guess why he had stayed behind so he just went round a corner for a short time and then came hopping back in a great hurry but quick though he was Goudou had been quicker still and nothing remained but some drops of water how unlucky you are said Goudou snatching the leaves no sooner had you gone than ever so many people arrived and washed their hands as you see and ate your portion but though Isuru knew better than to believe him he said nothing and went to bed hungrier than he had ever been in his life early next morning they started for another village and passed on the way a large garden where people were very busy gathering monkey-nuts you can have a good breakfast at last said Goudou pointing to a heap of empty shells never doubting but that Isuru would meekly take the portion shown him and leave the real nuts for himself but what was his surprise when Isuru answered thank you I think I should prefer these and turning to the kernels never stopped as long as there was one left and the worst of it was that with so many people about Goudou could not take the nuts from him it was night when they reached the village where dwelt the mother of Goudou's betrothed who laid meat and millet porridge before them I think you told me you were fond of porridge but Isuru answered you are mistaking me for somebody else as I always eat meat when I can get it and again Goudou was forced to be content with the porridge which he hated while he was eating it however a sudden thought darted into his mind and he managed to knock over a great pot of water which was hanging in front of the fire and put it quite out now said the cunning creature to himself I shall be able in the dark to steal his meat but the rabbit had grown as cunning as he and standing in a corner hid the meat behind him so that the baboon could not find it Oh Goudou! he cried laughing aloud it is you who have taught me to be clever and calling to the people of the house he bade them kindle the fire for Goudou would sleep by it but that he would pass the night with some friends in another hut it was still quite dark and his name called very softly and on opening his eyes beheld Goudou standing by him laying his finger on his nose in token of silence he signed to Isuru to get up and follow him and it was not until there were some distance from the hut that Goudou spoke I am hungry and want something to eat better than that nasty porridge that I had for supper so I am going to kill one of those goats and as you are a good cook boil the flesh for me the rabbit nodded and Goudou disappeared behind a rock but soon returned dragging the dead goat with him the two then set about skinning it after which they stuffed the skin with dried leaves so that no one would have guessed it was not alive and set it up in the middle of a lump of bushes which kept it firm on its feet while he was doing this Isuru collected sticks for a fire and when it was kindled Goudou hastened to another hut to steal a pot which he filled with water from the river and planting two branches in the ground they hung the pot with the meat in it over the fire it will not be fit to eat for two hours at least said Goudou so we can both have a nap and he stretched himself out on the ground and pretended to fall fast asleep but in reality he was only waiting till it was safe to take all the meat for himself surely I hear him snore he thought and he stole to the place where Isuru was lying on a pile of wood but the rabbit's eyes were wide open how tiresome muttered Goudou as he went back to his place and after waiting a little longer he got up and peeped again but still the rabbit's pink eyes stared widely if Goudou had only known Isuru was asleep all the time but this he never guessed and by and by he was so tired with watching that he went to sleep himself soon after Isuru woke up and he too felt hungry so he crept softly to the pot and ate all the meat while he tied the bones together and hung them in Goudou's fur after that he went back to the wood pile and slept again in the morning the mother of Goudou's betrothed came out to milk her goats and on going to the bushes when the woman seemed entangled she found out the trick she made such lament that the people of the village came running and Goudou and Isuru jumped up also and pretended to be as surprised and interested as the rest but they must have looked guilty after all for suddenly an old man pointed to them and cried those are thieves and at the sound of his voice the big Goudou trembled all over how dare you say such things how dare you to prove it answered Isuru boldly and he danced forward and turned head over heels and shook himself before them all I spoke hastily you are innocent said the old man but now let the baboon do likewise and when Goudou began to jump the goats bones rattled and the people cried it is Goudou who is the goat slayer but Goudou answered nay I did not kill your goat it was Isuru and he ate the meat and hung the bones around my neck so it is he who should die and the people looked at each other for they knew not what to believe at length one man said let them both die but they may choose their own deaths then Isuru answered if we must die put us in the place where the wood is cut and heap it up all around us so that we cannot escape and set fire to the wood if it is burned and the other is not then he that is burned is the goat slayer and the people did as Isuru had said but Isuru knew of a hole under the wood pile and when the fire was kindled he ran into the hole but Goudou died there when the fire had burned itself out and only ashes were left where the wood had been Isuru came out of his hole and said to the people low did I not speak well he who killed your goat is among those ashes end of how Isuru the Rabbit tricked Goudou recording by Paul Brown Lempala, Finland Chapter 5 of the Orange 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 Jadapi the Orange Fairy Book by Andrew Lang Ian the Soldier's Son Moshona Story They're dwelt a night in Grianag of the land of the west who had three daughters and for goodness and beauty they had not their like in all the isles all the people loved them and loud was the weeping when one day as the three maidens sat on the rocks on the edge of the sea dipping their feet in the water there arose a great beast from under the waves and swept them away beneath the ocean and none knew whether they had gone or how to seek them now there lived in a town a few miles off a soldier who had three sons fine youths and strong and the best players at Shinni in that country at Christmas tide that year when families met together and great feasts were held Ian the youngest of the three brothers said let us have a match at Shinni on the lawn of the night of Grianag for his lawn is wider and the grass smoother than ours but the others answered nay for he is in sorrow and he will think of the games that we have played there when his daughters looked on let him be pleased or angry as he will said Ian we will drive our ball on his lawn today and so it was done and Ian won three games from his brothers the night looked out of his window and was wroth and bade his men bring the youths before him when he stood in his hall and beheld him his heart was soft and somewhat but his face was angry as he asked why did you choose to play Shinni in front of my castle when you knew full well that the remembrance of my daughters would come back to me the pain which you have made me suffer you shall suffer also since we have done you wrong answered Ian the youngest build us a ship and we will go and seek your daughters let them be to Windward or to Leeward or under the four brown boundaries of the sea we will find them before a year and a day goes by and we'll carry them back to Grianag in seven days the ship was built and great store of food and wine placed in her and the three brothers put her head to the sea and sailed away as the ship ran herself onto a beach of white sand and they all went ashore they had none of them ever seen that land before and looked about them then they saw that a short way from them a number of men were working on a rock with one man standing over them what place is this asked the eldest brother and the man who was standing by made answer this is the place where dwell the three daughters of the night of Grianag who are to be wedded tomorrow to three giants how can we find them asked the young man again and the overlooker answered to reach the daughters of the night of Grianag you must get into this basket and be drawn by a rope up the face of this rock oh that is easily done said the eldest brother jumping into the basket which at once began to move up till he had gone about half way when a fat black raven flew at him and pecked him till he was nearly blind so that he was forced to go back the way he had come after that the second brother got into the creel but he fared no better for the raven flew upon him and he returned as his brother had done now it is my turn said Ian but when he was half way up the raven set upon him also quick cried Ian to the men who held the rope quick quick or I shall be blinded and the men polled with all their might and in another moment Ian was on top and the raven behind him will you give me a piece of tobacco asked the raven who was now quite quiet you rascal am I to give you tobacco for trying to peck my eyes out answered Ian that was part of my duty the raven but give it to me and I will prove a good friend to you so Ian broke off a piece of tobacco and gave it to him the raven hid it under his wing and then went on now I will take you to the house of the big giant where the knight's daughter sits sowing sowing till even her thimble is wet with tears and the raven hopped before him till they reached a large house the door of which stood open they entered and passed through one hall after the other until they found the knight's daughter as the bird had said what brought you here? asked she and Ian made answer why may I not go where you can go I was brought hither by a giant replied she I know that said Ian but tell me where the giant is that I may find him he is on the hunting hill answered she that will bring him home save a shake of the iron chain which hangs outside the gate but there neither to leeward nor to windward nor in the four brown boundaries of the sea is there any man that can hold battle against him save only Ian the soldier's son and he is now but sixteen years old and how shall he stand against the giant in the land once I have come there are many men with the strength of Ian answered he went outside and pulled at the chain but he could not move it and fell onto his knees at that he rose swiftly and gathering up his strength he seized the chain and this time he shook it so that the link broke and the giant heard it on the hunting hill and lifted his head thinking it sounds like the noise of Ian the soldier's son said he but as yet he is only sixteen years old still I had better look to it and home he came are you Ian the soldier's son he asked as he entered the castle no of a surety answered the youth who had no wish that they should know him then who are you in the leeward or in the windward or in the four brown boundaries of the sea who are able to move my battle chain that will be plain to you after wrestling with me I wrestled with my mother and one time she got the better of me and two times she did not so they wrestled and twisted and strove with each other till the giant forced Ian to his knee you are the stronger said Ian and the giant answered all men know that and they took hold of each other once more and at last Ian threw the giant and wished that the raven were there to help him no sooner had he wished his wish than the raven came put your hand under my right wing and you will find a knife sharp enough to take off his head said the raven and the knife was so sharp that it cut off the giant's head with a blow now go and tell the daughter of the king of granag but take heed lest you listen to her words and promise to go no further for she will seek to help you instead seek the middle daughter and when you have found her you shall give me a piece of tobacco for reward well have you earned the half of all I have answered Ian but the raven shook his head you know only what has passed and nothing of what lies before if you would not fail wash yourself in clean water and take balsam from a vessel on top of the door and rub it over your body and tomorrow you will be as strong as many men and I will lead you to the dwelling of the middle one Ian did as the raven bade him and in spite of the eldest daughters and treaties he set out to seek her next sister he found her where she was seated sowing her very thimble wet from the tears which she had shed what brought you here asked the second sister why may I not go where you can go answered he and why are you weeping because in one day I shall be married to the giant who is on the hunting hill how can I get him home asked Ian not will bring him but a shake of that iron chain which hangs outside the gate but there is neither to leeward nor to westward nor in the four brown boundaries of the sea any man that can hold battle with him save Ian the soldier's son and he is now but sixteen years of age in the land once I have come there are many men with the strength of Ian said he and he went outside and pulled at the chain but he could not move it and fell on his knees at that he rose to his feet and gathering up his strength mightily he seized the chain and this time he shook it so that three links broke and the second giant heard it on the hunting hill and lifted his head thinking it sounds like the noise of Ian the soldier's son said he but as yet he is only sixteen years old still I had better look to it and home he came are you Ian the soldier's son he asked as he entered the castle no of a surety answered the youth who had no wish that this giant should know him either but I will wrestle with you as if I were he then they seized each other by the shoulder the giant threw him on his two knees you are the stronger cried Ian but I am not beaten yet and rising to his feet he threw his arms round the giant backwards and forwards they swayed and first one was uppermost and then the other but at length Ian worked his leg round the giants and threw him to the ground then he called to the raven and the raven came flapping towards him and said put your hand under my right wing and you will find there a knife sharp enough to take off his head and sharp indeed it was for with a single blow the giants head rolled from his body now wash yourself with warm water and rub yourself over with oil of balsam and tomorrow you will be as strong as many men but beware of the words of the night's daughter for she is cunning and will try to keep you at her side so farewell but first give me a piece of tobacco that I will gladly answered Ian breaking off a large bit he washed and rubbed himself that night as the raven had told him and the next morning he entered the chamber where the night's daughter was sitting abide here with me she said and be my husband there is silver and gold in plenty in the castle but he took no heed and went on his way till he reached the castle where the night's youngest daughter was sowing in the hall and tears dropped from her eyes onto her thimble what brought you here as she and Ian made answer why may I not go where you can go I was brought hither by a giant I know full well said he are you Ian the soldier's son asked she again and again he answered yes I am but tell me why are you weeping tomorrow the giant will return from the hunting hill and I must marry him she sobbed and Ian took no heed and only said how can I bring him home shake the iron chain that hangs outside the gate and Ian went out and gave such a pull to the chain that he fell down at full length from the force of the shake but in a moment he was on his feet again and seized the chain with so much strength that four lengths came off in his hand and the giant heard him in the hunting hill as he was putting the game he had killed into a bag in the leeward or the windward or in the four brown boundaries of the sea there is none who could give my chain a shake save only Ian the soldier's son and if he has reached me then he has left my two brothers dead behind me with that he strode back to the castle the earth trembling under him as he went are you Ian the soldier's son asked he and the youth answered no of assurity then who are you in the leeward or the windward or in the four brown boundaries of the sea who are able to shake my battle chain there is only Ian the soldier's son who can do this and he is but now sixteen years old I will show you who I am when you have wrestled with me said Ian and they threw their arms round each other and the giant forced Ian onto his knees but in a moment he was up again and crooked his leg round the shoulders of the giant he threw him heavily to the ground Stumpy black raven come quick cried he and the raven came and beat the giant about the head with his wings so that he could not get up then he made Ian take out a sharp knife from under his feathers which he carried with him for cutting berries and Ian smote off the giant's head with it and so sharp was that knife that with one blow the giant's head rolled on the ground rest now this night also said the raven and tomorrow you shall take the night's three daughters to the edge of the rock that leads to the lower world but take he to go down first yourself and let them follow after you and before I go you shall give me a piece of tobacco take it all answered Ian for well have you earned it no give me but a piece you know what is behind you but you have no knowledge of what is before you and picking up the tobacco in his beak the raven flew away so the next morning the night's youngest daughter loaded asses with all the silver and gold to be found in the castle and she set out with Ian the soldier's son for the house where her second sister was waiting to see what would befall she also had asses laid and with precious things to carry away and so had the elder sister when they reached the castle where she had been kept a prisoner together they all rode to the edge of the rock and then Ian lay down and shouted and the basket was drawn up and in it they got one by one and were let down to the bottom when the last one was gone Ian should have gone also and left the three sisters to come after him but he had forgotten the raven's warning and bade them go first lest some accident should happen only he begged the youngest sister to let him keep the little gold cap which like the others she wore on her head and then he helped them each in her turn into the basket long he waited the wait as he might the basket never came back for in their joy at being free the night's daughters had forgotten all about Ian and had set sail in the ship that had brought him and his brothers to the land of Grianag at last he began to understand what had happened to him while he was taking counsel with himself what had best be done the raven came to him you did not heed my words he said gravely no I did not and therefore am I here answered Ian bowing his head the past cannot be undone went on the raven he that will not take counsel will take combat this night you will sleep in the giant's castle and now you shall give me a piece of tobacco I will but I pray you stay in the castle with me that I may not do but on the morrow I will come and on the morrow he did and he bade Ian go to the giant's stable where stood a horse to whom it mattered nothing if she journeyed over land or sea but be careful he added how you enter the stable for the door swings without ceasing too and fro and if it touches you it will cause you to cry out I will go first and show you the way go said Ian and the raven gave a bob and a hop and thought he was quite safe but the door slammed on a feather of his tail and he screamed loudly then Ian took a run backwards and a run forwards and made a spring but the door caught one of his feet and he fell fainting on the stable floor quickly the raven pounced on him and picked him up in his beak and claws and carried him back to the castle where he laid ointments on his foot till it was as well as ever it was now come out to walk said the raven but take heed that you wonder not at ought you may behold neither shall you touch anything and first give me a piece of tobacco many strange things did Ian behold in that island more than he had thought for in a glen lay three heroes stretched on their backs done to death by three spears that still stuck in their breasts but he kept his counsel and spake nothing only he pulled out the spears and the men sat up and said you are Ian the soldier's son and a spell is laid upon you to travel in our company to the cave of the black fisherman so together they went till they reached the cave and one of the men entered to see what should be found there and he beheld a hag horrible to look upon seated on a rock and before he could speak she struck him with her club and changed him into a stone and in like manner she dealt with the other three at the last Ian entered these three men are under spells said the witch and alive they can never be till you have anointed them with the water which you must fetch from the island of big women see that you do not tarry and Ian turned away with a sinking heart for he would feign have followed the youngest daughter of the knight of Grianag you did not obey my counsel said the raven hopping towards him and so trouble has come upon you but sleep now and tomorrow you shall mount the horse which is in the giant stable that can gallop over sea and land when you reach the island of big women sixteen boys will come to meet you and will offer the horse food and wish to take her saddle and bridle from her but see that they touch her knot and give her food yourself and yourself lead her into the stable and shut the door and be sure that for every turn of the lock given by the sixteen stable lads you give one and now you shall break me off a piece of tobacco the next morning Ian arose and led the horse from the stable without the door hurting him and he rode across the sea to the island of the big women where the sixteen stable lads met him and each one offered to take his horse and to feed her and to put her into the stable but Ian only answered I myself will put her in and will see to her and thus he did and while he was rubbing her sides the horse said to him every kind of drink will they offer you but see you take none save way and water only and so it fell out and when the sixteen stable boys saw that he would drink nothing they drank it all themselves and one by one they stretched around the board then Ian felt pleased in his heart that he had withstood their fair words and he forgot the council that the horse had likewise given him saying beware lest you fall asleep and let slip the chance of getting home again for while the lads were sleeping sweet music reached his ears and he slept also when this came to pass the steed broke through the stable door and kicked him and woke him roughly you did not heed my council said she and who knows if it is not too late to win over the sea but first take that sword which hangs on the wall and cut off the heads of the sixteen grooms filled with shame at being once more proved heedless Ian arose and did the horse bade him then he ran to the well and poured some of the water into a leather bottle and jumping on the horse's back rode over the sea to the island where the raven was waiting for him lead the horse into the stable said the raven and lie down yourself to sleep for tomorrow you must make the heroes to live again and must lay the hag and have a care not to be so foolish tomorrow as you were today stay with me for company begged Ian but the raven shook his head and flew away in the morning Ian awoke and hastened to the cave where the old hag was sitting and he struck her dead as she was before she could cast spells on him next he sprinkled the water over the heroes who came to life again and together they all journeyed to the other side of the island and there the raven met them at last you have followed the council that was given you said the raven and now having learned wisdom you may go home again to Grianag there you will find that the knight's two eldest daughters are to be wedded this day to your two brothers and the youngest to the chief of the men at the rock but her gold cap and if you want it you have only to think of me and I will bring it to you and one more warning I give you if anyone asks you once you came answer that you have come from behind you and if anyone asks you whether you are going say that you are going before you so Ian mounted the horse and set her face to the sea and her back to the shore she was off away and away till she reached the church of Grianag and there in a field of grass beside a well of water he leaped down from his saddle now the horse said to him draw your sword and cut off my head but Ian answered poor thanks would that be for all the help I have had from you it is the only way that I can free myself by the giants on me and the raven for I was a girl and he was a youth wooing me so have no fears but do as I have said then Ian drew his sword as she bade him and cut off her head and went on his way without looking backwards as he walked he saw a woman standing at her house door she asked him once he had come and he answered as the raven that he had come from behind next she inquired with her he was going and this time he made reply that he was going on before him but that he was thirsty and like a drink you are an impudent fellow said the woman but you shall have a drink and she gave him some milk which was all she had till her husband came home where is your husband asked Ian the woman answered him he is at the night's castle trying to fashion gold and silver into a cap for the youngest daughter like unto the caps that her sisters wear such as are not to be found in all this land but see he is returning and now we shall hear how he has sped at that the man entered the gate and beholding a strange youth he said to him what is your trade boy smith replied Ian and the man answered good luck has befalled me then for you can help me to make a cap for the night's daughter you cannot make that cap and you know it said Ian well I must try replied the man or I shall be hanged on a tree so it were a good deed to help me I will help you if I can said Ian but keep the gold and silver for yourself and lock me into the smithy tonight and I will work my spells so the man wondering to himself locked him in as soon as the key was turned in the lock Ian wished for the raven and the raven came to him carrying the cap in his mouth now take my head off said the raven but Ian answered poor thanks for that for all the help you have given me it is the only thanks you can give me said the raven for I was a youth like yourself before spells were laid on me then Ian drew his sword and cut off the head of the raven and shut his eyes so that he might see nothing after that he lay down and slept till morning dawn and the man came and unlocked the door and shook the sleeper here is the cap said Ian drowsily drawing it from under his pillow he fell asleep again directly the sun was high in the heavens when he woke again and this time he beheld a tall brown haired youth standing by him I am the raven said the youth and the spells are broken but now get up and come with me then they too went together to the place where Ian had left the dead horse but no horse was there now only a beautiful maiden I am the horse she said and the spells are broken and she and the youth went away together in the meantime the smith had carried the cap to the castle and bet his servant belonging to the night's youngest daughter buried to her mistress but when the girl's eyes fell on it she cried out he speaks false and if he does not bring me the man who really made the cap I will hang him on the tree beside my window the servant was filled with fear at her words and hastened and told the smith who ran as fast as he could to seek for Ian and when he found him and brought him into the castle the girl was first struck dumb with joy then she declared that she would marry nobody else at this someone fetched to her the night of griennag and when Ian had told his tale he vowed that the maiden was right and that his elder daughters should never wed with the man who had not only taken glories themselves which did not belong to them but had left the real doer of the deans to his fate and the wedding guest said that the night had spoken well and the two elder brothers were feigned to leave the country for no one would converse with them and of Ian the soldier's son recording by Jadafi www.publicdomainaudiobooks.blogspot.com Chapter 6 of the Orange 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 Kathleen Costa The Orange Fairy Book by Andrew Lang The Fox and the Wolf from Tales of the West Highlands At the foot of some high mountains there was once upon a time a small village and a little way off two roads met one of them going to the east and the other to the west the villagers were quiet hardworking folk who toiled in the fields all day and in the evening set out for home when the bell began to ring in the little church In the summer mornings they led out their flocks to pasture and were happy and contented from sunrise to sunset In the summer night when a round full moon shone down upon the white road a great wolf came trotting round the corner I positively must get a good meal before I go back to my den he said to himself it is nearly a week since I have tasted anything but scraps though perhaps no one would think it to look at my figure Of course there are plenty of rabbits and hares in the mountains but indeed one needs to be a greyhound to catch them not so young as I was if I could only dine off that fox I saw fortnight ago curled up into a delicious hairy ball I should ask nothing better I would have eaten her then but unluckily her husband was lying beside her and one knows that foxes great and small run like the wind really it seems as if there was not a living creature left for me to pray upon but a wolf and as the proverb says the fox does not bite another however let us see what this village can produce I am as hungry as a school master now while these thoughts were running through the mind of the wolf the very fox he had been thinking of was galloping along the other road the whole of this day I have listened to those village hens clucking till I could bear it no longer murmured she as she bounded along hardly seeming to touch the ground when you are fond of fowls and eggs of all music as sure as there is a sun in heaven I will have some of them this night for I have grown so thin that my very bones rattle and my poor babies are crying for food and as she spoke she reached a little plot of grass where the two roads joined and flung herself under a tree to take a little rest and to settle her plans at this moment the wolf came up at the side of the fox lying within his grasp his mouth in the ante water but his joy was somewhat checked when he noticed how thin she was the fox's quick ears heard the sound of his paws though they were soft as velvet and turning her head she said politely is that you neighbor what a strange place to meet in I hope you are quite well quite well as regards my health answered the wolf whose eyes glistened greedily at least as well as one can be but what is the matter with you a fortnight ago you were as plump as heart could wish I have been ill very ill replied the fox and what you say is quite true a warm as fat in comparison with me he is still you are good enough for me for to the hungry no bread as hot oh you are always joking I'm sure you are not half as hungry as I that we shall soon see he cried the wolf opening his huge mouth and crouching for a spring what are you doing exclaimed the fox stepping backwards what am I doing what I am going to do is make my supper of you in less time than a cock takes to crow well I suppose you must have your joke answered the fox lightly but never removing her eye from the wolf who replied with a snarl which showed all his teeth I don't want to joke but to eat but surely a person of your talents must perceive that you might eat me to the very last morsel and never know that you had swallowed anything at all in this world the cleverest people are always the hungriest replied the wolf ah how true that is but I can't stop to listen to your butts and yet broken the wolf rudely let us get to the point and the point is that I want to eat you and talk to you have you no pity for a poor mother asked the fox putting her tail to her eyes but peeping slyly out of them all the same I am dying of hunger answered the wolf doggedly and you know he added with a grin that charity begins at home quite so replied the fox it would be unreasonable of me to object to your satisfying your appetite at my expense but if the fox resigns herself to the sacrifice the mother offers you one last request then be quick and don't waste my time for I can't wait much longer what is it you want you must know said the fox that in this village there is a rich man who makes in the summer enough cheeses to last him for the whole year and keeps them in an old well now dry in his courtyard by the well hang two buckets on a pole that were used in former days to draw up water for many nights I have crept down to the palace and have lowered myself in the bucket bringing home with me enough cheese to feed the children all I beg of you is to come with me and instead of hunting chickens and such things I will make a good meal of cheese before I die but the cheeses may be all finished by now if you are only to see the quantities of them laughed the fox and even if they were finished there would always be me to eat well I will come away but I warn you that if you try to escape or play any tricks you are reckoning without your host that is to say without my legs which were as long as yours all was silent in the village and not a light was to be seen but that of the moon which shone bright and clear in the sky the wolf and the fox crept softly along when suddenly they stopped and looked at each other a savoury smell of frying bacon reached their noses of the sleeping dogs who began to bark greedily is it safe to go on thank you asked the wolf in a whisper and the fox shook her head not while the dogs are barking said she someone might come out and see if anything is the matter and she signed to the wolf to curl himself up in the shadow beside her in about half an hour the dogs grew tired of barking or perhaps the bacon was eaten up and there was no smell to excite them then the wolf and the fox jumped up and hastened to the foot of the wall I am lighter than he is thought the fox to herself and perhaps if I make haste I can get a start and jump over the wall on the other side before he manages to spring over this one and she quickened her pace but if the wolf could not run he could jump and with one bound he was beside his companion what were you going to do comrade oh nothing replied the fox much vexed by the failure of her plan I think if I were to take a bit out of your haunch you would jump better said the wolf giving a snap at her as he spoke the fox drew back uneasily be careful or I shall scream she snarled and the wolf understanding all that might happen if the fox carried out her threat gave a signal to his companion to leap on the wall where he immediately followed her once on the top they crouched down and looked about them as it was to be seen in the courtyard and in the furthest corner from the house stood the well with its two buckets suspended from a pole just as the fox had described it the two thieves dragged themselves noiselessly along the wall until they were opposite the well and by stretching out her neck as far as it would go the fox was able to make out that there was only very little water in the bottom but just enough to reflect the moon big and round and yellow how lucky the wolf cried she to the wolf there was a huge cheese about the size of a mill-wheel look look did you ever see anything so beautiful never answered the wolf peering over in his turn his eye glistening greedily for he imagined that the moon's reflection in the water was really a cheese and now unbeliever what of you to say and the fox laughed gently that you are a woman I mean a fox of your word replied the wolf well then go down in that bucket and eat your fill said the fox oh is that your game asked the wolf with a grin no no the person who goes down in this bucket will be you and if you don't go down your head will go without you of course I will go down and with the greatest pleasure answered the fox who had expected the wolf's reply and be sure you don't eat all the cheese or it will be worse for you continued the wolf answered him with tears in her eyes farewell suspicious one she said sadly and climbed into the bucket in an instant she had reached the bottom of the well and found that the water was not deep enough to cover her legs why it is larger and richer than I thought cried she turning towards the wolf who was leaning over the wall of the well then be quick and bring it up commanded the wolf how can I when it weighs more than I do asked the fox so heavy bring it in two bits of course said he but I have no knife answered the fox you will have to come down yourself and we will carry it up between us and how am I to come down inquired the wolf oh you are really very stupid get into the other bucket that is nearly over your head the wolf looked up and saw the bucket hanging there and with some difficulty he climbed into it as he weighed at least four times the bucket went down with a jerk and the other bucket in which the fox was seated came to the surface as soon as he understood what was happening the wolf began to speak like an angry wolf but was a little comforted when he remembered that the cheese still remained to him but where is the cheese he asked of the fox who in her turn was leaning over the parapet watching his proceedings with a smile the cheese answered the fox I am taking it home to my babies who are too young to get food for themselves ah traitor cried the wolf howling with rage but the fox was not there to hear the insult for she had gone off to a neighbouring fowl house where she had noticed some fat young chickens the day before perhaps I did treat him rather badly she said to herself but it seems getting cloudy and if there should be heavy rain I feel and sink to the bottom and his will go up at least it may End of Chapter 6 The Fox and the Wolf from Tales of the West Highlands read by Kathleen Castor Chapter 7 of the Orange 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 Kate McKenzie by Andrew Lang How Ian Derich got the blue falcon Long ago a king and queen ruled over the islands of the west and they had one son whom they loved dearly the boy grew up to be tall and strong and handsome and he could run and shoot and swim and dive better than any lad of his own age in the country besides he knew how to sail about and sing songs to the harp and during the winter evenings when everyone was gathered round the huge whole fire shaping bows or weaving cloth Ian Derich would tell them tales of the deeds of his fathers so the time slipped by till Ian was almost a man as they reckoned men in those days and then his mother the queen died there was great mourning throughout all the isles and the boy and his father mourned her bitterly also but before the new year came the king had married another wife and seemed to have forgotten his old one only Ian remembered on a morning when the leaves were yellow in the trees of the Glen Ian slung his bow over his shoulder and filling his quiver with arrows went on to the hill in search of game but not a bird was to be seen anywhere till at length a blue falcon flew past him raising his bow he took aim at her his eye was straight and his hand steady but the falcon's flight was swift and he only shot a feather from her wing as the sun was now low over the sea he put the feather in his game bag and set out homewards have you brought me much game today asked his stepmother as he entered the hall not save this he answered handing her the feather of the blue falcon which he held and gazed out silently then she turned to Ian and said I am setting it on you as crosses and as spells and as the fall of the year that you may always be cold and wet and dirty and that your shoes may ever have pools in them till you bring me hither the blue falcon on which that feather grew if it is spells you are laying I can lay them too answered Ian to reach and you shall stand with one foot on the house and another on the castle till I come back again and your face shall be to the wind from wheresoever it shall blow then he went away to seek the bird as his stepmother bade him and looking homewards from the hill he saw the queen standing with one foot on the great house and the other on the castle and her face turned towards whatever tempest should blow on he journeyed over hills and through rivers till he reached a wide plain and never a glimpse did he catch of the falcon darker and darker it grew and the small birds were seeking their nests and at length Ian to reach could see no more and he lay down under some bushes and sleep came to him and in his dream a soft nose touched him and a warm body curled up beside him and a low voice whispered to him fortune is against you Ian did each I have but the cheek in the hoof of a sheep to give you and with these you must be content with that Ian to reach a woke and beheld Gilly Martin the fox between them they kindled a fire and ate their supper then Gilly Martin the fox bade Ian to reach lie down as before and sleep till morning and in the morning when he awoke Gilly Martin said the falcon that you seek is in the keeping of the giant necks and the five humps I will show you the way to his house and I cancel you to do his bidding nimbly and cheerfully and above all to treat his birds kindly for in this manner he may give you his falcon to feed and care for and when this happens wait till the giant is out of his house then throw a cloth over the falcon and bear her away with you only see that not one of her feathers touches anything in the house all evil will befall you thank you for your counsel spake Ian to reach and I will be careful to follow it then he took the path to the giant's house who is there cried the giant as someone knocked loudly on the door of his house one who seeks work as a servant answered Ian to reach and what can you do asked the giant again I can feed birds and ten pigs I can feed a milk a cow and also goats and sheep if you have any of these replied Ian to reach then enter for I have great need of such a one said the giant so Ian to reach entered and tended so well and carefully all the birds and beasts that the giant was better satisfied than ever he had been and at length he thought that he might even be trusted to feed the falcon and the heart of Ian was glad and he tended the blue falcon till his feathers shone like the sky and the giant was well pleased and one day he said to him for long my brothers on the other side of the mountain have besought me to visit them but never could I go for fear of my falcon now I think I can leave her with you for one day and before nightfall I shall be back again scarcely was the giant out of sight next morning when Ian to reach sees the falcon and throwing a cloth over her head hastened with her to the door but the rays of the sun pierced through the thickness of the cloth and as they passed the doorpost she gave a spring and the tip of one of her feathers touched the post which gave a scream and brought the giant back in three strides Ian to reach trembled as he saw him but the giant only said if you wish for my falcon you must first bring me the white sword of light that is in the house of the big women of Uri and where do they live asked Ian but the giant answered ah that is for you to discover and Ian dared say no more and hastened down to the waist there as he hoped he met his friend Guillémertine the fox who bade him eat his supper and lie down to sleep and when he had waken next morning the fox said to him let us go down to the shore of the sea and to the shore of the sea they went and after they had reached the shore and beheld the sea stretching before them and the isle of Yura in the midst of it the soul of Ian sunk and he turned to Guillémertine and asked him why he had brought him thither for the giant when he had sent him had known full well that without a boat he could never find the big women do not be cast down answered the fox it is quite easy I will change myself into a boat and you shall go on board me and I will carry you over the sea to the seven big women of Yura tell them that you are skilled in brightening silver and gold and if you are careful to please them they will give you the white sort of light to make brightening shining but when you seek to steal it take heed that its sheath touches nothing inside the house or ill will befall you so Ian DeReach did all things as the fox had told him and the seven big women of Yura took him for their servant and for six weeks he worked so hard that his seven mistresses said to each other never as a servant had the skill to make all brightening like this one let us give him the white sort of light to polish like the rest then they brought forth the white sort of light from the iron closet where it hung and bade him rub it till he could see his face in the shining blade and he did so but one day when the seven big women were out of the way he bethought him that the moment had come for him to carry off the sword and replacing it in its sheath he hoisted it on his shoulder but just as he was passing through the door the tip of the sheath touched it and the door gave a loud shriek and the big women heard it and came running back and took the sword from him and said if it is our sword you want you must first bring us the big cult of the king of Eren humbled and ashamed Ian DeReach left the house and sat by the side of the sea and soon Gilimete and the fox came to him plainly I see that you have taken no heed to my words Ian DeReach spoke the fox but eat first and yet once more I will help you at these words the heart returned again to Ian DeReach and he gathered sticks and made a fire and ate with Gilimete and the fox and slept on the sand at dawn next morning Gilimeteen said to Ian DeReach I will change myself into a ship and will bury you across the seas to Eren to the land where dwells the king and you shall offer yourself to serve in his stable and to tend his horses till at length so well content is he that he gives you the big cult to wash and brush but when you run away with her see that not except the souls of her hoofs touch anything within the palace gates or it will go ill with you after he had this cancelled Ian DeReach the fox changed himself into a ship and set sail for Eren and the king of that country gave in to Ian DeReach's hands the care of his horses and never before did their skins shine so brightly or was their pace so swift and the king was well pleased and at the end of a month he sent for Ian and said to him you have given me faithful service and now I will entrust you with the most precious thing that my kingdom holds and when he had spoken he led Ian DeReach to the stable where stood the bay cult and Ian rubbed her and fed her and galloped with her all round the country till he could leave one wind behind him and catch the other which was in front and going away to hunt said the king one morning while he was watching Ian tend the bay cult in her stable the deer have come down from their hill and it's time for me to give them a chase then he went away and when he was no longer in sight Ian DeReach led the bay cult out of the stable and sprang on her back but as they rode through the gate which stood between the palace and the outer world the cult switched her tail against the post which shrieked loudly in a moment the king came running up and he seized the cult's bridle if you want my beer cult you must first bring me the daughter of the king of the francs with slow steps went Ian DeReach down to the shore where Gilimete and the fox awaited him plainly I see that you have not done as I bid you nor will you ever do it spoke Gilimete and the fox but I will help you yet again for a third time I will change myself into a ship and we will sail to France and to France they sailed and as he was the ship the Gilimete sailed where he would and ran himself into the cleft of a rock high onto the land then he commanded Ian DeReach in his palace saying that he had been wrecked that his ship was made fast in a rock and that none had been saved but himself only Ian DeReach listened to the words of the fox and he told a tale so pitiful that the king and queen and the princess their daughter all came out to hear it and when they had heard nought would please them except to go down to the shore and visit the ship and battered was she as if she had passed through many dangers yet music of a wondrous sweetness poured forth from within bring here the boat cried the princess the time I go and see for myself the harp that gives forth such music and a boat was brought and Ian DeReach stepped in to row it to the side of the ship to the further side he rowed so that none could see and when he helped the princess on board he went back to it again and the music sounded always sweeter though they could never see whence it came and sought it from one part of the vessel to another when at last they reached the deck and looked around them nought of land could they see or anything save the rushing waters the princess stood silent and her face grew grim at last she said an ill trick you have played me what is this that you have done and whither how we going it is a quaint you will be answered Ian DeReach for the king of Eren has sent me for you and in return he will give me his bake hold that I may take him to the seven big women of Urei in exchange for the white sword of light this I must carry to the giant of the five heads and five necks and five humps and in place of it he will bestow on me the blue falcon which I have promised my stepmother so that she may free me from the spell which she has laid on me I would rather be wife to you answered the princess by and by the ship sailed into a harbour on the coast of Eren and cast anchor there and Gilemetine the fox-bait Ian DeReach tell the princess that she must bide yet a while in a cave amongst the rocks for they had business on land and after a while they would return to her then they took a boat and rode up to some rocks and as they touched the land Gilemetine to a fair woman who laughed and said to Ian DeReach I will give the king a fine wife now the king of Eren had been hunting on the hill and when he saw a strange ship sailing towards the harbour he guessed that it might be Ian DeReach and left his hunting and ran down to the hill to the stable hastily he led the bay colt from his stall and put the golden saddle on her back and the silver bridle over his head and with the colt bridle in his hand he hurried to meet the princess I have brought you the king of France's daughter said Ian DeReach and the king of Eren looked at the maiden and was well pleased not knowing that it was Gilemetine the fox and he bowed low and besought her to do him the honour to enter the palace and Gilemetine as he went in turned to look back at Ian DeReach and laughed in the great hall the king paused and pointed to an iron chest which stood in a corner and that chest is the crown that has waited for you for many years he said and at last you have come for it and he stooped down to unlock the box Ian an instant Gilemetine the fox had sprung on his back and gave him such a bite that he fell down unconscious quickly the fox took his own shape again and galloped away to the seashore where Ian DeReach and the princess and the bay colt awaited him I will become a ship Gilemetine and you shall go on board me and so he did and Ian DeReach let the bay colt onto the ship and the princess went after them and they set sail for Urai the wind was behind them and very soon they saw the rocks of Urai in front then spoke Gilemetine the fox let the bay colt and the king's daughter hide in these rocks and I will change myself into the colt and go with you to the house of the seven big women Joy filled the hearts of the big women when they beheld the bay colt led up to their door by Ian DeReach and the youngest of them fetched the white sword of light and gave it into the hands of Ian DeReach who took off the golden saddle and the silver bridle and went down the hill with the sword to the place where the princess and the real colt awaited him now we shall have the ride that we have longed for cried the seven big women and they saddled and bridled the colt and the eldest one got upon the saddle then the second sister sat on the back of the first and the third on the back of the second and so on for the whole seven and when they were all seated the eldest struck her side with a whip and the colt bounded forward over the moors she flew and round and round the mountains and still the big women clung to her and snorted with pleasure at last she leapt high in the air and came down on top of Monai the high hill where the crag is and she rested her four feet on the crag and threw up her hind legs and the seven big women fell over the crag and were dead when they reached the bottom and the colt laughed and became a fox again and galloped away to the seashore where Ian did reach and the princess and the real colt and the white sword of light were awaiting him I will make myself into a ship said Gilliametine the fox and will carry you in the princess and the big colt and the white sword of light back to the land Gilliametine the fox took back his own shape and spoke to Ian DeReach in this wise let the princess and the white sword of light and the bay colt remain among the rocks and I will change myself into the likeness of the white sword of light and you shall bear me to the giant and instead he will give you the blue falcon and Ian DeReach did as the fox paid him and set out for the giant's castle from afar the giant beheld the blaze of the white sword of light and his heart rejoiced and he took the blue falcon and put it in a basket and gave it to Ian DeReach who bore it swiftly away to the place where the princess and the bay colt and the real sword of light were awaiting him so well content was the giant to possess the sword he had coveted for many a year that he began at once to whirl it through the air and to cut and slash with it for a little while Gilliametine let the giant play with him in this manner then he turned in the giant's hand and cut through the five necks so that the five heads rolled on the ground afterwards he went back to Ian DeReach and said to him saddle the colt with a golden saddle and bridle her with a silver bridle and sling the basket with a falcon over your shoulders and hold the white sword of light with his back against your nose then mount the colt and let the princess mount behind you and ride thus to your father's palace but see that the back of the sword is ever against your nose else when your stepmother beholds you she will change you into a dry faggot if however you do as I bid you she will become herself a bundle of sticks Ian DeReach harkened to the words of Gilliametine and his stepmother fell as a bundle of sticks before him and he set fire to her and was free from her spells forever after that he married the princess who was the best wife in all the islands of the west henceforth he was safe from harm for had he not the bay colt who could leave one wind behind her and catch the other wind and the blue falcon to bring him game to eat and the white sword of light to pierce through his foes and Ian DeReach knew that all this he owed to Gilliametine the fox and he made a compact with him that he might choose any beast out of his herds whenever hunger seized him and that henceforth no arrow should be let fly at him or at any of his race but Gilliametine the fox would take no reward for the help he had given to Ian DeReach only his friendship thus all things prospered with Ian DeReach till he died from tales of the west highlands end of how Ian DeReach got the blue falcon recording by Kate McKenzie