must be joined together by a bridge of pure crystal. On each
side of the bridge there must be growing trees, having golden and
silver apples, and with birds of Paradise among the branches. At the
right of the bridge there must be a church, with five golden cupolas;
in this church your son shall be wedded to my daughter, and we will
keep the wedding festivities in the new castle. But if he fails to
execute this my royal command, then, as a just but mild monarch, I
shall give orders that you and he are taken, and first dipped in tar
and then in feathers, and you shall be executed in the market-place
for the entertainment of my courtiers.'

And a smile played round the King's lips as he finished speaking, and
his courtiers and counsellors shook with laughter when they thought of
the old woman's folly, and praised the King's wise device, and said to
each other, 'What a joke it will be when we see the pair of them
tarred and feathered! The son is just as able to grow a beard on the
palm of his hand as to execute such a task in twenty-four hours.'

Now the poor old woman was mortally afraid and, in a trembling voice
she asked:

'Is that really your royal will, O King? Must I take this order to my
poor son?'

'Yes, old dame; such is my command. If your son carries out my order,
he shall be rewarded with my daughter; but if he fails, away to the
tar-barrel and the stake with you both!'

On her way home the poor old woman shed bitter tears, and when she saw
Martin she told him what the King had said, and sobbed out:

'Didn't I tell you, my son, that you should marry someone of your own
rank? It would have been better for us this day if you had. As I told
you, my going to Court has been as much as our lives are worth, and
now we will both be tarred and feathered, and burnt in the public
market-place. It is terrible!' and she moaned and cried.

'Never fear, little mother,' answered Martin; 'trust me, and you will
see all will be well. You may go to sleep with a quiet mind.'

And, stepping to the front of the hut, Martin threw his ring from the
palm of one hand into the other, upon which twelve youths instantly
appeared, and demanded what he wanted them to do. Then he told them
the King's commands, and they answered that by next morning all should
be accomplished exactly as the King had ordered.

Next morning when the King awoke, and looked out of his window, to his
amazement he beheld a magnificent castle, just opposite