Pagina 118 di 626

And as she leaned down to drink, the lock of hair fell from her

bosom, and floated away with the water. Now she was so frightened

that she did not see it; but her maid saw it, and was very glad,

for she knew the charm; and she saw that the poor bride would be

in her power, now that she had lost the hair. So when the bride

had done drinking, and would have got upon Falada again, the maid

said, 'I shall ride upon Falada, and you may have my horse

instead'; so she was forced to give up her horse, and soon

afterwards to take off her royal clothes and put on her maid's

shabby ones.

At last, as they drew near the end of their journey, this

treacherous servant threatened to kill her mistress if she ever

told anyone what had happened. But Falada saw it all, and marked

it well.