Pagina 482 de 626

Then the prince thanked his little friend with the scarlet cloak

for his friendly aid, and took the wand and the bread, and went

travelling on and on, over sea and over land, till he came to his

journey's end, and found everything to be as the dwarf had told

him. The door flew open at the third stroke of the wand, and when

the lions were quieted he went on through the castle and came at

length to a beautiful hall. Around it he saw several knights

sitting in a trance; then he pulled off their rings and put them

on his own fingers. In another room he saw on a table a sword and

a loaf of bread, which he also took. Further on he came to a room

where a beautiful young lady sat upon a couch; and she welcomed

him joyfully, and said, if he would set her free from the spell

that bound her, the kingdom should be his, if he would come back

in a year and marry her.