rest, and made all the haste he
could back to the robbers' home.

The robber-chief could smell the apples from afar, for he had a nose
like an ogre, and he said to the queen:

'That is a strange fellow! If he had gone into the forest the wild
beasts must have eaten him unless he has a powerful charm to protect
him. If that is so we must get it away from him.'

'No, he has nothing,' answered the queen, who was quite fascinated by
the robber.

But the robber did not believe her.

'We must think of a way to get it,' he said. 'When he comes in say you
are well again, and have some food ready for him. Then, whilst he is
eating, tell him you dreamed that he was attacked by wild beasts, and
ask him how he managed to escape from them. After he has told you I
can easily find a way to take his charm from him.'

Shortly after the prince came in.

'How are you, mother!' he said gaily. 'Here are your apples. Now you
will soon be well again, and ready to come away with me.'

'Oh, I am better already,' she said. 'And see, your dinner is all hot
for you, eat it up, and then we will start.'

Whilst he was eating she said to him: 'I had a horrible dream while
you were away. I saw you in a forest full of wild animals, and they
were running round you and growling fiercely. How did you manage to
escape from them?'

'Oh, it was only a dream!' laughed the prince.

'But _my_ dreams are always true,' said his mother. 'Tell me how it
was.'

The prince wondered for some time whether he should tell her or not,
but at last he decided to let her into the secret.

'One should tell one's mother everything,' he thought. And he told
her.

'See, mother, here are a sword and a mail shirt which I found in the
first house we entered in the forest, and as long as I carry them
nothing can hurt me. That is what saved me from the wild beasts.'

'How can I be thankful enough!' exclaimed the queen. And directly the
prince's back was turned, she hurried to tell the robber.

* * * * *

The robber, as soon as he heard the news, made a sleeping-draught, and
bade the queen give it to her son before he went to bed that night.

Accordingly, as soon as the prince began to get sleepy, the queen
handed him the cup containing the draught.

'Drink this, to please me,' she said. 'It will do you good after all
you've gone through, and make you sleep well.'

'What an odd taste it has!' murmured the prince as he drank it.