ly arrive?"

The Emperor answered, "The eldest and the second I should kill without
hesitation, but not the youngest. On the contrary, I would hasten to
his aid at any time, as far as it was in my power."

Then she said to the Emperor, "My youngest brother is come to pay us a
visit."

The Emperor commanded that he should be presented at once, went to
meet him and greeted him with "Welcome, dear brother-in-law!"

The other answered, "A lucky and joyful meeting, dear sister's
husband!"

So they sat down to the table.

After supper they talked of one thing and another, and at last the
Prince told them that he was seeking for Steelpacha. When the
Eagle-emperor heard this he said everything he could think of to
dissuade him from this idea.

"Dear brother-in-law," said he, "leave that fiend alone and give up
your journey. Stay, rather, here with me; you shall be made happy in
every respect."

But the Prince paid no heed to his words, and as soon as morning
dawned he made ready and set off to seek Steelpacha. But before he
went away the Eagle-emperor, who saw that he could not turn him from
his purpose, drew forth a feather from his wing and said:

"Take this feather, brother-in-law, and if ever you are in need or
danger, strike a fire and burn it. I will come at once with my eagles
to help you."

The Prince put the feather in his pocket and set forth.

Thus he roved around the world from city to city, going ever farther
and farther till at last one day he discovered his wife in a cavern.
She was not a little surprised to see him, and cried out to him, "In
the name of heaven, husband, how came you here?"

He hastily told her his adventures, and added, "Wife, my wife! Quick,
let us flee!"

But she hesitated. "Where shall we go, since Steelpacha can overtake
us in a moment? He will kill you on the spot, and bring me back here
again."

But the Prince, being mindful of the three lives which Steelpacha had
given him, still coaxed his wife to flee, and they set out. Hardly had
they started when Steelpacha heard of it, gave rapid chase, and
overtook them.

"Oho, little Prince!" he cried out, "you would steal my wife, would
you?"

He tore her away from the Prince, and continued, "This time I give you
your life, for I have not forgotten that I promised you three lives;
but go now, and never come back again after her, for if you do your
life is at stake."

With these words Steelpacha took the woman away, while t