And Martin's heart was softened and he forgave his wife, and they lived
happily together ever after. And his old mother came and lived with him,
and he never parted with Schurka and Waska; and I need hardly tell you
that he never again let the ring out of his possession.

THE FLOWER QUEEN'S DAUGHTER(23)

(23) From the Bukowinaer. Von Wliolocki.

A young Prince was riding one day through a meadow that stretched for
miles in front of him, when he came to a deep open ditch. He was turning
aside to avoid it, when he heard the sound of someone crying in the
ditch. He dismounted from his horse, and stepped along in the direction
the sound came from. To his astonishment he found an old woman, who
begged him to help her out of the ditch. The Prince bent down and lifted
her out of her living grave, asking her at the same time how she had
managed to get there.

'My son,' answered the old woman, 'I am a very poor woman, and soon
after midnight I set out for the neighbouring town in order to sell my
eggs in the market on the following morning; but I lost my way in the
dark, and fell into this deep ditch, where I might have remained for
ever but for your kindness.'

Then the Prince said to her, 'You can hardly walk; I will put you on my
horse and lead you home. Where do you live?'

'Over there, at the edge of the forest in the little hut you see in the
distance,' replied the old woman.

The Prince lifted her on to his horse, and soon they reached the hut,
where the old woman got down, and turning to the Prince said, 'Just wait
a moment, and I will give you something.' And she disappeared into her
hut, but returned very soon and said, 'You are a mighty Prince, but
at the same time you have a kind heart, which deserves to be rewarded.
Would you like to have the most beautiful woman in the world for your
wife?'

'Most certainly I would,' replied the Prince.

So the old woman continued, 'The most beautiful woman in the whole world
is the daughter of the Queen of the Flowers, who has been captured by a
dragon. If you wish to marry her, you must first set her free, and this
I will help you to do. I will give you this little bell: if you ring it
once, the King of the Eagles will appear; if you ring it twice, the King
of the Foxes will come to you; and if you ring it three times, you will
see the King of the Fishes by your side. These will help you if you are
in any difficulty. Now farewell, and heaven prosper your undertak