ilver and a crown of pearls. The prince stood and gazed at her, as if
he had been turned into stone, but as he looked the sadness which was on
her face seemed to pass into his heart, and he cried out:

'This one shall be my wife. This one and no other.'

[Illustration: the sadness of her face seemed to pass into his heart.]

As he said the words the young girl blushed and hung her head, and all
the other figures vanished.

The young prince went quickly back to his father, and told him all he
had seen and which wife he had chosen. The old man listened to him full
of sorrow, and then he spoke:

'You have done ill, my son, to search out that which was hidden, and you
are running to meet a great danger. This young girl has fallen into the
power of a wicked sorcerer, who lives in an iron castle. Many young men
have tried to deliver her, and none have ever come back. But what is
done is done! You have given your word, and it cannot be broken. Go,
dare your fate, and return to me safe and sound.'

So the prince embraced his father, mounted his horse, and set forth to
seek his bride. He rode on gaily for several hours, till he found
himself in a wood where he had never been before, and soon lost his way
among its winding paths and deep valleys. He tried in vain to see where
he was: the thick trees shut out the sun, and he could not tell which
was north and which was south, so that he might know what direction to
make for. He felt in despair, and had quite given up all hope of getting
out of this horrible place, when he heard a voice calling to him.

'Hey! hey! stop a minute!'

The prince turned round and saw behind him a very tall man, running as
fast as his legs would carry him.

'Wait for me,' he panted, 'and take me into your service. If you do, you
will never be sorry.'

'Who are you?' asked the prince, 'and what can you do?'

'Long is my name, and I can lengthen my body at will. Do you see that
nest up there on the top of that pine-tree? Well, I can get it for you
without taking the trouble of climbing the tree,' and Long stretched
himself up and up and up, till he was very soon as tall as the pine
itself. He put the nest in his pocket, and before you could wink your
eyelid he had made himself small again, and stood before the prince.

'Yes; you know your business,' said he, 'but birds' nests are no use to
me. I am too old for them. Now if you were only able to get me out of
this wood, you would indeed be good