King's heart in his breast is apt to be bold, and
accordingly he instantly made up his mind to carry off the lovely
damsel, feeling sure that having once seen her he could not live
without her.

He waited till he saw her in the act of stepping ashore, when,
suddenly swooping down, he carried her off before her equerry in
attendance had advanced to offer her his hand. The Princess, on
finding herself in an eagle's talons, uttered the most heart-breaking
shrieks and cries; but her captor, though touched by her distress,
would not abandon his lovely prey, and continued to fly through the
air too fast to allow of his saying anything to comfort her.

At length, when he thought they had reached a safe distance, he began
to lower his flight, and gradually descending to earth, deposited his
burden in a flowery meadow. He then entreated her pardon for his
violence, and told her that he was about to carry her to a great
kingdom over which he ruled, and where he desired she should rule with
him, adding many tender and consoling expressions.

For some time the Princess remained speechless; but recovering herself
a little, she burst into a flood of tears. The King, much moved, said,
'Adorable Princess, dry your tears. I implore you. My only wish is to
make you the happiest person in the world.'

'If you speak truth, my lord,' replied the Princess, 'restore to me
the liberty you have deprived me of. Otherwise I can only look on you
as my worst enemy.'

[Illustration: The Princess and the Eagle in the Flowery Meadow]

The King retorted that her opposition filled him with despair, but
that he hoped to carry her to a place where all around would respect
her, and where every pleasure would surround her. So saying, he seized
her once more, and in spite of all her cries he rapidly bore her off
to the neighbourhood of his capital. Here he gently placed her on a
lawn, and as he did so she saw a magnificent palace spring up at her
feet. The architecture was imposing, and in the interior the rooms
were handsome and furnished in the best possible taste.

The Princess, who expected to be quite alone, was pleased at finding
herself surrounded by a number of pretty girls, all anxious to wait on
her, whilst a brilliantly-coloured parrot said the most agreeable
things in the world.

On arriving at this palace the King had resumed his own form, and
though no longer young, he might well have pleased any other than this
Princess, who had been