a ridiculous animal give me rational advice?" thought
the young Prince, and shot at the fox, but missed it, so it ran away
with its tail in the air. The King's son then walked on, and in the
evening he came to a village where the two inns stood: in one there
was dancing and singing, but the other was quiet, and had a very mean
and wretched appearance.

"I should be an idiot," thought he to himself, "if I were to go
to this gloomy old inn while the other is so bright and cheerful."
Therefore, he went into the merry one, lived there in rioting and
revelry, and so forgot the golden bird, his father, and all good
behavior.

As time passed away, and the eldest son did not return home, the
second son set out on his travels to seek the golden bird. Like the
eldest brother, he met with the fox, and did not follow the good
advice it gave him. He likewise came to the two inns, and at the
window of the noisy one his brother stood entreating him to come in.
This he could not resist, so he went in, and began to live a life of
pleasure only.

Again a long time passed by without any news, so the youngest Prince
wished to try his luck, but his father would not hear of it. At last,
for the sake of peace, the King was obliged to consent, for he had no
rest as long as he refused. The fox was again sitting at the edge of
the forest, and once more it begged for its own life and gave its good
advice. The youth was good-hearted, and said:

"Have no fear, little fox; I will not do thee any harm."

"Thou wilt never repent of thy good nature," replied the fox, "and in
order that thou mayest travel more quickly, get up behind on my tail."

Scarcely had the youth seated himself, when away went the fox over
hill and dale, so fast that the Prince's hair whistled in the wind.
When they came to the village, the youth dismounted, and following the
fox's advice, he turned at once into the shabby-looking inn, where he
slept peacefully through the night. The next morning, when the Prince
went into the fields, the fox was already there, and said:

"I will tell thee what further thou must do. Go straight on, and thou
wilt come to a castle before which a whole troop of soldiers will be
lying asleep. Go right through the midst of them into the castle, and
thou wilt come to a chamber where is hanging a wooden cage containing
a golden bird. Close by stands an empty golden cage, for show; but be
careful that thou dost not take the bird out of its ugly c