flight and threw himself into a deep chasm. The Prince
then found the tree, which was surrounded with human bones, and breaking
off an apple, prepared to return to the Princess. She had never slept
during his absence, and ran to meet him eagerly.

When the wicked Feintise heard the sweet singing of the apple, her grief
was excessive, for instead of doing harm to these lovely children, she
only did them good by her perfidious counsels. She allowed some days to
pass by without showing herself; and then once more made the Princess
unhappy by saying that the dancing-water and the singing-apple were
useless without the little green bird that tells everything.

Cheri again set out, and after some trouble learnt that this bird was to
be found on the top of a frightful rock, in a frozen climate. At length,
at dawn of day, he perceived the rock, which was very high and very
steep, and upon the summit of it was the bird, speaking like an oracle,
telling wonderful things. He thought that with a little dexterity it
would be easy to catch it, for it seemed very tame. He got off his
horse, and climbed up very quietly. He was so close to the green bird
that he thought he could lay hands on it, when suddenly the rock opened
and he fell into a spacious hall, and became as motionless as a statue;
he could neither stir, nor utter a complaint at his deplorable
situation. Three hundred knights, who had made the same attempt, were in
the same state. To look at each other was the only thing permitted them.

[Illustration]

The time seemed so long to Belle-Etoile, and still no signs of her
beloved Cheri, that she fell dangerously ill; and in the hopes of
curing her, Petit-Soleil resolved to seek him.

But he too was swallowed up by the rock and fell into the great hall.
The first person he saw was Cheri, but he could not speak to him; and
Prince Heureux, following soon after, met with the same fate as the
other two.

When Feintise was aware that the third Prince was gone, she was
exceedingly delighted at the success of her plan; and when Belle-Etoile,
inconsolable at finding not one of her brothers return, reproached
herself for their loss, and resolved to follow them, she was quite
overjoyed.

The Princess was disguised as a cavalier, but had no other armour than
her helmet. She was dreadfully cold as she drew near the rock, but
seeing a turtle-dove lying on the snow, she took it up, warmed it, and
restored it to life: and the dove re