t the King spake: "Silence! let him
alone; he is ever my most trusty John. Who knows for what good end he
may have done this thing?" So they went on their way and entered
the palace, and there in the hall stood a cupboard in which lay the
ready-made bridal shirt, looking for all the world as though it were
made of gold and silver. The young King went toward it and was about to
take hold of it, but Trusty John, pushing him aside, seized it with his
gloved hands, threw it hastily into the fire, and let it burn The
other servants commenced grumbling again, and said: "See, he's actually
burning the King's bridal shirt." But the young King spoke: "Who knows
for what good purpose he does it? Let him alone, he is my most trusty
John." Then the wedding was celebrated, the dance began, and the bride
joined in, but Trusty John watched her countenance carefully. Of a
sudden she grew deadly white, and fell to the ground as if she were
dead. He at once sprang hastily toward her, lifted her up, and bore her
to a room, where he laid her down, and kneeling beside her he drew three
drops of blood from her right side, and spat them out. She soon
breathed again and came to herself; but the young King had watched the
proceeding, and not knowing why Trusty John had acted as he did, he flew
into a passion, and cried: "Throw him into prison." On the following
morning sentence was passed on Trusty John, and he was condemned to be
hanged. As he stood on the gallows he said: "Every one doomed to
death has the right to speak once before he dies; and I too have that
privilege?" "Yes," said the King, "it shall be granted to you." So
Trusty John spoke: "I am unjustly condemned, for I have always been
faithful to you"; and he proceeded to relate how he had heard the
ravens' conversation on the sea, and how he had to do all he did in
order to save his master. Then the King cried: "Oh! my most trusty John,
pardon! pardon! Take him down." But as he uttered the last word Trusty
John had fallen lifeless to the ground, and was a stone.

The King and Queen were in despair, and the King spake: "Ah! how ill
have I rewarded such great fidelity!" and made them lift up the stone
image and place it in his bedroom near his bed. As often as he looked at
it he wept and said: "Oh! if I could only restore you to life, my most
trusty John!" After a time the Queen gave birth to twins, two small
sons, who throve and grew, and were a constant joy to her. One day when
the