, and threw her
body in a ditch. A king's son happened to pass by, found the body, and
discovered that it still contained life. He had her cured, and married
her, and they afterwards became king and queen. While the king was once
at war, the viceroy tempted the queen, and when she would not listen to
him, killed her two children and slandered her to the king. The queen
took the bodies of the children and wandered about until she met the
Madonna, who took the children, and the queen went to Galicia. The king
and viceroy also made a pilgrimage to the same place where the queen's
parents had dwelt since the supposed death of their daughter. All met at
the saint's shrine and forgave each other, and the Madonna restored the
children alive and well.

There are two or three other stories in Pitre and Gonz. in which saints
appear in the _role_ of good fairies, aiding the hero when in trouble.
One of these stories, "The Thankful Dead" (Gonz., No. 74), has already
been mentioned in Chapter II. p. 131; two others may be briefly
mentioned here. The first is Gonz., No. 74, "Of one who by the help of
St. Joseph won the king's daughter." A king proclaims that he will give
his daughter to any one who builds a ship that will go by land and
water. The youngest of three brothers constructs such a vessel by the
help of St. Joseph, after his two brothers have failed. The saint, who
is not known to the youth, accompanies him on the voyage on the
condition that he shall receive the half of everything that the youth
receives. During the voyage they take on board a man who can fill a sack
with mist, one who can tear up half a forest and carry the trees on his
back, a man who can drink up half a river, one who can always hit what
he shoots at, and one who walks with such long steps that when one foot
is in Catania the other is in Messina. The king refuses to give his
daughter to the youth in spite of the ship that goes by land and water.
The youth, however, by the help of his wonderful servants and St.
Joseph, fulfils all the king's requirements, and carries away the
princess. When the youth returned home with his bride and treasures, St.
Joseph called on him to fulfil his promise to him. The youth gives him
half of his treasures, and even half of the crown he had won. The saint
reminds him that the best of his possessions yet remains undivided,--his
bride. The youth determines to keep his promise, draws his sword, and is
about to cut his bride