d ever
get well again. The queen and the prince were very unhappy, for they
loved him dearly; but though they did all they could, he only grew
worse and worse, and, one day, when the summer had come and the birds
were singing, he raised his head and, taking a long look out of the
window, fell back dead.

During many weeks the queen could hardly eat or sleep, so sorely did
she grieve for him, and the prince feared that she would die also if
she went on weeping; so he begged her to go with him to a beautiful
place that he knew of on the other side of the forest, and after some
time she consented. The prince was overjoyed, and arranged that they
should set off early next morning.

They travelled all day, only stopping now and then to rest, and
already the queen began to be better and to take a little interest in
the things she saw. Just as the evening was coming on they entered the
forest. Here it was quite dark, for the trees grew so close together
that the sun could not shine through them, and very soon they lost the
path, and wandered helplessly about wondering what they should do.

'If we sleep in this dreadful place,' said the queen, who was tired
and frightened, 'the wild beasts will eat us.' And she began to cry.

'Cheer up, mother,' answered her son, 'I have a feeling that luck is
coming to us.' And at the next turning they came to a little house, in
the window of which a light was burning.

'Didn't I tell you so?' cried the prince. 'Stay here a moment and I
will go and see if I can get food and shelter for the night.' And away
he ran as fast as he could go, for by this time they were very hungry,
as they had brought very little food with them and had eaten up every
scrap! When one takes a long journey on foot one does not like to have
too much to carry.

The prince entered the house and looked about him, going from one room
to the other, but seeing nobody and finding nothing to eat. At last,
as he was going sorrowfully away, he caught sight of a sword and shirt
of mail hanging on the wall in an inner room, with a piece of paper
fastened under them. On the paper was some writing, which said that
whoever wore the coat and carried the sword would be safe from all
danger.

The prince was so delighted at the sight that he forgot how hungry he
was, and instantly slipped on the coat of chain armour under his
tunic, and hid the sword under his cloak, for he did not mean to say
anything about what he had found. Th