is two
older brothers.

When they were sailing down the great river towards home the two older
brothers plotted against the youngest prince. "Come," said one to the
other. "How can we let our father know that it was our little brother
who succeeded in this quest? Let us cast our brother ashore. Then we
will go together to our father with the water from the fountain of
Giantland. When his sight is restored we will share his blessing and
the honors of the kingdom. We will claim no knowledge of our youngest
brother."

This is what the two eldest princes did. The youngest prince was cast
ashore when he was asleep. After many long weary wanderings he found
refuge in the hut of a poor fisherman and hired out to work for him.

The king's eyesight was restored immediately when he had bathed his
eyes in the water from the fountain of Giantland. The two princes were
given all the honors of the kingdom. The whole kingdom, however,
mourned the loss of the little prince. The king and queen never gave
up hoping that he would come back to them. The queen carefully laid
away all the clothes which had belonged to the youngest prince so that
they would be ready for him if he should return to the palace. Every
day she shook them out with loving care, so that the _baratas_ and
white ants would not eat holes in them.

A year and a day flew swiftly by. The huge dragon which had guarded
the fountain of Giantland escaped from her enchantment and was
restored to the form of a beautiful princess.

The little old woman and the princess watched and waited for the
return of the prince according to his promise. "Some evil must surely
have befallen the lad," said the little old woman. "Let us go in
search of him. I know he was a lad who would not break his word."

The little old woman and the beautiful princess who wore the prince's
own ring upon her finger came to the palace of the king. When the king
had listened to the story they told, the guilty princes were called
before him. They were forced to confess their evil deed. They were
immediately thrown into prison. The anger of the whole kingdom was
kindled against them.

Then the king and the queen and all the court sailed in their swiftest
ships to the place where the little prince had been cast ashore. The
little old woman and the beautiful princess who wore the prince's own
ring upon her finger went with them. At length after much searching
they found the fisherman's hut and the prince