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 h