第 八 章 · FAIRER-THAN-A-FAIRY

. FAIRER-THAN-A-FAIRY

Once there lived a King who had no children for many years after his

marriage. At length heaven granted him a daughter of such remarkable

beauty that he could think of no name so appropriate for her as

‘Fairer-than-a-Fairy.’

It never occurred to the good-natured monarch that such a name was

certain to call down the hatred and jealousy of the fairies in a body on

the child, but this was what happened. No sooner had they heard of this

presumptuous name than they resolved to gain possession of her who bore

it, and either to torment her cruelly, or at least to conceal her from

the eyes of all men.

The eldest of their tribe was entrusted to carry out their revenge. This

Fairy was named Lagree; she was so old that she only had one eye and one

tooth left, and even these poor remains she had to keep all night in a

strengthening liquid. She was also so spiteful that she gladly devoted

all her time to carrying out all the mean or ill-natured tricks of the

whole body of fairies.

With her large experience, added to her native spite, she found but

little difficulty in carrying off Fairer-than-a-Fairy. The poor child,

who was only seven years old, nearly died of fear on finding herself

in the power of this hideous creature. However, when after an hour’s

journey underground she found herself in a splendid palace with lovely

gardens, she felt a little reassured, and was further cheered when she

discovered that her pet cat and dog had followed her.

The old Fairy led her to a pretty room which she said should be hers, at

the same time giving her the strictest orders never to let out the fire

which was burning brightly in the grate. She then gave two glass bottles

into the Princess’s charge, desiring her to take the greatest care of

them, and having enforced her orders with the most awful threats in case

of disobedience, she vanished, leaving the little girl at liberty to

explore the palace and grounds and a good deal relieved at having only

two apparently easy tasks set her.

Several years passed, during which time the Princess grew accustomed to

her lonely life, obeyed the Fairy’s orders, and by degrees forgot all

about the court of the King her father.

One day, whilst passing near a fountain in the garden, she noticed

that the sun’s rays fell on the water in such a manner as to produce

a brilliant rainbow. She stood still to admire it, when, to her great

surprise, she heard a voice addressing her which seemed to come from the

centre of its rays. The voice was that of a young man, and its sweetness

of tone and the agreeable things it uttered, led one to infer that its

owner must be equally charming; but this had to be a mere matter of

fancy, for no one was visible.

The beautiful Rainbow informed Fairer-than-a-Fairy that he was young,

the son of a powerful king, and that the Fairy, Lagree, who owed his

parents a grudge, had revenged herself by depriving him of his natural

shape for some years; that she had imprisoned him in the palace, where

he had found his confinement hard to bear for some time, but now, he

owned, he no longer sighed for freedom since he had seen and learned to

love Fairer-than-a-Fairy.

He added many other tender speeches to this declaration, and the

Princess, to whom such remarks were a new experience, could not help

feeling pleased and touched by his attentions.

The Prince could only appear or speak under the form of a Rainbow, and

it was therefore necessary that the sun should shine on water so as to

enable the rays to form themselves.

Fairer-than-a-Fairy lost no moment in which she could meet her lover,

and they enjoyed many long and interesting interviews. One day, however,

their conversation became so absorbing and time passed so quickly that

the Princess forgot to attend to the fire, and it went out. Lagree, on

her return, soon found out the neglect, and seemed only too pleased to

have the opportunity of showing her spite to her lovely prisoner. She

ordered Fairer-than-a-Fairy to start next day at dawn to ask Locrinos

for fire with which to relight the one she had allowed to go out.

Now this Locrinos was a cruel monster who devoured everyone he came

across, and especially enjoyed a chance of catching and eating any young

girls. Our heroine obeyed with great sweetness, and without having been

able to take leave of her lover she set off to go to Locrinos as to

certain death. As she was crossing a wood a bird sang to her to pick up

a shining pebble which she would find in a fountain close by, and to use

it when needed. She took the bird’s advice, and in due time arrived at

the house of Locrinos. Luckily she only found his wife at home, who was

much struck by the Princess’s youth and beauty and sweet gentle manners,

and still further impressed by the present of the shining pebble.

She readily let Fairer-than-a-Fairy have the fire, and in return for

the stone she gave her another, which, she said, might prove useful some

day. Then she sent her away without doing her any harm.

Lagree was as much surprised as displeased at the happy result of this

expedition, and Fairer-than-a Fairy waited anxiously for an opportunity

of meeting Prince Rainbow and telling him her adventures. She found,

however, that he had already been told all about them by a Fairy who

protected him, and to whom he was related.

The dread of fresh dangers to his beloved Princess made him devise

some more convenient way of meeting than by the garden fountain, and

Fairer-than-a-Fairy carried out his plan daily with entire success.

Every morning she placed a large basin full of water on her window-sill,

and as soon as the sun’s rays fell on the water the Rainbow appeared

as clearly as it had ever done in the fountain. By this means they were

able to meet without losing sight of the fire or of the two bottles in

which the old Fairy kept her eye and her tooth at night, and for some

time the lovers enjoyed every hour of sunshine together.

One day Prince Rainbow appeared in the depths of woe. He had just heard

that he was to be banished from this lovely spot, but he had no idea

where he was to go. The poor young couple were in despair, and only

parted with the last ray of sunshine, and in hopes of meeting next

morning. Alas! next day was dark and gloomy, and it was only late in the

afternoon that the sun broke through the clouds for a few minutes.

Fairer-than-a-Fairy eagerly ran to the window, but in her haste she

upset the basin, and spilt all the water with which she had carefully

filled it overnight. No other water was at hand except that in the two

bottles. It was the only chance of seeing her lover before they were

separated, and she did not hesitate to break the bottle and pour their

contents into the basin, when the Rainbow appeared at once. Their

farewells were full of tenderness; the Prince made the most ardent and

sincere protestations, and promised to neglect nothing which might help

to deliver his dear Fairer-than-a-Fairy from her captivity, and implored

her to consent to their marriage as soon as they should both be free.

The Princess, on her side, vowed to have no other husband, and declared

herself willing to brave death itself in order to rejoin him.

They were not allowed much time for their adieus; the Rainbow vanished,

and the Princess, resolved to run all risks, started off at once, taking

nothing with her but her dog, her cat, a sprig of myrtle, and the stone

which the wife of Locrinos gave her.

When Lagree became aware of her prisoner’s flight she was furious, and

set off at full speed in pursuit. She overtook her just as the poor

girl, overcome by fatigue, had lain down to rest in a cave which the

stone had formed itself into to shelter her. The little dog who was

watching her mistress promptly flew at Lagree and bit her so severely

that she stumbled against a corner of the cave and broke off her only

tooth. Before she had recovered from the pain and rage this caused her,

the Princess had time to escape, and was some way on her road. Fear gave

her strength for some time, but at last she could go no further, and

sank down to rest. As she did so, the sprig of myrtle she carried

touched the ground, and immediately a green and shady bower sprang up

round her, in which she hoped to sleep in peace.

But Lagree had not given up her pursuit, and arrived just as

Fairer-than-a-Fairy had fallen fast asleep. This time she made sure of

catching her victim, but the cat spied her out, and, springing from one

of the boughs of the arbour she flew at Lagree’s face and tore out her

only eye, thus delivering the Princess for ever from her persecutor.

One might have thought that all would now be well, but no sooner had

Lagree been put to fight than our heroine was overwhelmed with hunger

and thirst. She felt as though she should certainly expire, and it was

with some difficulty that she dragged herself as far as a pretty little

green and white house, which stood at no great distance. Here she was

received by a beautiful lady dressed in green and white to match the

house, which apparently belonged to her, and of which she seemed the

only inhabitant.

She greeted the fainting Princess most kindly, gave her an excellent

supper, and after a long night’s rest in a delightful bed told her that

after many troubles she should finally attain her desire.

As the green and white lady took leave of the Princess she gave her a

nut, desiring her only to open it in the most urgent need.

After a long and tiring journey Fairer-than-a-Fairy was once more

received in a house, and by a lady exactly like the one she had quitted.

Here again she received a present with the same injunctions, but instead

of a nut this lady gave her a golden pomegranate. The mournful Princess

had to continue her weary way, and after many troubles and hardships she

again found rest and shelter in a third house exactly similar to the two

others.

These houses belonged to three sisters, all endowed with fairy gifts,

and all so alike in mind and person that they wished their houses and

garments to be equally alike. Their occupation consisted in helping

those in misfortune, and they were as gentle and benevolent as Lagree

had been cruel and spiteful.

The third Fairy comforted the poor traveller, begged her not to lose

heart, and assured her that her troubles should be rewarded.

She accompanied her advice by the gift of a crystal smelling-bottle,

with strict orders only to open it in case of urgent need.

Fairer-than-a-Fairy thanked her warmly, and resumed her way cheered by

pleasant thoughts.

After a time her road led through a wood, full of soft airs and sweet

odours, and before she had gone a hundred yards she saw a wonderful

silver Castle suspended by strong silver chains to four of the

largest trees. It was so perfectly hung that a gentle breeze rocked it

sufficiently to send you pleasantly to sleep.

Fairer-than-a-Fairy felt a strong desire to enter this Castle, but

besides being hung a little above the ground there seemed to be neither

doors nor windows. She had no doubt (though really I cannot think why)

that the moment had come in which to use the nut which had been given

her. She opened it, and out came a diminutive hall porter at whose belt

hung a tiny chain, at the end of which was a golden key half as long as

the smallest pin you ever saw.

The Princess climbed up one of the silver chains, holding in her hand

the little porter who, in spite of his minute size, opened a secret door

with his golden key and let her in. She entered a magnificent room which

appeared to occupy the entire Castle, and which was lighted by gold and

jewelled stars in the ceiling. In the midst of this room stood a couch,

draped with curtains of all the colours of the rainbow, and suspended by

golden cords so that it swayed with the Castle in a manner which rocked

its occupant delightfully to sleep.

On this elegant couch lay Prince Rainbow, looking more beautiful than

ever, and sunk in profound slumber, in which he had been held ever since

his disappearance.

Fairy-than-a-Fairy, who now saw him for the first time in his real

shape, hardly dared to gaze at him, fearing lest his appearance might

not be in keeping with the voice and language which had won her heart.

At the same time she could not help feeling rather hurt at the apparent

indifference with which she was received.

She related all the dangers and difficulties she had gone through, and

though she repeated the story twenty times in a loud clear voice, the

Prince slept on and took no heed. She then had recourse to the golden

pomegranate, and on opening it found that all the seeds were as many

little violins which flew up in the vaulted roof and at once began

playing melodiously.

The Prince was not completely roused, but he opened his eyes a little

and looked all the handsomer.

Impatient at not being recognised, Fairer-than-a-Fairy now drew out her

third present, and on opening the crystal scent-bottle a little syren

flew out, who silenced the violins and then sang close to the Prince’s

ear the story of all his lady love had suffered in her search for him.

She added some gentle reproaches to her tale, but before she had got

far he was wide awake, and transported with joy threw himself at the

Princess’s feet. At the same moment the walls of the room expanded and

opened out, revealing a golden throne covered with jewels. A magnificent

Court now began to assemble, and at the same time several elegant

carriages filled with ladies in magnificent dresses drove up. In the

first and most splendid of these carriages sat Prince Rainbow’s mother.

She fondly embraced her son, after which she informed him that his

father had been dead for some years, that the anger of the Fairies was

at length appeased, and that he might return in peace to reign over his

people, who were longing for his presence.

The Court received the new King with joyful acclamations which would

have delighted him at any other time, but all his thoughts were full of

Fairer-than-a-Fairy. He was just about to present her to his mother and

the Court, feeling sure that her charms would win all hearts, when the

three green and white sisters appeared.

They declared the secret of Fairy-than-a-Fairy’s royal birth, and the

Queen taking the two lovers in her carriage set off with them for the

capital of the kingdom.

Here they were received with tumultuous joy. The wedding was celebrated

without delay, and succeeding years diminished neither the virtues,

beauty, nor the mutual affection of King Rainbow and his Queen,

Fairer-than-a-Fairy.

THE THREE BROTHERS(17)

(17) From the Polish. Kletke.

There was once upon a time a witch, who in the shape of a hawk used

every night to break the windows of a certain village church. In the

same village there lived three brothers, who were all determined to kill

the mischievous hawk. But in vain did the two eldest mount guard in the

church with their guns; as soon as the bird appeared high above their

heads, sleep overpowered them, and they only awoke to hear the windows

crashing in.

Then the youngest brother took his turn of guarding the windows, and to

prevent his being overcome by sleep he placed a lot of thorns under his

chin, so that if he felt drowsy and nodded his head, they would prick

him and keep him awake.

The moon was already risen, and it was as light as day, when suddenly he

heard a fearful noise, and at the same time a terrible desire to sleep

overpowered him.

His eyelids closed, and his head sank on his shoulders, but the thorns

ran into him and were so painful that he awoke at once. He saw the hawk

swooping down upon the church, and in a moment he had seized his gun

and shot at the bird. The hawk fell heavily under a big stone, severely

wounded in its right wing. The youth ran to look at it, and saw that

a huge abyss had opened below the stone. He went at once to fetch his

brothers, and with their help dragged a lot of pine-wood and ropes to

the spot. They fastened some of the burning pine-wood to the end of the

rope, and let it slowly down to the bottom of the abyss. At first it was

quite dark, and the flaming torch only lit up dirty grey stone walls.

But the youngest brother determined to explore the abyss, and letting

himself down by the rope he soon reached the bottom. Here he found a

lovely meadow full of green trees and exquisite flowers.

In the middle of the meadow stood a huge stone castle, with an iron gate

leading to it, which was wide open. Everything in the castle seemed

to be made of copper, and the only inhabitant he could discover was

a lovely girl, who was combing her golden hair; and he noticed that

whenever one of her hairs fell on the ground it rang out like pure

metal. The youth looked at her more closely, and saw that her skin was

smooth and fair, her blue eyes bright and sparkling, and her hair as

golden as the sun. He fell in love with her on the spot, and kneeling at

her feet, he implored her to become his wife.

The lovely girl accepted his proposal gladly; but at the same time she

warned him that she could never come up to the world above till her

mother, the old witch, was dead. And she went on to tell him that the

only way in which the old creature could be killed was with the sword

that hung up in the castle; but the sword was so heavy that no one could

lift it.

Then the youth went into a room in the castle where everything was made

of silver, and here he found another beautiful girl, the sister of his

bride. She was combing her silver hair, and every hair that fell on the

ground rang out like pure metal. The second girl handed him the sword,

but though he tried with all his strength he could not lift it. At last

a third sister came to him and gave him a drop of something to drink,

which she said would give him the needful strength. He drank one drop,

but still he could not lift the sword; then he drank a second, and the

sword began to move; but only after he had drunk a third drop was he

able to swing the sword over his head.

Then he hid himself in the castle and awaited the old witch’s arrival.

At last as it was beginning to grow dark she appeared. She swooped down

upon a big apple-tree, and after shaking some golden apples from it, she

pounced down upon the earth. As soon as her feet touched the ground she

became transformed from a hawk into a woman. This was the moment the

youth was waiting for, and he swung his mighty sword in the air with all

his strength and the witch’s head fell off, and her blood spurted up on

the walls.

Without fear of any further danger, he packed up all the treasures of

the castle into great chests, and gave his brothers a signal to pull

them up out of the abyss. First the treasures were attached to the rope

and then the three lovely girls. And now everything was up above and

only he himself remained below. But as he was a little suspicious of his

brothers, he fastened a heavy stone on to the rope and let them pull it

up. At first they heaved with a will, but when the stone was half way

up they let it drop suddenly, and it fell to the bottom broken into a

hundred pieces.

‘So that’s what would have happened to my bones had I trusted myself to

them,’ said the youth sadly; and he began to cry bitterly, not because

of the treasures, but because of the lovely girl with her swanlike neck

and golden hair.

For a long time he wandered sadly all through the beautiful underworld,

and one day he met a magician who asked him the cause of his tears. The

youth told him all that had befallen him, and the magician said:

‘Do not grieve, young man! If you will guard the children who are hidden

in the golden apple-tree, I will bring you at once up to the earth.

Another magician who lives in this land always eats my children up. It

is in vain that I have hidden them under the earth and locked them into

the castle. Now I have hidden them in the apple-tree; hide yourself

there too, and at midnight you will see my enemy.’

The youth climbed up the tree, and picked some of the beautiful golden

apples, which he ate for his supper.

At midnight the wind began to rise, and a rustling sound was heard at

the foot of the tree. The youth looked down and beheld a long thick

serpent beginning to crawl up the tree. It wound itself round the stem

and gradually got higher and higher. It stretched its huge head, in

which the eyes glittered fiercely, among the branches, searching for the

nest in which the little children lay. They trembled with terror when

they saw the hideous creature, and hid themselves beneath the leaves.

Then the youth swung his mighty sword in the air, and with one blow cut

off the serpent’s head. He cut up the rest of the body into little bits

and strewed them to the four winds.

The father of the rescued children was so delighted over the death of

his enemy that he told the youth to get on his back, and in this way he

carried him up to the world above.

With what joy did he hurry now to his brothers’ house! He burst into a

room where they were all assembled, but no one knew who he was. Only his

bride, who was serving as cook to her sisters, recognised her lover at

once.

His brothers, who had quite believed he was dead, yielded him up his

treasures at once, and flew into the woods in terror. But the good youth

forgave them all they had done, and divided his treasures with them.

Then he built himself a big castle with golden windows, and there he

lived happily with his golden-haired wife till the end of their lives.

THE BOY AND THE WOLVES, OR THE BROKEN PROMISE(18)

(18) A North American Indian story.

Once upon a time an Indian hunter built himself a house in the middle

of a great forest, far away from all his tribe; for his heart was gentle

and kind, and he was weary of the treachery and cruel deeds of those

who had been his friends. So he left them, and took his wife and three

children, and they journeyed on until they found a spot near to a clear

stream, where they began to cut down trees, and to make ready their

wigwam. For many years they lived peacefully and happily in this

sheltered place, never leaving it except to hunt the wild animals, which

served them both for food and clothes. At last, however, the strong man

felt sick, and before long he knew he must die.

So he gathered his family round him, and said his last words to them.

‘You, my wife, the companion of my days, will follow me ere many moons

have waned to the island of the blest. But for you, O my children, whose

lives are but newly begun, the wickedness, unkindness, and ingratitude

from which I fled are before you. Yet I shall go hence in peace, my

children, if you will promise always to love each other, and never to

forsake your youngest brother.

‘Never!’ they replied, holding out their hands. And the hunter died

content.

Scarcely eight moons had passed when, just as he had said, the wife went

forth, and followed her husband; but before leaving her children she

bade the two elder ones think of their promise never to forsake the

younger, for he was a child, and weak. And while the snow lay thick upon

the ground, they tended him and cherished him; but when the earth showed

green again, the heart of the young man stirred within him, and he

longed to see the wigwams of the village where his father’s youth was

spent.

Therefore he opened all his heart to his sister, who answered: ‘My

brother, I understand your longing for our fellow-men, whom here we

cannot see. But remember our father’s words. Shall we not seek our own

pleasures, and forget the little one?’

But he would not listen, and, making no reply, he took his bow and

arrows and left the hut. The snows fell and melted, yet he never

returned; and at last the heart of the girl grew cold and hard, and her

little boy became a burden in her eyes, till one day she spoke thus to

him: ‘See, there is food for many days to come. Stay here within the

shelter of the hut. I go to seek our brother, and when I have found him

I shall return hither.’

But when, after hard journeying, she reached the village where her

brother dwelt, and saw that he had a wife and was happy, and when she,

too, was sought by a young brave, then she also forgot the boy alone in

the forest, and thought only of her husband.

Now as soon as the little boy had eaten all the food which his sister

had left him, he went out into the woods, and gathered berries and dug

up roots, and while the sun shone he was contented and had his fill. But

when the snows began and the wind howled, then his stomach felt empty

and his limbs cold, and he hid in trees all the night, and only crept

out to eat what the wolves had left behind. And by-and-by, having no

other friends, he sought their company, and sat by while they devoured

their prey, and they grew to know him, and gave him food. And without

them he would have died in the snow.

But at last the snows melted, and the ice upon the great lake, and

as the wolves went down to the shore, the boy went after them. And it

happened one day that his big brother was fishing in his canoe near the

shore, and he heard the voice of a child singing in the Indian tone--

‘My brother, my brother!

I am becoming a wolf,

I am becoming a wolf!’

And when he had so sung he howled as wolves howl. Then the heart of

the elder sunk, and he hastened towards him, crying, ‘Brother, little

brother, come to me;’ but he, being half a wolf, only continued his

song. And the louder the elder called him, ‘Brother, little brother,

come to me,’ the swifter he fled after his brothers the wolves, and

the heavier grew his skin, till, with a long howl, he vanished into the

depths of the forest.

So, with shame and anguish in his soul, the elder brother went back to

his village, and, with his sister, mourned the little boy and the broken

promise till the end of his life.

THE GLASS AXE(19)

(19) From the Hungarian. Kletke.

There was once upon a time a King and Queen who had everything they

could possibly wish for in this world except a child. At last, after

twelve years, the Queen gave birth to a son; but she did not live long

to enjoy her happiness, for on the following day she died. But before

her death she called her husband to her and said, ‘Never let the child

put his feet on the ground, for as soon as he does so he will fall into

the power of a wicked Fairy, who will do him much harm.’ And these were

the last words the poor Queen spoke.

The boy throve and grew big, and when he was too heavy for his nurse

to carry, a chair was made for him on little wheels, in which he could

wander through the palace gardens without help; at other times he was

carried about on a litter, and he was always carefully watched and

guarded for fear he should at any time put his feet to the ground.

But as this sort of life was bad for his health, the doctors ordered him

horse exercise, and he soon became a first-rate rider, and used to go

out for long excursions on horseback, accompanied always by his father’s

stud-groom and a numerous retinue.

Every day he rode through the neighbouring fields and woods, and always

returned home in the evening safe and well. In this way many years

passed, and the Prince grew to manhood, and hardly anyone remembered the

Queen’s warning, though precautions were still taken, more from use and

wont than for any other reason.

One day the Prince and his suite went out for a ride in a wood where his

father sometimes held a hunt. Their way led through a stream whose banks

were overgrown with thick brushwood. Just as the horsemen were about

to ford the river, a hare, startled by the sound of the horses’ hoofs,

started up from the grass and ran towards the thicket. The young Prince

pursued the little creature, and had almost overtaken it, when the girth

of his saddle suddenly broke in two and he fell heavily to the ground.

No sooner had his foot touched the earth than he disappeared before the

eyes of the horrified courtiers.

They sought for him far and near, but all in vain, and they were forced

to recognise the power of the evil Fairy, against which the Queen had

warned them on her death-bed. The old King was much grieved when they

brought him the news of his son’s disappearance, but as he could do

nothing to free him from his fate, he gave himself up to an old age of

grief and loneliness, cherishing at the same time the hope that some

lucky chance might one day deliver the youth out of the hands of his

enemy.

Hardly had the Prince touched the ground than he felt himself violently

seized by an unseen power, and hurried away he knew not whither. A whole

new world stretched out before him, quite unlike the one he had left.

A splendid castle surrounded by a huge lake was the abode of the Fairy,

and the only approach to it was over a bridge of clouds. On the other

side of the lake high mountains rose up, and dark woods stretched

along the banks; over all hung a thick mist, and deep silence reigned

everywhere.

No sooner had the Fairy reached her own domain than she made herself

visible, and turning to the Prince she told him that unless he obeyed

all her commands down to the minutest detail he would be severely

punished. Then she gave him an axe made of glass, and bade him cross the

bridge of clouds and go into the wood beyond and cut down all the trees

there before sunset. At the same time she cautioned him with many angry

words against speaking to a black girl he would most likely meet in the

wood.

The Prince listened to her words meekly, and when she had finished took

up the glass axe and set out for the forest. At every step he seemed to

sink into the clouds, but fear gave wings to his feet, and he crossed

the lake in safety and set to work at once.

But no sooner had he struck the first blow with his axe than it broke

into a thousand pieces against the tree. The poor youth was so terrified

he did not know what to do, for he was in mortal dread of the punishment

the wicked old Fairy would inflict on him. He wandered to and fro in the

wood, not knowing where he was going, and at last, worn out by fatigue

and misery, he sank on the ground and fell fast asleep.

He did not know how long he had slept when a sudden sound awoke him, and

opening his eyes he saw a black girl standing beside him. Mindful of

the Fairy’s warning he did not dare to address her, but she on her part

greeted him in the most friendly manner, and asked him at once if he

were under the power of the wicked Fairy. The Prince nodded his head

silently in answer.

Then the black girl told him that she too was in the power of the Fairy,

who had doomed her to wander about in her present guise until some youth

should take pity on her and bear her in safety to the other side of the

river which they saw in the distance, and on the other side of which the

Fairy’s domain and power ended.

The girl’s words so inspired the Prince with confidence that he told her

all his tale of woe, and ended up by asking her advice as to how he was

to escape the punishment the Fairy would be sure to inflict on him when

she discovered that he had not cut down the trees in the wood and that

he had broken her axe.

‘You must know,’ answered the black girl, ‘that the Fairy in whose power

we both are is my own mother, but you must not betray this secret, for

it would cost me my life. If you will only promise to try and free me

I will stand by you, and will accomplish for you all the tasks which my

mother sets you.’

The Prince promised joyfully all she asked; then having once more warned

him not to betray her confidence, she handed him a draught to drink

which very soon sunk his senses in a deep slumber.

His astonishment was great when he awoke to find the glass axe whole and

unbroken at his side, and all the trees of the wood lying felled around

him!

He made all haste across the bridge of clouds, and told the Fairy that

her commands were obeyed. She was much amazed when she heard that all

the wood was cut down, and saw the axe unbroken in his hand, and

since she could not believe that he had done all this by himself, she

questioned him narrowly if he had seen or spoken to the black girl. But

the Prince lied manfully, and swore he had never looked up from his work

for a moment. Seeing she could get nothing more out of him, she gave him

a little bread and water, and showing him to a small dark cupboard she

told him he might sleep there.

Morning had hardly dawned when the Fairy awoke the Prince, and giving

him the glass axe again she told him to cut up all the wood he had

felled the day before, and to put it in bundles ready for firewood; at

the same time she warned him once more against approaching or speaking a

word to the black girl if he met her in the wood.

Although his task was no easier than that of the day before, the youth

set out much more cheerfully, because he knew he could count an the help

of the black girl. With quicker and lighter step he crossed the bridge

of clouds, and hardly had he reached the other side than his friend

stood before him and greeted him cheerfully. When she heard what the

Fairy demanded this time, she answered smilingly, ‘Never fear,’ and

handed him another draught, which very soon caused the Prince to sink

into a deep sleep.

When he awoke everything, was done. All the trees of the wood were cut

up into firewood and arranged in bundles ready for use.

He returned to the castle as quickly as he could, and told the Fairy

that her commands were obeyed. She was even more amazed than she had

been before, and asked him again if he had either seen or spoken to the

black girl; but the Prince knew better than to betray his word, and once

more lied freely.

On the following day the Fairy set him a third task to do, even harder

than the other two. She told him he must build a castle on the other

side of the lake, made of nothing but gold, silver, and precious stones,

and unless he could accomplish this within an hour, the most frightful

doom awaited him.

The Prince heard her words without anxiety, so entirely did he rely on

the help of his black friend. Full of hope he hurried across the bridge,

and recognised at once the spot where the castle was to stand, for

spades, hammers, axes, and every other building implement lay scattered

on the ground ready for the workman’s hand, but of gold, silver, and

precious stones there was not a sign. But before the Prince had time

to feel despondent the black girl beckoned to him in the distance from

behind a rock, where she had hidden herself for fear her mother should

catch sight of her. Full of joy the youth hurried towards her, and

begged her aid and counsel in the new piece of work he had been given to

do.

But this time the Fairy had watched the Prince’s movements from

her window, and she saw him hiding himself behind the rock with her

daughter. She uttered a piercing shriek so that the mountains re-echoed

with the sound of it, and the terrified pair had hardly dared to look

out from their hiding-place when the enraged woman, with her dress and

hair flying in the wind, hurried over the bridge of clouds. The Prince

at once gave himself up for lost, but the girl told him to be of good

courage and to follow her as quickly as he could. But before they left

their shelter she broke off a little bit of the rock, spoke some magic

words over it, and threw it in the direction her mother was coming from.

In a moment a glittering palace arose before the eyes of the Fairy which

blinded her with its dazzling splendour, and with its many doors and

passages prevented her for some time from finding her way out of it.

In the meantime the black girl hurried on with the Prince, hastening to

reach the river, where once on the other side they would for ever be out

of the wicked Fairy’s power. But before they had accomplished half the

way they heard again the rustle of her garments and her muttered curses

pursuing them closely.

The Prince was terrified; he dared not look back, and he felt his

strength giving way. But before he had time to despair the girl uttered

some more magic words, and immediately she herself was changed into a

pond, and the Prince into a duck swimming on its surface.

When the Fairy saw this her rage knew no bounds, and she used all her

magic wits to make the pond disappear; she caused a hill of sand to

arise at her feet, meaning it to dry up the water at once. But the sand

hill only drove the pond a little farther away, and its waters seemed to

increase instead of diminishing. When the old woman saw that the powers

of her magic were of so little avail, she had recourse to cunning. She

threw a lot of gold nuts into the pond, hoping in this way to catch

the duck, but all her efforts were fruitless, for the little creature

refused to let itself be caught.

Then a new idea struck the wicked old woman, and hiding herself behind

the rock which had sheltered the fugitives, she waited behind it,

watching carefully for the moment when the Prince and her daughter

should resume their natural forms and continue their journey.

She had not to wait long, for as soon as the girl thought her mother was

safely out of the way, she changed herself and the Prince once more into

their human shape, and set out cheerfully for the river.

But they had not gone many steps when the wicked Fairy hurried after

them, a drawn dagger in her hand, and was close upon them, when

suddenly, instead of the Prince and her daughter, she found herself in

front of a great stone church, whose entrance was carefully guarded by a

huge monk.

Breathless with rage and passion, she tried to plunge her dagger into

the monk’s heart, but it fell shattered in pieces at her feet. In her

desperation she determined to pull down the church, and thus to destroy

her two victims for ever. She stamped three times on the ground, and the

earth trembled, and both the church and the monk began to shake. As soon

as the Fairy saw this she retreated to some distance from the building,

so as not to be hurt herself by its fall. But once more her scheme was

doomed to failure, for hardly had she gone a yard from the church than

both it and the monk disappeared, and she found herself in a wood black

as night, and full of wolves and bears and wild animals of all sorts and

descriptions.

Then her wrath gave place to terror, for she feared every moment to be

torn in pieces by the beasts who one and all seemed to defy her power.

She thought it wisest to make her way as best she could out of the

forest, and then to pursue the fugitives once more and accomplish their

destruction either by force or cunning.

In the meantime the Prince and the black girl had again assumed their

natural forms, and were hurrying on as fast as they could to reach the

river. But when they got there they found that there was no way in which

they could cross it, and the girl’s magic art seemed no longer to

have any power. Then turning to the Prince she said, ‘The hour for my

deliverance has not yet come, but as you promised to do all you could to

free me, you must do exactly as I bid you now. Take this bow and arrow

and kill every beast you see with them, and be sure you spare no living

creature.’

With these words she disappeared, and hardly had she done so than a

huge wild boar started out of the thicket near and made straight for the

Prince. But the youth did not lose his presence of mind, and drawing

his bow he pierced the beast with his arrow right through the skull. The

creature fell heavily on the ground, and out of its side sprang a little

hare, which ran like the wind along the river bank. The Prince drew his

bow once more, and the hare lay dead at his feet; but at the same moment

a dove rose up in the air, and circled round the Prince’s head in the

most confiding manner. But mindful of the black girl’s commands, he

dared not spare the little creature’s life, and taking another arrow

from his quiver he laid it as dead as the boar and the hare. But when

he went to look at the body of the bird he found instead of the dove a

round white egg lying on the ground.

While he was gazing on it and wondering what it could mean, he heard the

sweeping of wings above him, and looking up he saw a huge vulture with

open claws swooping down upon him. In a moment he seized the egg and

flung it at the bird with all his might, and lo and behold! instead of

the ugly monster the most beautiful girl he had ever seen stood before

the astonished eyes of the Prince.

But while all this was going on the wicked old Fairy had managed to

make her way out of the wood, and was now using the last resource in her

power to overtake her daughter and the Prince. As soon as she was in the

open again she mounted her chariot, which was drawn by a fiery dragon,

and flew through the air in it. But just as she got to the river she saw

the two lovers in each other’s arms swimming through the water as easily

as two fishes.

Quick as lightning, and forgetful of every danger, she flew down upon

them. But the waters seized her chariot and sunk it in the lowest

depths, and the waves bore the wicked old woman down the stream till she

was caught in some thorn bushes, where she made a good meal for all the

little fishes that were swimming about.

And so at last the Prince and his lovely Bride were free. They hurried

as quickly as they could to the old King, who received them with joy and

gladness. On the following day a most gorgeous wedding feast was held,

and as far as we know the Prince and his bride lived happily for ever

afterwards.

THE DEAD WIFE(20)

(20) From the Iroquois.

Once upon a time there were a man and his wife who lived in the forest,

very far from the rest of the tribe. Very often they spent the day in

hunting together, but after a while the wife found that she had so many

things to do that she was obliged to stay at home; so he went alone,

though he found that when his wife was not with him he never had any

luck. One day, when he was away hunting, the woman fell ill, and in a

few days she died.

Her husband grieved bitterly, and buried her in the house where she had

passed her life; but as the time went on he felt so lonely without her

that he made a wooden doll about her height and size for company, and

dressed it in her clothes. He seated it in front of the fire, and tried

to think he had his wife back again. The next day he went out to hunt,

and when he came home the first thing he did was to go up to the doll

and brush off some of the ashes from the fire which had fallen on its

face. But he was very busy now, for he had to cook and mend, besides

getting food, for there was no one to help him. And so a whole year

passed away.

At the end of that time he came back from hunting one night and found

some wood by the door and a fire within. The next night there was not

only wood and fire, but a piece of meat in the kettle, nearly ready for

eating. He searched all about to see who could have done this, but could

find no one. The next time he went to hunt he took care not to go far,

and came in quite early. And while he was still a long way off he saw a

woman going into the house with wood on her shoulders. So he made haste,

and opened the door quickly, and instead of the wooden doll, his wife

sat in front of the fire.

Then she spoke to him and said, ‘The Great Spirit felt sorry for you,

because you would not be comforted, so he let me come back to you, but

you must not stretch out your hand to touch me till we have seen the

rest of our people. If you do, I shall die.’

So the man listened to her words, and the woman dwelt there, and brought

the wood and kindled the fire, till one day her husband said to her, ‘It

is now two years since you died. Let us now go back to our tribe. Then

you will be well, and I can touch you.’

And with that he prepared food for the journey, a string of deer’s flesh

for her to carry, and one for himself; and so they started. Now the camp

of the tribe was distant six days’ journey, and when they were yet one

day’s journey off it began to snow, and they felt weary and longed for

rest. Therefore they made a fire, cooked some food, and spread out their

skins to sleep.

Then the heart of the man was greatly stirred, and he stretched out his

arms to his wife, but she waved her hands and said, ‘We have seen no one

yet; it is too soon.’

But he would not listen to her, and caught her to him, and behold! he

was clasping the wooden doll. And when he saw it was the doll he pushed

it from him in his misery and rushed away to the camp, and told them all

his story. And some doubted, and they went back with him to the place

where he and his wife had stopped to rest, and there lay the doll, and

besides, they saw in the snow the steps of two people, and the foot of

one was like the foot of the doll. And the man grieved sore all the days

of his life.

IN THE LAND OF SOULS (21)

(21) From the Red Indian.

Far away, in North America, where the Red Indians dwell, there lived a

long time ago a beautiful maiden, who was lovelier than any other girl

in the whole tribe. Many of the young braves sought her in marriage, but

she would listen to one only--a handsome chief, who had taken her fancy

some years before. So they were to be married, and great rejoicings were

made, and the two looked forward to a long life of happiness together,

when the very night before the wedding feast a sudden illness seized the

girl, and, without a word to her friends who were weeping round her, she

passed silently away.

The heart of her lover had been set upon her, and the thought of her

remained with him night and day. He put aside his bow, and went neither

to fight nor to hunt, but from sunrise to sunset he sat by the place

where she was laid, thinking of his happiness that was buried there.

At last, after many days, a light seemed to come to him out of the

darkness. He remembered having heard from the old, old people of the

tribe, that there was a path that led to the Land of Souls--that if you

sought carefully you could find it.

So the next morning he got up early, and put some food in his pouch and

slung an extra skin over his shoulders, for he knew not how long

his journey would take, nor what sort of country he would have to go

through. Only one thing he knew, that if the path was there, he would

find it. At first he was puzzled, as there seemed no reason he should go

in one direction more than another. Then all at once he thought he had

heard one of the old men say that the Land of Souls lay to the south,

and so, filled with new hope and courage, he set his face southwards.

For many, many miles the country looked the same as it did round his own

home. The forests, the hills, and the rivers all seemed exactly like the

ones he had left. The only thing that was different was the snow, which

had lain thick upon the hills and trees when he started, but grew less

and less the farther he went south, till it disappeared altogether. Soon

the trees put forth their buds, and flowers sprang up under his feet,

and instead of thick clouds there was blue sky over his head, and

everywhere the birds were singing. Then he knew that he was in the right

road.

The thought that he should soon behold his lost bride made his heart

beat for joy, and he sped along lightly and swiftly. Now his way led

through a dark wood, and then over some steep cliffs, and on the top of

these he found a hut or wigwam. An old man clothed in skins, and holding

a staff in his hand, stood in the doorway; and he said to the young

chief who was beginning to tell his story, ‘I was waiting for you,

wherefore you have come I know. It is but a short while since she whom

you seek was here. Rest in my hut, as she also rested, and I will tell

you what you ask, and whither you should go.’

On hearing these words, the young man entered the hut, but his heart was

too eager within him to suffer him to rest, and when he arose, the old

man rose too, and stood with him at the door. ‘Look,’ he said, ‘at the

water which lies far out yonder, and the plains which stretch beyond.

That is the Land of Souls, but no man enters it without leaving his body

behind him. So, lay down your body here; your bow and arrows, your skin

and your dog. They shall be kept for you safely.’

Then he turned away, and the young chief, light as air, seemed hardly to

touch the ground; and as he flew along the scents grew sweeter and the

flowers more beautiful, while the animals rubbed their noses against

him, instead of hiding as he approached, and birds circled round him,

and fishes lifted up their heads and looked as he went by. Very soon he

noticed with wonder, that neither rocks nor trees barred his path. He

passed through them without knowing it, for indeed, they were not rocks

and trees at all, but only the souls of them; for this was the Land of

Shadows.

So he went on with winged feet till he came to the shores of a great

lake, with a lovely island in the middle of it; while on the bank of the

lake was a canoe of glittering stone, and in the canoe were two shining

paddles.

The chief jumped straight into the canoe, and seizing the paddles pushed

off from the shore, when to his joy and wonder he saw following him in

another canoe exactly like his own the maiden for whose sake he had made

this long journey. But they could not touch each other, for between them

rolled great waves, which looked as if they would sink the boats, yet

never did. And the young man and the maiden shrank with fear, for down

in the depths of the water they saw the bones of those who had died

before, and in the waves themselves men and women were struggling, and

but few passed over. Only the children had no fear, and reached the

other side in safety. Still, though the chief and the young girl quailed

in terror at these horrible sights and sounds, no harm came to them,

for their lives had been free from evil, and the Master of Life had said

that no evil should happen unto them. So they reached unhurt the shore

of the Happy Island, and wandered through the flowery fields and by the

banks of rushing streams, and they knew not hunger nor thirst; neither

cold nor heat. The air fed them and the sun warmed them, and they forgot

the dead, for they saw no graves, and the young man’s thoughts turned

not to wars, neither to the hunting of animals. And gladly would these

two have walked thus for ever, but in the murmur of the wind he heard

the Master of Life saying to him, ‘Return whither you came, for I have

work for you to do, and your people need you, and for many years you

shall rule over them. At the gate my messenger awaits you, and you shall

take again your body which you left behind, and he will show you what

you are to do. Listen to him, and have patience, and in time to come you

shall rejoin her whom you must now leave, for she is accepted, and will

remain ever young and beautiful, as when I called her hence from the

Land of Snows.’