e beasts hid in the
bushes and hedges. The sky above them was not blue, but like rays of
pure gold, and the stars looked twice their usual size, and far more
brilliant than on our earth.

[Illustration]

The youth grew more and more astonished when the little grey man led him
into a castle far bigger and more splendid than the one they had left.
Here, too, the deepest silence reigned. They wandered all through the
castle, and came at last to a room in the middle of which stood a bed
hung all round with heavy curtains. Over the bed hung a bird's cage, and
the bird inside it was singing beautiful songs into the silent space.
The little grey man lifted the curtains from the bed and beckoned the
youth to approach. On the rich silk cushions embroidered with gold a
lovely maiden lay sleeping. She was as beautiful as an angel, with
golden hair which fell in curls over her marble shoulders, and a diamond
crown sparkled on her forehead. But a sleep as of death held her in its
spell, and no noise seemed able to waken the sleeper.

Then the little man turned to the wondering youth and said: 'See, here
is the sleeping child! She is a mighty Princess. This splendid castle
and this enchanted land are hers, but for hundreds of years she has
slept this magic sleep, and during all that time no human being has been
able to find their way here. I alone have kept guard over her, and have
gone daily to my own castle to get food and to beat the greedy
gold-seekers who forced their way into my dwelling. I have watched over
the Princess carefully all these years and saw that no stranger came
near her, but all my magic power lay in my beard, and now that you have
taken it away I am helpless, and can no longer hold the beautiful
Princess in her enchanted sleep, but am forced to reveal my treasured
secret to you. So set to work and do as I tell you. Take the bird which
hangs over the Princess's head, and which by its song sang her into this
enchanted sleep--a song which it has had to continue ever since; take it
and kill it, and cut its little heart out and burn it to a powder, and
then put it into the Princess's mouth; then she will instantly awaken,
and will bestow on you her heart and hand, her kingdom and castle, and
all her treasures.

The little dwarf paused, quite worn out, and the youth did not wait long
to do his bidding. He did all he was told carefully and promptly, and
having cut the little bird's heart out he proceeded to make it