as right
in front of the King's Palace. Fortunately the points of his toes just
touched the bottom, and he managed to get ashore.

When he went up into the town all the streets were gleaming with light,
and the wedding of the Princess was just about to begin. He went into
the first house he came to, and this happened to be the house of the
King's hen-wife. He asked the old woman what was causing all the noise
and light in the town.

'The Princess,' said she, 'is going to be married to-night against her
will, for she has been expecting every day that the man who freed her
from the spell would come.'

'There is a guinea for you,' said he; 'go and bring her here.'

The old woman went, and soon returned along with the Princess. She and
the Irishman recognised each other, and were married, and had a great
wedding that lasted for a year and a day.

THE TINDER-BOX

A soldier came marching along the high road--left, right! A left, right!
He had his knapsack on his back and a sword by his side, for he had been
to the wars and was now returning home.

An old Witch met him on the road. She was very ugly to look at: her
under-lip hung down to her breast.

'Good evening, Soldier!' she said. 'What a fine sword and knapsack you
have! You are something like a soldier! You ought to have as much money
as you would like to carry!'

'Thank you, old Witch,' said the Soldier.

'Do you see that great tree there?' said the Witch, pointing to a tree
beside them. 'It is hollow within. You must climb up to the top, and
then you will see a hole through which you can let yourself down into
the tree. I will tie a rope round your waist, so that I may be able to
pull you up again when you call.'

'What shall I do down there?' asked the Soldier.

'Get money!' answered the Witch. 'Listen! When you reach the bottom of
the tree you will find yourself in a large hall; it is light there, for
there are more than three hundred lamps burning. Then you will see three
doors, which you can open--the keys are in the locks. If you go into the
first room, you will see a great chest in the middle of the floor with
a dog sitting upon it; he has eyes as large as saucers, but you needn't
trouble about him. I will give you my blue-check apron, which you must
spread out on the floor, and then go back quickly and fetch the dog and
set him upon it; open the chest and take as much money as you like. It
is copper there. If you would rather have silver, yo