and turned back, forgetting all about the hen, which escaped from under
his arm, and ran to join her sisters.

He was so much fascinated by the sight of all the beautiful things which
peeped through the door that he scarcely noticed that he had lost the
prize he had won; and he did not remember there was such a thing as a
hen in the world when he beheld the Sister of the Sun sleeping on a bed
before him.

For some time he stood staring; then he came to himself with a start,
and feeling that he had no business there, softly stole away, and was
fortunate enough to recapture the hen, which he took with him to the
gate. On the threshold he stopped again. 'Why should I not look at the
Sister of the Sun?' he thought to himself; 'she is asleep, and will
never know.' And he turned back for the second time and entered the
chamber, while the hen wriggled herself free as before. When he had
gazed his fill he went out into the courtyard and picked up his hen who
was seeking for corn.

As he drew near the gate he paused. 'Why did I not give her a kiss?'
he said to himself; 'I shall never kiss any woman so beautiful.' And he
wrung his hands with regret, so that the hen fell to the ground and ran
away.

'But I can do it still!' he cried with delight, and he rushed back to
the chamber and kissed the sleeping maiden on the forehead. But, alas!
when he came out again he found that the hen had grown so shy that she
would not let him come near her. And, worse than that, her sisters began
to cluck so loud that the Sister of the Sun was awakened by the noise.
She jumped up in haste from her bed, and going to the door she said to
the boy:

'You shall never, never, have my hen till you bring me back my sister
who was carried off by a giant to his castle, which is a long way off.'

Slowly and sadly the youth left the palace and told his story to his
friends, who were waiting outside the gate, how he had actually held the
hen three times in his arms and had lost her.

'I knew that we should not get off so easily,' said the fox, shaking
his head; 'but there is no more time to waste. Let us set off at once in
search of the sister. Luckily, I know the way.'

They walked on for many days, till at length the fox, who, as usual, was
going first, stopped suddenly.

'The giant's castle is not far now,' he said, 'but when we reach it you
two must remain outside while I go and fetch the princess. Directly I
bring her out you must both catch ho