ndly for his invitation,
and called out as he disappeared into the thicket, 'Should any evil
befall you, dear Prince, at any time, you may rely on my friendship and
gratitude.' These were the wolf's parting words, and the Prince could
not restrain his tears when he saw his friend vanishing in the
distance; but one glance at his beloved mermaid soon cheered him up
again, and they continued on their journey merrily.

The news of his son's adventures had already reached his father's Court,
and everyone was more than astonished at the success of the once
despised Prince. His elder brothers, who had in vain gone in pursuit of
the thief of the golden apples, were furious over their younger
brother's good fortune, and plotted and planned how they were to kill
him. They hid themselves in the wood through which the Prince had to
pass on his way to the palace, and there fell on him, and, having beaten
him to death, they carried off the golden horse and the golden bird. But
nothing they could do would persuade the golden mermaid to go with them
or move from the spot, for ever since she had left the sea, she had so
attached herself to her Prince that she asked nothing else than to live
or die with him.

For many weeks the poor mermaid sat and watched over the dead body of
her lover, weeping salt tears over his loss, when suddenly one day their
old friend the wolf appeared and said, 'Cover the Prince's body with all
the leaves and flowers you can find in the wood.' The maiden did as he
told her, and then the wolf breathed over the flowery grave, and, lo and
behold! the Prince lay there sleeping as peacefully as a child. 'Now you
may wake him if you like,' said the wolf, and the mermaid bent over him
and gently kissed the wounds his brothers had made on his forehead, and
the Prince awoke, and you may imagine how delighted he was to find his
beautiful mermaid beside him, though he felt a little depressed when he
thought of the loss of the golden bird and the golden horse. After a
time the wolf, who had likewise fallen on the Prince's neck, advised
them to continue their journey, and once more the Prince and his lovely
bride mounted on the faithful beast's back.

The King's joy was great when he embraced his youngest son, for he had
long since despaired of his return. He received the wolf and the
beautiful golden mermaid most cordially too, and the Prince was made to
tell his adventures all over from the beginning. The poor old fathe