fisherman would be able to bring any princess at
all with him, much less a beautiful one. The prince hid the princess
in the box which the old _ama_ carried on top of her head.

When the poor fisherman stood before the king with an old _ama_
standing by his side, a great laugh ran through the king's court. "We
knew that the fisherman would never be able to bring a princess more
beautiful than our own lovely princess," said the courtiers one to
another. "But see what he has brought in her place!" Then they laughed
and laughed until they could hardly stand.

The king's soldiers stepped forward to seize the fisherman to put him
to death. "Grant me just one moment more of life," begged the prince.

The king nodded his head and the prince put his hand into the pocket
of his fisherman's coat. He pulled out a handful of silver scales. The
most beautiful silvery cloud filled the room.

"Just a moment more," begged the prince. Then he pulled a handful of
golden scales from out his pocket. The most beautiful golden cloud
filled the room.

"Please just another little minute," asked the prince and he pulled
out a handful of jewelled scales from his pocket. The most wonderful
sparkling cloud of jewels fell about them. As the cloud cleared away
there stood the most beautiful princess any one had ever seen or
dreamed of between the old _ama_ and the prince in the fisherman
clothes.

The soldiers drew back. The king looked at the floor and so did all
the courtiers. "You have won your wager," said the king when he could
find his voice. "Our daughter is not the most beautiful princess in
the whole world. I see myself that her nose is a tiny bit crooked."

The prince and princess and the old _ama_ went back to the prince's
own kingdom where the wedding of the prince and princess was
celebrated with a great feast. From the moment that the fish scales
fell upon the princess her enchantment was broken and she never became
a hare again. She and the prince lived together happily in the
prince's palace, and the giant never troubled them again, though they
were always careful to keep away from the forest.

V

THE LITTLE SISTER OF THE GIANTS

Once upon a time there was a little girl who was very beautiful. Her
eyes were like the eyes of the gazelle; her hair hid in its soft waves
the deep shadows of the night; her smile was like the sunrise. Each
year as she grew older she grew also more and more beautiful. Her name
was Ange