venture had been foretold at his birth. This so frightened his
father and mother that in order to comfort them a Fairy, who happened
to be present at the time, produced a little pebble which she told
them to keep for the Prince till he grew up, as by putting it in his
mouth he would become invisible, as long as he did not try to speak,
for if he did the stone would lose all its virtue. In this way the
good fairy hoped that the Prince would be protected against all
dangers.

No sooner did the Prince begin to grow out of boyhood than he longed
to see if the other countries of the world were as splendid as the one
in which he lived. So, under pretence of visiting some small islands
that belonged to his father, he set out. But a frightful storm drove
his ship on to unknown shores, where most of his followers were put to
death by the savages, and the Prince himself only managed to escape by
making use of his magic pebble. By this means he passed through the
midst of them unseen, and wandered on till he reached the coast, where
he re-embarked on board his ship.

The first land he sighted was the Island of Roses, and he went at once
to the court of the King, Rosalie's father. The moment his eyes beheld
the Princess, he fell in love with her like everyone else.

He had already spent several months in this condition when the Prince
of the Air whirled her away, to the grief and despair of every man on
the island. But sad though everybody was, the Prince of the Golden
Isle was perfectly inconsolable, and he passed both days and nights in
bemoaning his loss.

'Alas!' he cried; 'shall I never see my lovely Princess again? Who
knows where she may be, and what fairy may have her in his keeping? I
am only a man, but I am strong in my love, and I will seek the whole
world through till I find her.'

So saying, he left the court, and made ready for his journey.

He travelled many weary days without hearing a single word of the lost
Princess, till one morning, as he was walking through a thick forest,
he suddenly perceived a magnificent palace standing at the end of a
pine avenue, and his heart bounded to think that he might be gazing on
Rosalie's prison. He hastened his steps, and quickly arrived at the
gate of the palace, which was formed of a single agate. The gate swung
open to let him through, and he next passed successively three courts,
surrounded by deep ditches filled with running water, with birds of
brilliant plumage flyi