fountain that
was there and bathed themselves, when suddenly they were changed into
twelve handsome youths. Now they seated themselves at the table, and
one of them took up a goblet filled with wine, and said, 'A health to
my father!' And another said, 'A health to my mother!' and so the
healths went round. Then one of them said:

'A health to my dearest lady,
Long may she live and well!
But a curse on the cruel mother
That burnt my golden shell!'

[Illustration: The Prince Throws the Apple To the Princess]

And so saying he wept bitterly. Then the youths rose from the table,
went back to the great stone fountain, turned themselves into eagles
again, and flew away.

Then the old man went away too, returned to the light of day, and went
home. Soon after he heard that the Princess was ill, and that the only
thing that did her good was having stories told to her. He therefore
went to the royal castle, obtained an audience of the Princess, and
told her about the strange things he had seen in the underground
palace. No sooner had he finished than the Princess asked him whether
he could find the way to that palace.

'Yes,' he answered, 'certainly.'

And now she desired him to guide her thither at once. The old man did
so, and when they came to the palace he hid her behind the great
picture and advised her to keep quite still, and he placed himself
behind the picture also. Presently the eagles came flying in, and
changed themselves into young men, and in a moment the Princess
recognised her husband amongst them all, and tried to come out of her
hiding-place; but the old man held her back. The youths seated
themselves at the table; and now the Prince said again, while he took
up the cup of wine:

'A health to my dearest lady,
Long may she live and well!
But a curse on the cruel mother
That burnt my golden shell!'

Then the Princess could restrain herself no longer, but ran forward
and threw her arms round her husband. And immediately he knew her
again, and said:

'Do you remember how I told you that day that you would betray me? Now
you see that I spoke the truth. But all that bad time is past. Now
listen to me: I must still remain enchanted for three months. Will you
stay here with me till that time is over?'

So the Princess stayed with him, and said to the old man, 'Go back to
the castle and tell my parents that I am staying here.'

Her parents were very