The Violet Fairy Book

ch blossomed and bore fruit each night. But every morning the fruit was gone, and the

‘If only I could prevent those robbers fro

up to-night and watch the tree,

but the apples had scarcely begun to ripen before he fell asleep, and when he awoke at sunrise the a

t gaily at nightfall to watch the apple tree. But no sooner had he lain himself down than his eyes gr

swiftly through the air, and while eight alighted upon the boughs laden with fruit, the ninth fluttered to the ground where the prince lay, and instantly was changed into a beautiful maiden, more beautiful far than any lady in the emperor’s court. The prince at once fell in love with her, and they talked together for some time,

came back without bringing two golden apples with him, and they went to consult an old witch, who promised to spy after him, and discover how he managed to get the apples. So, when the evening came, the old woman hid herself under the tree and waited for the prince. Before long he arrived and laid down on his bed, and was soon fast asleep. Towards midnight there wa

her to death as fast as possible. But that did no good as far as the pea-hens went. They never came back any more, though the prince returned to the tree every night, and wept his heart out for his lost love. This went on for some time, till the prince could bear it no longer, and mad

was, why he was there, and how he had learnt the way, and he was not allowed to enter unless the empress herself came and gave him leave. A message was sent to her, and when she stood at the gate the prince thought he had lost his wits, for there was the

ave the keys of twelve cellars to his care. ‘If you wish to enter the first eleven cellars,’ said sh

, soon got tired of being by himself, and be

got to the twelfth he paused, but his curiosity was too much for him, and in another instant the key was turned and the cellar lay open before him. It was empty, save

e water at once, and pushed it through a hole in the

he second time, ‘Brother, for pity’s sake

nd brought some more water

d up the empress just as she was returning from her walk, and carried her off. Some servants who saw what had happened came rushing to the prince, and the poor young ma

f the dragon or his captive. At last he came to a stream, and as he stopped for a moment to look at it he notic

d put me back into the river, and I will repay you some day. Take one of my s

ales, as he had been told, and put it in his pocket, carefully wrapped in a cloth. Then h

, and I will help you when you are in need. Pull out one of my hairs,

, and continued his journey. And as he was going over the mountain h

y for it. Take a lock of my fur, and when you need me twist it in

ving any more adventures, till at length

ce, ‘tell me, if you can, whe

d followed his directions, till that same evening he reached the town where the dragon-emperor lived. When he entered the pa

able, and rode away at lightning speed. Hardly were they out of sight of the palace than the dragon ca

I do — have my supper as usual,

ind first,’ answered the horse

nted his horse and set out after the fugitives. In a short time he had come up w

the water when I was in the cask; but beware how you

uld bear it no longer and turned back to the palace, in spite of the dragon’s threats. Again the empress was

‘where he got that wonderful horse from, and then yo

t his enemy, he stol

s sat down near him, and began to coax and flat

riding yesterday. There cannot be another like

e ans

but he is in reality the best of the lot. He is twin brother to my own horse, and can fly as high as the clouds themselves. But no one can ever get this horse without first serving the old woman for three whole days. And besides the horses she has a foal and its mother, and the m

l she had learnt from her gaoler. The prince at once determined to seek the old woman on the top of the mountain, an

ng to you, l

you, my son! What

me your servant

ages, but if you let her stray you will lose your head’; and as she spoke she led him into a courtyard surrounded

e the head I a

answer, but turned t

me, on the same conditions as you, bu

waver, and declared he

he woke he found himself sitting on a log, with the halter in his hands. He jumped up in terror, but the mare was nowhere to be seen, and he started with a beating heart in search of her. He had gone some way without a single trace to guide him, w

rother?’ asked th

ed last night, and I don’t

d her foal into a little one. But strike the water with the halter an

round her neck, and rode her home, the foal always trotting behind them. The old woman was at t

fishes,’ cried the old woman,

the mare; ‘but they are no friends of

id she, and returned to the house, not k

: then a sleep overtook him that he could not battle against, and when he woke up he found himself, as before, sitting on the log, with the halter in his hands. He gave a shriek of dismay

asked the fox, who insta

n away from me, and I do not

a big fox, and her foal into a little one, but strike the ground

him, with the little foal at her heels. He mounted and rode back, and th

xes, as I told you,’ said she,

d the mare, ‘but they are no fr

wolves,’ said she, not knowing that the

rd to keep awake, but it was of no use, and in the morning there he was again on the log, grasping the halter. He star

er?’ asked the wolf a

from me,’ replied the prince, ‘an

into a she-wolf, and the foal into a cub; but strike the earth here

e, with the foal beside her. And when he had mounted and ridden her home the old woman was on the

ng the wolves,’ said she,

re, ‘but they are no frien

d left the stable, but the princ

well,’ said he, ‘an

answered she. ‘Choose one of these twel

ure in the corner,’ asked the prince. ‘I p

mean what you say?

led him into the forest, where he rubbed him down till his skin was shining like gold. Then he mounted, and they flew straight through the air to the drago

we do? Shall we eat and drink, or shall we follow the runaways?’ and the horse replied, ‘Whether you eat or don’t

ves. And when they saw him coming they were frightened, and urged the prince’s horse faster and faster, till

he cried out, ‘Oh, my brother, do not go so fast! I

a monster like that? Kick him off, and let him br

which broke him in pieces. Then the empress mounted his horse, and rode

der Serben.]