icked the palm of her hand with the point, and
sank down in a swoon.

Immediately a deep silence fell on all around. The little bird that
only a moment before had been singing so sweetly upon the window-sill
hushed his song. The distant hum of voices from the courtyard beneath
ceased; even Goody stopped short in the directions she was giving
the Princess, and neither moved hand nor foot towards the poor little
maid, and all because she had fallen fast asleep as she stood.

Below in the castle it was just the same. The King and Queen, who had
that moment returned from their journey and were enquiring for their
daughter, fell asleep before the lady-in-waiting could answer them,
and as to the lady herself she had begun to snore--in a ladylike
manner, of course--before you could have winked your eye.

The soldiers and men-at-arms slumbered as they stood. The page-boy
fell asleep writh his mouth wide open, and a fly that had just been
going to settle on his nose fell asleep too in mid-air.

Although the sun had been shining brightly when the Princess took the
spindle in her hand, no sooner did she prick herself with the point
than deep shadows darkened the sunny rooms and gardens.

It was just as though night had overtaken them, but there was no one
in or near the palace to heed whether it were dark or light.

This sudden darkness had been caused by a magic wood which had sprung
up all around the palace and its grounds. It was at least half a mile
thick, and was composed of thorns and prickly plants, through which
it seemed impossible for anyone to penetrate. It was so thick and high
that it hid even the topmost towers of the enchanted castle, and no
one outside could have dreamed that such a castle lay behind it.

Well, and so the years went on, and on, and on, until a hundred years
had passed, and the palace and the story of it were all but forgotten.
And it happened that a King's son from a neighboring country came
hunting that way with his men, and horses, and dogs. And in the
excitement of the chase he rode on and on until he became separated
from his servants and attendants, and found himself in a part of the
country where he had never been before. In vain he tried to retrace
his steps; he only seemed to wander farther away in the wrong
direction.

Presently he came to a woodcutter's cottage, and dismounted to ask his
way. An old, old man lived in this hut, and after he had directed the
Prince as to the best w