into a
powder. No sooner had he placed it in the Princess's mouth than she
opened her lovely eyes, and, looking up into the happy youth's face, she
kissed him tenderly, thanked him for freeing her from her magic sleep,
and promised to be his wife. At the same moment a sound as of thunder
was heard all over the castle, and on all the staircases and in every
room sounds were to be heard. Then a troop of servants, male and female,
flocked into the apartment where the happy couple sat, and after wishing
the Princess and her bridegroom joy, they dispersed all over the castle
to their different occupations.

But the little grey dwarf began now to demand his beard again from the
youth, for in his wicked heart he was determined to make an end of all
their happiness; he knew that if only his beard were once more on his
chin, he would be able to do what he liked with them all. But the clever
flute-player was quite a match for the little man in cunning, and said:
'All right, you needn't be afraid, you shall get your beard back before
we part; but you must allow my bride and me to accompany you a bit on
your homeward way.'

The dwarf could not refuse this request, and so they all went together
through the beautiful green paths and flowery meadows, and came at last
to the river which flowed for miles round the Princess's land and formed
the boundary of her kingdom. There was no bridge or ferry-boat to be
seen anywhere, and it was impossible to get over to the other side, for
the boldest swimmer would not have dared to brave the fierce current and
roaring waters. Then the youth said to the dwarf: 'Give me your wand in
order that I may part the waves.'

[Illustration]

And the dwarf was forced to do as he was told because the youth still
kept his beard from him; but the wicked little creature chuckled with
joy and thought to himself: 'The foolish youth will hand me my beard as
soon as we have crossed the river, and then my power will return, and I
will seize my wand and prevent them both ever returning to their
beautiful country.'

But the dwarf's wicked intentions were doomed to disappointment. The
happy youth struck the water with his wand, and the waves at once parted
and stood still, and the dwarf went on in front and crossed the stream.
No sooner had he done so than the waters closed behind him, and the
youth and his lovely bride stood safe on the other side. Then they threw
his beard to the old man across the river, but t