uld be able to send a prince brave enough and wise enough to
succeed, there at the top of the mountain he will find a little old
woman who will tell him whether or not the dragon is asleep."

With these words the little old woman withdrew from the royal
presence. The king pondered over her advice. Then he sent for the
three princes and told them the story.

"O my father, I am brave and wise," said the eldest prince as soon as
he had heard his father's words. "I will go upon this quest. I will
bring you a bottle of the water of the fountain of Giantland that your
sight may be restored."

The king ordered a great fleet to be prepared to sail up the river to
Giantland. He collected an enormous sum of money to provide for the
prince. The whole kingdom buzzed with preparation for the journey.

The prince planted an orange tree in the palace garden and said to his
younger brother, "Keep close watch of this tree. If its leaves begin
to wither you will know that some evil has befallen me. Come to my
aid."

The eldest prince set out with a great fleet and his pockets lined
with gold. He anchored in many harbors along the way. The prince was
very fond of gaming and there were many opportunities to play. Before
he had reached Giantland he had lost the golden linings from his
pockets.

After the prince had sailed up the great river which leads to
Giantland he saw the steep rocky mountain towering before him. He set
a bottle for the water of the fountain of Giantland carefully upon his
head and slowly ascended the steep path. He kept his eyes fixed
straight ahead.

Soon, however, he heard giant voices shouting at him. From the corners
of his eyes he could see giant forms along the pathway. He forgot that
he must look neither to the right nor to the left.

The moment the prince turned his eyes a giant immediately seized him
and made him his slave. "You shall be my slave for ever and a day,"
said the giant, "unless you have gold enough in your pockets to pay
your ransom." The prince had no gold.

At home in the palace garden the leaves of the orange tree which the
eldest prince had planted began to wither. His younger brother noticed
it at once and went to the king. "O my father," said he, "I know that
my brother has fallen into trouble. I must go to his aid."

The king at once prepared another great fleet. He provided the prince
with even more gold than his brother had taken with him. Every one in
the whole kingdom did h