The Olive Fairy Book

gh which flows the river Nile, there lived

of everything, and as he grew bigger he became more and more frightened

elephant, and trembling with fear if a lion cub half his size comes near him; but,

em, ‘it will be all right by-and-by.’ But, somehow, he sighe

and pleasant, and was liked by all, and if during his father’s hunting parties he was s

o be a child,’ murmured the rest of the people, as they had done before; and on

e the heads of other men, who will defe

rried off into slavery by their enemies. Now was the time for Samba to show the brave spirit that had come to him with his manhood, and to ri

ich he had tracked to its lair and killed, at the risk of his own life. A little while earli

spare him. At length he could bear it no longer, and made up his mind to leave his own land for another where peace had reigned since the memo

of a lion would cause him to start so violently, that he almost fell from his horse. A dozen times he was on the point of turning back, and it was not the terror of the mocking words and scornful laughs that kept

ate and past the palace, where, as was her custom, the princess was

e, steered his way skilfully among the crowds; and, beckoning to a slave, she or

red the slave, when he had returned from questioning Samba. And the princess on hearing this news sum

he was quite alarmed lest no man should be good enough for her. Therefore, after a talk with Samba, who charmed him by his goo

er the palm trees, telling her the stories that she loved, or amusing her with tales of the manners and customs of his country, which were

r robbing expeditions. I should love so to see you ride out at the head of our men, to ch

d skulking

poke; but, to her surprise, his fac

to escape from them that I fled from my own land, and at

one as big as you being afraid of a Moor! But still, you mustn’t say th

y feeding on the slopes of a hill. Directly the loss was discovered, which was not for some hours, the king gave orders that the war drum should be beaten, and the warriors assembled in the great square before the pa

ain at her heart, there his wife found him, and she tried with all her strength to kindle in him a sense of shame, but in vain. Even the

glances to right and to left, Samba stripped off the armour inlaid with gold, the property of the king’s son-in-law. Silently his wife took, one by one, the pieces from him, and fastened them on her with firm hands, never ev

hat Samba was taking his rightful place, and cheered him loudly. The princess bowed in answer to their greeting, but kept her vizor down; and touching her horse with the spur, she galloped at the head of her troops to charge the enemy. The Moo

s head uneasily as the door opened and looked at his wife, not feeling sure how she might act towards him. However, he need not have been afraid of harsh words: she merely unbuttoned her armour as fast as possible, and bade him pu

d when Samba did show himself the shouts and applause became louder than ever. ‘See how modest he is!

princess’s youngest brother, whose sharp eyes had noted certain things during the fight which recalled his sister much more than they did her husb

ght; but the next time we give battle to the Moors I wi

column. This time the combat was fiercer than before, and in the thick of it her youngest brother drew near, and gave his sister a slight wound on the leg. At the moment she paid no heed to the pain, which, in

not be anxious; it is really nothing. You have only got to wound yourself slightly

and terror. ‘Can you possibly imagine that I should agree to anything

oice that seemed to come from a long way off; but, quick as thought, the

much more than from pain. But before he could speak his wife had

e is faint from loss of blood.’ And she took care that more than one person heard her words, so that

‘you see, O wise young brother, that we were right and you were wrong about Samba, and that he

tethered in a new and safer place, they were promptly carried off as before. ‘For,’ said the Moors to

e all the fighting men, the prin

arcely walk, and could not mount my horse without help. For to-

h a thing. Why, I might be wounded, or even killed! You

you will not go, at least you can help me harness my horse.’ And to this Samba, who was

harnessed, and when it wa

m, and when he was safe in the saddle, his wife dealt the horse a sharp cut with her whip, and he dashed off through the town and through the ranks of the warriors who were waiting for him. Instantly the

pressed hard, unable to escape, than something sprang into life within him, and he fought with

eople were louder than ever. When he returned, bearing with him the swo

show you how grateful I am

loyal when fear did not poss

e to whom thanks are due, for it is she who has

s. Par C. Monteil