to seek till you find a golden hen with a
feather missing from her tail. And if you fail to find her your head
will be the forfeit.'

The boy had need of all his courage to listen silently to the king's
words. He had no idea where the golden hen might be, or even, if he
discovered that, how he was to get to her. But there was nothing for
it but to do the king's bidding, and he felt that the sooner he left
the palace the better. So he went home and put some food into a bag,
and then set forth, hoping that some accident might show him which
path to take.

After walking for several hours he met a fox, who seemed inclined to
be friendly, and the boy was so glad to have anyone to talk to that he
sat down and entered into conversation.

'Where are you going?' asked the fox.

'I have got to find a golden hen who has lost a feather out of her
tail,' answered the boy; 'but I don't know where she lives or how I
shall catch her!'

'Oh, I can show you the way!' said the fox, who was really very
good-natured. 'Far towards the east, in that direction, lives a
beautiful maiden who is called "The Sister of the Sun." She has three
golden hens in her house. Perhaps the feather belongs to one of them.'

The boy was delighted at this news, and they walked on all day
together, the fox in front, and the boy behind. When evening came they
lay down to sleep, and put the knapsack under their heads for a
pillow.

Suddenly, about midnight, the fox gave a low whine, and drew nearer
to his bedfellow. 'Cousin,' he whispered very low, 'there is someone
coming who will take the knapsack away from me. Look over there!' And
the boy, peeping through the bushes, saw a man.

'Oh, I don't think he will rob us!' said the boy; and when the man
drew near, he told them his story, which so much interested the
stranger that he asked leave to travel with them, as he might be of
some use. So when the sun rose they set out again, the fox in front as
before, the man and boy following.

After some hours they reached the castle of the Sister of the Sun, who
kept the golden hens among her treasures. They halted before the gate
and took counsel as to which of them should go in and see the lady
herself.

'I think it would be best for me to enter and steal the hens,' said
the fox; but this did not please the boy at all.

'No, it is my business, so it is right that I should go,' answered he.

'You will find it a very difficult matter to get hold of the hens