wicked laughter. But as he laughed a loud
crash was heard, the window fell into a thousand pieces, a gold ring
glittered in the air, and the princess stood before the enchanter. For
Quickeye, who was watching from afar, had told Long of the terrible
danger now threatening the prince, and Long, summoning all his strength
for one gigantic effort, had thrown the ring right through the window.

The wizard shrieked and howled with rage, till the whole castle trembled
to its foundations. Then a crash was heard, the third band split in two,
and a crow flew out of the window.

Then the princess at length broke the enchanted silence, and blushing
like a rose, gave the prince her thanks for her unlooked-for
deliverance.

But it was not only the princess who was restored to life by the flight
of the wicked black crow. The marble figures became men once more, and
took up their occupations just as they had left them off. The horses
neighed in the stables, the flowers blossomed in the garden, the birds
flew in the air, the fish darted in the water. Everywhere you looked,
all was life, all was joy!

And the knights who had been turned into stone came in a body to offer
their homage to the prince who had set them free.

'Do not thank me,' he said, 'for I have done nothing. Without my
faithful servants, Long, Broad, and Quickeye, I should even have been as
one of you.'

With these words he bade them farewell, and departed with the princess
and his faithful companions for the kingdom of his father.

The old king, who had long since given up all hope, wept for joy at the
sight of his son, and insisted that the wedding should take place as
soon as possible.

All the knights who had been enchanted in the Iron Castle were invited
to the ceremony, and after it had taken place, Long, Broad, and Quickeye
took leave of the young couple, saying that they were going to look for
more work.

The prince offered them all their hearts could desire if they would only
remain with him, but they replied that an idle life would not please
them, and that they could never be happy unless they were busy, so they
went away to seek their fortunes, and for all I know are seeking still.

[_Contes populaires_. Traduits par Louis Leger. Paris: Leroux, editeur.]

_PRUNELLA_

There was once upon a time a woman who had an only daughter. When the
child was about seven years old she used to pass every day, on her way
to school, an orchard where