ade no mistake, he thought he would just run over them
again. This time, to his great annoyance, the number was different; so
he reckoned them for the third time, but now the number was not the
same as either of the previous ones! And this was hardly to be
wondered at, as his mind was full of the princess's pretty looks and
words.

As for the maiden, no sooner was her deluded lover fairly out of sight
than she began to prepare for flight. She had a fine fresh turnip
hidden close at hand, which she changed into a spirited horse, all
saddled and bridled, and, springing upon its back, she galloped away
over hill and dale till she reached the Thorny Valley, and flung
herself into the arms of her beloved Prince Ratibor.

Meanwhile the toiling gnome went through his task over and over again
till his back ached and his head swam, and he could no longer put two
and two together; but as he felt tolerably certain of the exact number
of turnips in the field, big and little together, he hurried back
eager to prove to his beloved one what a delightful and submissive
husband he would be. He felt very well satisfied with himself as he
crossed the mossy lawn to the place where he had left her; but, alas!
she was no longer there.

He searched every thicket and path, he looked behind every tree, and
gazed into every pond, but without success; then he hastened into the
palace and rushed from room to room, peering into every hole and
corner and calling her by name; but only echo answered in the marble
halls--there was neither voice nor footstep.

Then he began to perceive that something was amiss, and, throwing off
the mortal form that encumbered him, he flew out of the palace, and
soared high into the air, and saw the fugitive princess in the far
distance just as the swift horse carried her across the boundary of
his dominions.

Furiously did the enraged gnome fling two great clouds together, and
hurl a thunderbolt after the flying maiden, splintering the rocky
barriers which had stood a thousand years. But his fury was vain, the
thunderclouds melted away into a soft mist, and the gnome, after
flying about for a while in despair, bewailing to the four winds his
unhappy fate, went sorrowfully back to the palace, and stole once more
through every room, with many sighs and lamentations. He passed
through the gardens which for him had lost their charm, and the sight
of the princess's footprints on the golden sand of the pathway renewed