is best to hasten the preparations.

In the palace garden the prince planted a lemon tree and called the
youngest prince into the garden. The youngest prince was playing with
his dogs. He was a mere boy. "Keep close watch of this lemon tree
while I am away," said the prince. "If its leaves begin to wither you
will know that I am in trouble. Come to my aid."

The prince sailed up the great river which leads to Giantland. He
anchored at many harbors and took part in many _festas_. By the time
he had reached Giantland he had spent all his gold.

At home in the palace garden the youngest prince watched the lemon
tree carefully every day. He watered it and pruned it. He took
splendid care of it.

[Illustration: The youngest prince watched the lemon tree carefully
every day]

When at last the prince set out to climb the mountain which leads to
the fountain of Giantland he felt very brave and very wise. He climbed
steadily on and on, looking neither to the right nor to the left, even
though he heard the voices of the giants shouting at him, and from the
corners of his eyes could see the giant forms along the pathway.

Suddenly he heard the voice of his own brother, the eldest prince,
weeping as the giant gave him blows. At that sound he forgot all about
looking straight ahead.

The moment the prince turned his eyes from the pathway straight ahead
of him a giant 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 to pay your ransom."

At home in the palace garden his little brother was watching the lemon
tree. The very moment its leaves began to wither he noticed it and ran
at once to the king. "O my father," he cried as soon as he was in the
king's presence. "My brother is in trouble. I must go to his aid."

"You, my son, are only a lad," said the king. "How can you succeed
when your two older brothers have failed? I cannot bear to let you go.
You are all I have left. I prefer to remain blind the rest of my days.
O, why did I ever listen to the story the little old woman told me
about the water of the fountain of Giantland?"

The youngest prince begged so hard to go that at length his father
granted his request and prepared a fleet for him. He gave him all the
gold he could collect in the kingdom.

The prince set out with brave heart. He sailed on his way steadily
although at every harbour there were voices which bade him linger.
There were g