WONDER TALES FROM MANY LANDS
_Uniform with this Volume_
FAIRY TALES OF OLD JAPAN
By Dr W. E. GRIFFIS. Illustrated in Colour.
CHINESE FAIRY STORIES
By NORMAN H. PITMAN. Illustrated in Colour.
[Illustration: THE BABA YAGA AND PETER
_Fr._]
WONDER TALES FROM MANY LANDS
WRITTEN AND ILLUSTRATED
BY
KATHARINE PYLE
[Illustration]
LONDON
GEORGE G. HARRAP & COMPANY LTD.
2 & 3 PORTSMOUTH STREET KINGSWAY W.C.
AND AT SYDNEY
_First published August 1920_
_Printed in Great Britain
by Turnbull & Spears, Edinburgh_
CONTENTS
PAGE
LONG, BROAD, AND SHARPSIGHT 9
_A Story from Bohemia_
THE DWARF WITH THE GOLDEN BEARD 30
_A Slavonic Fairy Tale_
THE GREAT WHITE BEAR AND THE TROLLS 55
_A Story from the Norse_
THE STORY OF THE THREE BILLY GOAT GRUFFS 61
_A Story from the Norse_
THE STONES OF PLOUVINEC 67
_A Tale from Brittany_
THE KING OF THE BUFFALOES 81
_An American Indian Tale_
THE JACKAL AND THE ALLIGATOR 88
_A Hindu Fairy Tale_
THE BABA YAGA 93
_A Russian Fairy Tale_
TAMLANE 99
_A Story from an Old Scotch Ballad_
THE FARMER AND THE PIXY 104
_An English Fairy Tale_
RABBIT’S EYES 109
_A Korean Fairy Tale_
MUDJEE MONEDO 114
_An American Indian Tale_
DAPPLEGRIM 126
_A Tale adapted from the Norse_
THE FISH PRINCE 146
_A Hindu Folk Tale_
THE MAGIC RICE KETTLE 161
_A Korean Story_
THE CROW PERI 178
_A Persian Story_
THE FOUR WISHES 199
_A German Story_
WHY THE ANIMALS NO LONGER FEAR THE SHEEP 229
_A French Creole Story_
PRINCESS ROSETTA 240
_A French Fairy Tale_
ILLUSTRATIONS
PAGE
THE BABA YAGA AND PETER _Frontispiece_
THERE WAS A GREAT BLACK RAVEN IN THE ROOM WITH THEM 28
HE SPOKE TO HER IN THE SOFTEST VOICE HE COULD MANAGE 82
THEN IT WAS A SWAN THAT BEAT ITS WINGS IN HER FACE 102
“NOT SO FAST, MY FINE LITTLE FELLOW,” HE SAID 106
SHE MANAGED TO THROW THE THIRD STONE AT HIM 152
“DO NOT BE AFRAID, MY CHILD,” SAID THE NIXIE TO MATILDA 202
THE MATTRESS UPON WHICH SHE LAY HAD FLOATED ON AND ON 248
WONDER TALES FROM MANY LANDS
LONG, BROAD, AND SHARPSIGHT
A STORY FROM BOHEMIA
THERE was once a King who had one only son, and him he loved better
than anything in the whole world—better even than his own life. The
King’s greatest desire was to see his son married, but though the
Prince had travelled in many lands, and had seen many noble and
beautiful ladies, there was not one among them all whom he wished to
have for a wife.
One day the King called his son to him and said, “My son, for a long
time now I have hoped to see you choose a bride, but you have desired
no one. Take now this silver key. Go to the top of the castle, and
there you will see a steel door. This key will unlock it. Open the door
and enter. Look carefully at everything in the room, and then return
and tell me what you have seen. But, whatever you do, do not touch nor
draw aside the curtain that hangs at the right of the door. If you
should disobey me and do this thing, you will suffer the greatest
dangers, and may even pay for it with your life.”
The Prince wondered greatly at his father’s words, but he took the key
and went to the top of the castle, and there he found the steel door
his father had described. He unlocked it with the silver key, stepped
inside, and looked about him. When he had done so, he was filled with
amazement at what he saw. The room had twelve sides, and on eleven of
these sides were pictures of eleven princesses more beautiful than
any the Prince had ever seen in all his life before. Moreover, these
pictures were as though they were alive. When the Prince looked at
them, they moved and smiled and blushed and beckoned to him. He went
from one to the other, and they were so beautiful that each one he
looked upon seemed lovelier than the last. But lovely though they were,
there was not one of them whom the Prince wished to have for a wife.
Last of all, the Prince came to the twelfth side of the room, and it
was covered over with a curtain, and the curtain was of velvet richly
embroidered with gold and precious stones. The Prince stood before it
and looked at it and looked at it. He tried to peer under its edges,
but he could see nothing; never in all his life had he longed for
anything as he longed to lift that curtain and see what was behind it.
At last his longing grew so great that he could withstand it no
longer. He laid his hand upon the folds and drew it aside, and when he
had done so, his heart melted within him for love and joy. For there
was the portrait of a maiden so fair and lovely that all the other
eleven beauties were as nothing beside her.
The Prince stood and looked at her, and she looked back at him, and she
did not blush or beckon to him as the others had done, but rather she
grew pale.
“Yes,” said the Prince at last, “you and you only shall be my bride,
even though I should have to go to the ends of the world to find you.”
When he said that, the picture bowed its head gravely.
Then the Prince dropped the curtain and left the room and went down to
where the old King was waiting for him. As soon as he came before his
father, the old man asked whether he had found the room and entered it.
“I did,” answered the Prince.
“And what did you see in the room, my son?”
“I saw a picture of the maiden whom I wish to have for a wife.”
“And which of the eleven was it?”
“It was none of the eleven; it was the twelfth—she whose portrait hangs
behind the curtain.”
When the old King heard this, he gave a cry of grief. “Alas, alas, my
son! What have you done! Did I not warn you not to lift the curtain
and not to look behind it?”
“You warned me, my father, and yet I could not but look, and now I have
seen the only one whom I will ever marry. Tell me, I pray of you, who
she is, that I may go in search of her.”
“Well did I know that misfortune would come upon you if ever you
entered that room. That Princess whom you have seen is indeed the
most beautiful Princess in all the world, but she is also the most
unfortunate. Because of her beauty, she was carried away by a wicked
and powerful Magician who wished to marry her. To this, however, she
would not consent. He still keeps her a prisoner in an iron castle far
away beyond forest, plain, and mountain at the very end of the world.
Many princes and heroes and brave men have tried to rescue her, but
none has ever succeeded. They have lost their lives in the attempt,
and the Magician has turned them all into stone statues to adorn his
castle. And now you are determined to throw away your life also.”
“That may be,” said the Prince; “and yet it may also be that I shall
succeed even though others have failed. At any rate, I must try, for I
cannot live without her.”
When the King found that his son was determined to go, and that nothing
could stay him, he gave him a jewelled sword and the finest steed in
his stable and bade him God-speed.
So the Prince set out with his father’s blessing, and he rode along and
rode along until at last he came to a forest that was so vast there
seemed to be no end to it. In this forest he quite lost his way. He was
therefore very glad when he saw some one trudging along in front of him.
The Prince rode on until he overtook the man, and then he reined in his
horse and bade him good day.
“Good day,” answered the man.
“Do you know the ways through this forest?” asked the Prince.
“No, I know nothing about them, but that never bothers me. If at any
time I think I am going in the wrong direction, it is easy to right
myself.”
“How is that?” said the Prince.
“Oh, I have the power of stretching myself out to any length, and if
I lose my way I have only to make myself tall enough to see over the
tree-tops, and then I can easily tell where I am.”
“That must be very curious. I should like to see that,” said the Prince.
Well, that was easy enough, and the man would be glad enough to oblige
him. So he began to stretch himself. He stretched and stretched and
stretched until he was taller than the tallest tree in the forest. His
head and body were quite lost to sight among the branches, and all that
the Prince could see were his legs and feet.
“Is that enough?” the man called down to the Prince.
“Yes, that is enough,” answered the Prince, and he had to shout to make
himself heard, the man’s head was so far away.
Then the man began to shrink. He shrank and shrank until he was no
taller than the Prince himself.
“You are a wonderful fellow,” said the Prince. “What is your name?”
The man’s name was Long.
“And what did you see up there?”
“I saw a plain and great mountains beyond, and still beyond that an
iron castle, and it was so far away that it must be at the very end of
the world.”
“It is that castle that I am seeking,” said the Prince, “and now I see
that you are the very man to guide me there. Tell me, Long, will you
take service with me? If you will, I will pay you well.”
Yes, Long would do that, and not for the sake of the money either, but
because he had taken a fancy to the Prince.
So the Prince and his new servant travelled along together, and
presently they came out of the forest on to a plain, and there, far
in front of them, was another man also travelling along toward the
mountains.
“Look, Master!” said Long. “Do you see that man? His name is Broad.
You ought to have him for a servant too, for he is even more wonderful
than I am.”
“Call him, then,” said the Prince, “and I will speak with him.”
No, Long could not call him, for Broad was too far away to hear him,
but he could soon overtake him. So Long stretched himself out until he
was tall enough to go half a mile at every step. In this way he soon
overtook Broad and stopped him, and then he and Broad waited until the
Prince had caught up to them.
“Good day,” said the Prince to Broad.
“Good day,” answered Broad.
“My servant here tells me that you are a very wonderful person,” said
the Prince. “What can you do that is so wonderful?”
What Broad could do was to spread himself out until he was as broad
across as he wished to be.
“I should like to see that,” said the Prince.
Very well! Nothing was easier, and Broad was willing to show him.
“But first,” said Broad, “do you get behind those rocks over yonder.
Otherwise you may get hurt. And now I will begin.”
“Quick! quick, Master!” cried Long, in a voice of fear. “We have not
a moment to lose,” and he ran at full speed and crouched down behind
the rocks. The Prince followed him, and he also got behind the rocks,
but he did not know why Long was in such a hurry, nor why he seemed so
frightened. He soon saw, however, for when Broad began to spread, he
spread so fast and with such force that unless the Prince and Long had
been behind the rocks, they would certainly have been pushed against
them and crushed.
“Is that enough?” cried Broad, after he had spread out so wide that the
Prince could scarcely see across him.
“Yes, that is enough.”
So Broad began to shrink, and soon he was no fatter than he had been
before.
“Yes, you are certainly a very wonderful fellow, and I should like to
have you for a servant,” said the Prince. “Will you come with me also?”
Yes, Broad would come, for a master who was good enough for Long was
good enough for him too. So now the Prince had two servants. He rode on
across the plain toward the mountains, and the two followed him.
After a while they came to a man sitting by the way with a bandage over
his eyes. The Prince stopped and spoke to him.
“Are you blind, my poor fellow, that you wear a bandage over your eyes?”
“No,” answered the man, “I am not blind. I wear the bandage because
I see too well without it. Even now, with this bandage, I can see as
clearly as you ever can. If I take it off, I can see for hundreds of
miles, and when I look at anything steadily my sight is so strong that
the thing is riven to pieces, or bursts into flame and is burned.”
“That is a very curious thing,” said the Prince. “Could you break
yonder rock to pieces merely by looking at it?”
“Yes, I could do that.”
“I would like to see it done,” said the Prince.
Well, the man was ready to oblige him. So he took the bandage from
his eyes and fixed his gaze on the rock. First the rock grew hot, and
then it smoked, and then, with a great noise, it exploded into tiny
fragments, so that the pieces flew about through the air.
“Yes, you are even more wonderful than these other two,” said the
Prince, “and they are wonderful enough. How are you called?”
“My name is Sharpsight.”
“Well, Sharpsight, will you take service with me, for I need just such
a servant as you?”
Yes, Sharpsight would do that; so now the Prince had three servants,
and they were such servants as no one in the world ever had before.
They travelled along over the plain, and at last they came to the foot
of the mountain that lay between them and the iron castle.
“Now we must either go over it or round it,” said the Prince; “and
which shall it be?”
“No need for that, Master,” answered Sharpsight. “Just let me
unbandage my eyes, but be careful you are not struck by any of the
flying pieces when the mountain begins to split.”
So the Prince and Broad and Long took shelter behind a clump of
trees, and then Sharpsight uncovered his eyes. He fixed his eyes on
the mountain, and presently it began to groan and split and splinter.
Pieces of sharp rock and stones flew through the air. It was not long
before Sharpsight’s gaze had bored a way straight through the mountain
and out on the other side. Then he put back the bandage over his eyes
and called to the Prince that the way was clear.
The Prince and his companions came out from their shelter, and when
they saw the way that Sharpsight had made through the mountain they
could not wonder enough. It was so broad and clear that ten men could
have ridden through it abreast.
With such a way before them it did not take them long to go through the
mountain, and then they found themselves in the country beyond, and a
black and terrible land it was too. Nowhere was there any sound or sign
of life. There were fields, but no grass. There were trees, but they
bore neither leaves nor fruit. There was a river, but it did not flow,
and there was light, and yet they saw no sun. But darker and gloomier
than all the rest was the castle which rose before them. It was the
iron castle where the Black Magician lived.
There was a moat round the castle and an iron bridge across it. The
companions rode across the bridge, and no sooner were they over than
the bridge rose behind them and they were prisoners.
They could not have turned back even if they had wished to, but none of
them had any thought of such a thing.
The Prince struck with his sword upon the great door of the castle,
and at once it opened before him, but when he entered he saw no one.
Before him was a great hall, and on either side of it was a long row
of stone figures. These statues were all figures of knights and kings
and princes. The Prince looked at them and wondered, for they were so
lifelike that it seemed scarcely possible to believe that they were of
stone.
He and his companions went on farther into the castle, and everywhere
they found rooms magnificently furnished, but silent and deserted.
Nowhere was there any sign of life.
Last of all they entered what seemed to be a dining-hall. Here was a
table set with the most delicious things to eat and drink. There were
four places about the table, and one of them was somewhat higher than
the others, as though intended for the prince or king.
“One might think this table had been set for us,” said the Prince. “We
will wait for a while, and then, if no one comes, we will eat, at any
rate.”
They waited for some time and then took their places at the table.
At once invisible hands filled the goblets and other invisible hands
passed the dishes.
The Prince and his companions ate and drank all they wished, and then
they rose from the table, meaning to look farther through the castle.
At this moment the door opened and a tall man with a long grey beard
came into the room. From head to foot he was dressed entirely in
black velvet, even to his cap and shoes, and round his waist his robe
was fastened with three iron bands. In one hand was an ivory wand,
curiously carved; with the other he led a lady so beautiful, and yet so
pale and sad-looking, that the heart ached to look at her. The moment
the Prince saw her he knew her as the one whose picture he had seen
behind the golden curtain—the one whom he had said should be his bride.
The Magician, for it was he, spoke at once to the Prince. “I know why
you have come here, and that you hope to win this Princess for your
bride. Many others have come here with the same wish and have failed.
Now you shall have your turn. For three nights you must watch here with
her. If each morning I return and find her still with you, then you
shall have her for a bride after the third morning. But if she is gone,
you shall be turned into a stone statue, such as those you have already
seen about my palace.”
“That ought not to be a hard task,” said the Prince. “Gladly will I
watch with her for three nights; if in the morning you find her gone,
I am willing to suffer whatever you will. But my three companions must
also watch with me.”
Yes, the Magician was willing to agree to that, so he left the lady
there with the four, and then went away, closing the door behind him.
As soon as the Magician had gone the Prince and his followers made
ready to guard the room so that no one could come in to take the lady
away, nor could she herself leave without their knowing it.
Long lay down and stretched himself out until he encircled the whole
room, and anyone who went in or out would have to step over him.
Sharpsight sat down to watch, while Broad stood in the doorway and made
himself so broad that no one could possibly have squeezed in past him.
Meanwhile the Prince tried to talk to the lady, but she would not look
at him nor answer him.
In this way some time passed, and then suddenly the Prince began to
feel very drowsy. He tried to rouse himself, but in spite of his
efforts his eyes closed, and he fell into a deep sleep.
It was not until the early morning that he woke. Then he roused
himself and looked about him. His companions too were only just opening
their eyes, for they, like himself, had been asleep, and the lady was
gone from the room.
When the Prince saw this he began to groan and lament, but his
companions told him not to despair.
“Wait until I see if I can tell you where she is,” said Sharpsight. He
leaned from the window and looked about.
“Yes, I see her,” he said. “A hundred miles away from here is a forest.
In that forest is an oak-tree. On the topmost bough of that oak-tree is
an acorn, and in that acorn is the Princess hidden.”
“But what good is it to know where she is unless we can get her back
before the Magician comes?” cried the Prince. “It would take us days to
journey there and to return.”
“Not so long as that, Master,” answered Long. “Have patience for a
moment until I see what I can do.” He then stepped outside and made
himself so tall that he could go ten miles at a step. He set Sharpsight
on his shoulder to show him the way, and away he went, and he made such
good time that he was back in the castle again before the Prince could
have walked three times round the room.
“Here, Master,” he said, “here is the acorn. Take it and throw it upon
the floor.”
The Prince threw the acorn upon the floor, and at once it flew open,
and there stood the Princess before him.
Hardly had this happened when the door opened and the Magician came
into the room. When he saw the Princess he gave a cry of rage, and one
of the iron bands about his middle broke with a loud noise.
He looked at the Prince, and his eyes flashed as if with red fire.
“This time you have succeeded in keeping the Princess with you,” he
cried, “but do not be too sure that you can do the same thing again.
To-night you shall try once more.”
So saying he went away, taking the Princess with him. In the evening he
came again, and again he brought the Princess.
“Watch her well,” said he to the Prince, with an evil smile. “Remember,
if she is not still here to-morrow morning you will share the fate of
the others who have tried to watch her and have failed.”
“Very well,” answered the Prince. “What must be must be, and I can only
do my best.”
The Magician then went away, leaving the Princess with them as before.
The Prince and his companions had determined that this night they would
stay awake, whatever happened, but presently their eyelids grew as
heavy as lead, and soon, in spite of themselves, they all fell into a
deep sleep.
When they awoke the day was breaking, and the Princess had again
disappeared. The Prince was ready to tear his hair with despair, but
Sharpsight bade him take heart.
“Wait until I take a look about,” he said. “If I cannot see her, then
it will be time for you to despair.”
He leaned from the window, and first he looked east, and then he looked
west, and then he looked toward the north. “Yes, now I see her,” he
said, “but she is far enough away. Two hundred miles from here is a
desert. In that desert is a rock, in that rock is a golden ring, and
that ring is the Princess.”
“That is far away indeed,” groaned the Prince, “and at any moment the
Magician may be here.”
“Never mind, Master,” cried Long. “Two hundred miles is not so far when
one can go twenty miles at a step.” He then made himself twice as tall
as the day before, and taking Sharpsight on his shoulders he set out
for the desert.
It was not long before he was back again, and in his hand he carried
the golden ring. “If it had not been for Sharpsight,” he said, “I would
have been forced to bring back the whole rock with me, but he fixed his
eyes upon it, and at once it split into a thousand pieces and the ring
fell out. Here! Take the ring, Master, quick, and throw it upon the
floor.”
The Prince did so, and as soon as the ring touched the ground it was
transformed into the Princess.
At this moment the Magician opened the door and came into the room.
When he saw the Princess he stopped short, and his face turned black
with rage and fear. At the same moment the second band about his middle
flew apart.
“Ah, well!” he cried to the Prince, “no doubt you think you are very
clever, but remember there is still another night, and next time you
may not prove so lucky in keeping the Princess with you.”
So saying he went away with the Princess, and the Prince saw him no
more until evening. Then for the third time he came, and brought the
Princess with him.
“Watch her well,” said he, “for I promise you will not have so easy a
task this time as you have had before.”
Then he went away, and the four comrades set themselves to watch. But
again all happened as it had before. In spite of themselves they could
not stay awake. First they nodded and then they snored, and then they
fell into such a deep sleep that if the walls had fallen about them
they would not have known it. For this was an enchanted sleep that the
Magician had thrown upon them in order to take away the Princess.
Not until day began to dawn did the four awake, and when they did there
was nothing to be seen of the Princess.
“Well, she is not here in the room,” said Sharpsight, “so methinks I’d
better look outside.”
Then he leaned from the window, and for a long time he looked about
him. At last he spoke. “Master, I see the Princess, but to bring her
back will not be such an easy task as it was before. Three hundred
miles from here is a sea. At the bottom of the sea is a shell. In that
shell is a pearl, and that pearl is the Princess. But to bring that
pearl up from the sea is a task for Broad as well as Long.”
“Very well,” said the Prince, “then Long must take Broad with him on
one shoulder. Only make haste and return again quickly, in heaven’s
name, or the Magician may be here before you are back, and we shall be
turned into stone.”
Well, the three servants were willing enough to be off. Long stretched
himself out until he was three times as tall as he had been the first
time, and that was the most he could stretch. Then he went away, thirty
miles at a step. At that rate it was no time before he came to the sea.
But the sea was fathoms deep, and the shell lay at the very bottom of
it, and try as he might he could not reach it.
“Now it is my turn,” said Broad. Then he lay down and put his mouth to
the sea and began to drink. He drank and drank and swelled and swelled
until it was wonderful to see him, and in the end he swallowed so much
of the water that it was easy enough for Long to reach down and pick
up the shell.
“And now we must make haste,” cried Sharpsight, “for as I look back at
the castle I see that the Magician is already waking.”
At once Long took his companions on his shoulders and started back the
way he had come. But Broad had drunk so much water and was so heavy
that Long could not go as fast as he otherwise would. “Broad, you will
have to wait here, and I will come back for you later,” he cried, and
with that he threw Broad down from his shoulder as though he had been a
sack full of grain.
Broad had not been expecting such a fall and was not prepared for
it. He gasped and choked, and then the sea he had swallowed rose all
about them; it filled the valley and washed up over the foot of the
mountains. Long was so tall that he was able to wade out of it, though
the water was up to his waist, and Sharpsight too was safe, for he was
on Long’s shoulder; but Broad was like to have been drowned. He only
saved himself by catching hold of Long’s hand, and so he was drawn out
of the water and up on dry land.
“That was a pretty trick to play upon me,” he gasped and spluttered.
But Long had no time to answer him, for already Sharpsight was
whispering in his ear that the Magician had awakened and was now on
his way to the Prince. He caught Broad by the belt and swung him up on
his shoulder, and this he could easily do, because now Broad was so
shrunken that he was quite light.
[Illustration: THERE WAS A GREAT BLACK RAVEN IN THE ROOM WITH THEM]
In two more steps Long had reached the castle, but already the Magician
was opening the door of the chamber where the Prince was.
“Quick! Quick!” cried Sharpsight. “Throw the pearl in at the window.”
And indeed there was no time to be lost. Long threw the pearl in
through the window, and the moment it touched the floor it turned into
the Princess. She stood there before the Prince, no longer pale and
sad, but smiling and as rosy as the dawn.
Already the Magician was in the room, with an evil smile upon his face.
When he saw the Princess standing there he gave a cry so loud and
terrible that the whole castle shook with it. And now the third iron
band that was about his waist broke.
At once the black velvet robe that had been held about him by the bands
rose and spread into two great black wings. His eyes shrank, his nose
grew long and sharp, and instead of the Magician there was a great
black raven in the room with them. Heavily flapping, it rose from the
ground. Three times round the room it flew, croaking mournfully, and
then out through the window.
And now through all the castle arose a stir and hum of life. The stone
figures in the hall stirred and looked about them, and stepped down, no
longer cold dead stone, but living, breathing people. They were those
who had come to the castle to search for the Princess, and had been
bewitched by the Magician and turned into statues; the evil charm was
broken, and they were alive once more.
When they found that it was the Prince and his followers who had
delivered them they did not know how to thank them enough. They could
not even grudge the Princess to the Prince, for it was he who had
brought them back to life. They all said they would return with the
Prince to his own country, so as to be at the wedding when he was
married to the Princess.
And what a wedding it was! There was enough cake and ale for all to
feast to their hearts’ content.
The old King was so happy that he at once made over the kingdom to his
son, that he and his bride might reign.
As for the three companions, they ate and drank till they were full,
and then they set out into the world again. The Prince begged and
entreated them to stay with him, but they would not. They were too fond
of travelling about the world, and for all I know they may be in some
corner of it still.
THE DWARF WITH THE GOLDEN BEARD
A SLAVONIC FAIRY TALE
THE Princess Beautiful was the daughter of the King of the Silver
Mountains, and she was no less lovely than her name. Because of her
beauty many heroes and princes came to her father’s kingdom, all
seeking her in marriage. The Princess cared for none of them, however,
except the young Prince Dobrotek. Him she loved with all her heart, and
her father was quite willing that she should choose him for a husband,
for the Prince was rich and powerful as well as handsome.
The marriage between them was arranged, and the guests from far and
near were invited to attend. Among those asked was a dwarf who had also
been a suitor for the hand of the Princess.
This dwarf was a very powerful magician, and as he was very malicious
as well as powerful, he was greatly feared by every one. He was
scarcely two feet high, and so ugly that it was enough to frighten one
only to look at him. His great pride was his beard, which was seven
feet long, and every hair of it was of pure gold. Because of its length
he wore it twisted round and round his neck like a golden collar. Thus
he avoided tripping over it at every step.
When this dwarf heard that the Princess was to marry Dobrotek he was
filled with rage and chagrin. In spite of his hideousness he was so
vain of his beard that he could not imagine why the Princess should
have chosen another instead of himself. He swore that even still she
should take him for a husband, and that if she did not do this then she
should marry no one. However, he said nothing of this vow to anyone. He
accepted the invitation to the wedding, and when the day came he was
one of the first of the guests to arrive.
All went to the church and took their places, and when the Prince and
Princess stood before the altar they were so handsome that every one
was filled with admiration.
The priest opened his book and was just about to make them man and wife
when a frightful noise arose outside. It was a sound of whistling and
roaring and rending. Then the doors were burst open, and a terrible
hurricane swept into the church.
The guests were so frightened that they hid themselves under the seats,
but the storm touched none of them. It swept up the aisle and caught up
the Princess Beautiful as though she were a feather. The Prince threw
his arms about her and tried to hold her. But he could do nothing
against such a hurricane. She was torn from his grasp and swept out of
the church and away, no one knew whither.
When the storm was over the people came out from under the seats and
looked about them, but look as they might they could see no bride. Only
the Prince was standing before the altar, tearing his hair with despair
because the Princess was lost to him.
And well might he despair, for the hurricane that had carried the
Princess away was no common storm. It had been raised by the wicked
enchantments of the dwarf, and had swept Princess Beautiful far away,
over plain and mountain, over sea and forest, to the very castle of the
dwarf himself. There she was lying in an enchanted sleep, and it would
be a bold man who could hope to rescue her.
When the King of the Silver Mountains found his daughter gone he was in
a terrible rage. “It was for you to save her,” cried he to the Prince.
“She was your bride, and you should have lost your life before you
allowed her to be torn from you.”
To this the Prince answered nothing, for he thought the same himself.
Yet who can stand against magic? Only enchantment, indeed, could have
prevailed against him.
“Go!” cried the King, “find her and bring her back to me, or your life
shall answer for it.”
The Prince wished nothing better than to go in search of his bride.
Life was worth nothing to him without her, and at once he made ready
to depart. He was in such haste that he stopped for neither sword nor
armour, but leaped upon his horse and rode forth as he was.
On and on he rode, many miles and many leagues, but the farther he
rode the less he heard of the Princess, and the more he despaired of
ever finding her. At last he entered a forest so dark and vast that it
seemed to have no end. As he rode on through the shadows he suddenly
heard a sharp and piteous cry. He looked about him to see whence it
came, and presently he found a hare struggling in the clutch of a great
grey owl.
The Prince had a kind heart. He seized a stick and quickly drove the
owl away from its prey. For awhile the hare lay stretched out and
panting, but presently it recovered itself.
“Prince,” it said to Dobrotek, “you have saved my life, and I am not
ungrateful. I know why you are here and whom you seek. To rescue the
Princess Beautiful will be no easy task. It was the Dwarf of the Golden
Beard who raised the tempest that carried the Princess away. Even now
he holds her a prisoner in his castle. Whoever would rescue her must
first overcome the dwarf, and to do this one must be in possession of
the Sword of Sharpness.”
“And where is that sword to be found?” asked the Prince.
“On a mountain many leagues away. It is guarded by a dragon who keeps
watch over it night and day. Only when the sun is at its highest
does the dragon sleep, and then but for a few short minutes. To gain
possession of the sword one must ride the wild horse that lives here in
the forest and that moves faster than the wind.”
“And can I find that horse and ride him?”
“It can be done. Under yonder rock lies a golden bridle. It has lain
hidden there for over a hundred years. With it lies a golden whistle.
The sound of that whistle will call the horse, wherever he is. But he
is very terrible to look upon, for his eyes are like burning coals,
and he breathes smoke and fire from his nostrils. He will come at you
as though to tear you to pieces, but do not be afraid. Cast the bridle
over his head, and he will at once become quite tame and gentle. Then
you can ride him wheresoever you wish. He will bear you to the mountain
where the dragon lies and will help you to gain possession of the
sword.”
The Prince thanked the hare for its advice. He lifted the rock from
its place, and there beneath it lay the golden bridle and the golden
whistle. The Prince took up the bridle, and at once the whole glade
was filled with light; and no wonder, for the bridle was studded with
precious stones and glittered like the sun. He raised the whistle to
his lips and blew upon it loud and clear.
At once, from far away in the forest, came a loud sound of neighing,
and of galloping hoofs. The wild horse was coming. On and on it came,
nearer and nearer. Its eyes shone like coals of fire, and the leaves
were withered on either side of it because of its fiery breath.
It rushed at the Prince as though it would tear him to pieces; but he
was ready for it, and as soon as it was near enough he threw the bridle
over its head. At once the fire faded from its eyes. Its breath grew
quiet, and it stood there as gentle and harmless as a lamb.
“Master,” it said to Dobrotek, “I am yours now. Whatsoever you wish me
to do, I will do, and I will bear you wherever you wish to go.”
“First, then,” said the Prince, “I wish you to carry me to the mountain
where I can find the Sword of Sharpness.”
“Very well, Master, I will do so. But before we start on such a
dangerous adventure as that you should be properly armed. Do you enter
in at one of my ears and go on until you come out of the other.”
At once it seemed to the Prince as though the horse’s ear were a great
cave opening out before him. He entered in and went on and on, though
it was very dark there in the horse’s head. Presently he saw another
opening before him, and that was the horse’s other ear. He came out
through it and found himself in the forest again, but now he was
clothed as a warrior prince should be, in shining armour, and he held a
sword in his hand.
“That is right,” said the horse. “Now mount and ride, for we have far
to go.”
So the Prince said good-bye to the friendly hare and thanked it again.
He mounted upon the horse’s back and away they went like the wind. Soon
they were out of the forest, and the dark was left behind them. On
they went and on they went, until they came within sight of a smoking
mountain; there the horse stopped.
“Master,” said he, “do you see that mountain in front of us and the
smoke that rises over it?”
Yes, the Prince saw it.
“That smoke is the breath of the dragon that guards the Sword of
Sharpness. Just now he is awake, and if we were to venture within reach
he would soon scorch us to cinders with his breath. There are, as the
hare told you, only a few short minutes at midday when he sleeps, and
when we may approach him safely. To gain the sword I must, in those few
minutes, cross the plain before us and climb the mountain. Only I, who
go like the wind, could do such a thing, and even for me it will be
difficult. We may both lose our lives in the attempt.”
“Nevertheless, we must try it,” said the Prince, “for unless I can gain
the sword, and free the Princess from the dwarf, life is worth nothing
to me.”
“Very well,” answered the horse. “Then we will attempt it, for you are
my master.”
So all the rest of that day the horse and the Prince lay hidden, for
it was already afternoon. Through the night and the next morning they
waited, and the Prince could see the flames and columns of smoke that
the dragon breathed forth. But as the sun rose high in the heavens the
dragon became sleepy, and the flames burned lower and with less smoke.
At last the sun was at its height.
“And now, Master, is our time,” cried the horse. With that he galloped
out on to the plain and made for the mountain. On he flew as fast as
the wind, and faster. The Prince could hardly breathe, and he could not
see at all, so fast the horse went. The plain was crossed, the mountain
climbed, but already the dragon was awakening. “Quick, quick! the
sword. There it lies beside him!” cried the horse.
The Prince stooped and caught up the Sword of Sharpness, and in that
instant the dragon awoke. It reared its head and seemed about to devour
the Prince, but when it saw what he held in his hand it dropped its
crest and fawned at his feet.
“You are my master,” it said, “for you hold the Sword of Sharpness.
But do not kill me. Spare my life, and I will give you advice that may
save your own.”
“What is the advice?” asked the Prince.
“When you reach the dwarf’s castle (for I know that you are going
there, and why), you may with this sword be able to overcome the dwarf.
But after you have done that, you must cut off his beard and carry it
away with you. It will serve as proof that you and you alone have slain
him. You must also fill a flask with water from the fountain in the
midst of the garden. It is the Water of Life, and you will need it. You
will need the Cap of Invisibility too that the dwarf sometimes wears
upon his head. All three of these things you must have. Do not neglect
what I tell you, for if you do evil will certainly come upon you.”
“It is well,” said the Prince. “I will remember what you say, and if no
good comes of it, no harm can either.”
So saying, the Prince drew his own sword from its sheath and left it
on the mountain, taking the Sword of Sharpness in its place. Then he
rode down the mountain and away over the plain. Once he looked back,
but he saw neither flame nor smoke behind him. The dragon lay there as
harmless as any worm, for with the Sword of Sharpness all its power was
gone.
On and on rode the Prince, so fast that the wind was left behind, and
at last he and his horse came within sight of a castle all of iron.
About it was a wall that was seven times the height of a man, and this
also was of iron.
“Look, Prince,” said the horse. “That is the dwarf’s castle that we see
before us.”
Then on they went again and never stopped until they reached the castle
gate. Beside the gate hung a great brazen war trumpet. The Prince
lifted it to his lips and blew upon it such a blast that it was like to
split the ears of those who heard it. Again he blew, and once again.
“And now, Master, take out the sword from its sheath and make ready,
for the dwarf will soon be here,” said the horse.
Meanwhile the Princess Beautiful had been living behind those iron
walls, and she had been not unhappy, though she had often grieved
because Prince Dobrotek was not with her.
When the dwarf had caused her to be swept away by the hurricane he had
thrown her into an enchanted sleep, and in this sleep she lay until
she was safely placed in a room that the dwarf had specially prepared
for her. This room was made entirely of mirrors, only divided here and
there by curtains of cloth of gold. These curtains were embroidered
with scenes from the dwarf’s own life and from the life of the
Princess. In the mirrors Beautiful could see her own beauty repeated
endlessly. The furniture of the room was all of gold, curiously
carved, and the cushions were embroidered with gold and precious stones.
When the Princess opened her eyes and looked about her she did not know
where she was. She had no remembrance of the storm that had brought her
hither. She remembered only that she had stood beside Prince Dobrotek
in the church, and that a great noise had arisen outside. After that
she had known nothing until she awoke in this chamber.
She arose from the couch where she was lying and began to examine the
room. All the light came from a dome overhead. She could find neither
doors nor windows, and she wondered much how she had been brought into
a room like this.
While she was looking about her she heard a noise behind her that made
her turn quickly. At one side the mirrors had swung apart like doors,
and through this opening came a procession of enormous black slaves
bearing a golden throne in their midst. Upon this throne sat the Dwarf
with the Golden Beard. The slaves set the throne down in the middle of
the room and at once withdrew, closing the mirrored doors behind them.
When the Princess saw the dwarf she was very much alarmed. She at once
suspected that it was he who had brought her here, and that he meant to
keep her a prisoner until she would consent to marry him.
The dwarf stepped down from the throne and approached her with a
smiling air, but she shrank away from him into the farthest corner of
the room.
The dwarf was magnificently dressed. His beard had been brushed till it
shone like glass, and he had thrown it over one arm as though it were a
mantle. But in his left hand he carried a cap of some coarse grey stuff
that was in strange contrast with the rest of his dress.
“Most beautiful Princess,” said he, “you are welcome indeed in my
castle. None could be more so, and I hope to make you so happy that you
will be more than content to spend your life here with me.”
“Miserable dwarf!” cried the Princess, “do you really think you will
be able to make me stay here with you? Do you not know that Prince
Dobrotek will come in search of me soon? He will certainly find me!
Then he will punish you as you deserve for your insolence.”
The Princess was trembling now, but with rage rather than fear. The
dwarf seemed not at all disturbed by her anger, however.
“Beautiful one,” he said, still smiling, “you are even more beautiful
when you are angry than when you are pleased. Let Prince Dobrotek come.
I fear him not at all. But do not let us waste our time in talking of
him. Instead let us talk of ourselves, and of how pleasantly we will
pass our days together.”
So saying, the dwarf came close to the Princess and attempted to take
her hand. But instead of permitting this, the Princess gave him such a
blow upon the ear that he fairly staggered under it. His beard slipped
from his arm, and in trying to steady himself he tripped on it and fell
his length upon the floor.
The Princess laughed maliciously. At the sound of her laughter the
dwarf became filled with fury. His eyes flashed fire as he scrambled
to his feet. “Miserable girl!” he cried. “Do you dare to laugh? The
time will come when you will feel more like weeping, if not for me then
for yourself. Some day you will be glad enough to receive my caresses.
Now I will leave you, and when I come again it will be in a different
manner.” So saying, he gathered up his beard and rushed through the
mirror door, closing it behind him.
His words, and his manner of going, frightened the Princess. She again
began to look about her for some way of escape. Suddenly she saw upon
the floor the grey cap that the dwarf had carried in his hand. He must
have dropped it when he fell, and he had been too angry to notice
that he was leaving it behind. She picked it up and stood turning it
thoughtfully in her hands. Then, without considering why she did so,
she placed it upon her head. She was standing directly in front of a
mirror at the time. To her amazement, the moment she had the cap on
her head every reflection of her vanished from every mirror in the
room. The Princess could hardly believe her eyes. She might have been
thin air for any impression she made upon the glass. She took the
cap from her head, and immediately her reflections appeared again in
the mirrors. She replaced it, and they vanished from sight. Then the
Princess knew that she held the Cap of Invisibility—the cap that causes
anyone who wears it to become invisible.
As she stood there with the cap still upon her head, the mirror door
was burst open and the dwarf rushed into the room. His dress was
disordered and his eyes glared wildly.
He looked hastily about him, but he could see neither the cap nor the
Princess. At once he knew that she had found the cap and had put it on.
“Ah, ha!” he cried to the invisible Princess. “So you have found it!
You have put it on, and hope so to escape me. But I know you are still
here, even though I cannot see you. I will find you, never fear.”
Spreading his arms wide, he rushed about the room, hoping to touch the
Princess and seize her, but as he could not see her she was easily
able to escape him. Now and then he stopped and listened, hoping the
Princess would make some sound that would tell him where she was,
but at these times Beautiful too stood still. She did not move, she
scarcely breathed, lest he should hear her.
Suddenly the Princess saw something that gave her a hope of escape. The
dwarf had neglected to fasten the swinging mirror behind him when he
entered. She flew to it and pushed it open. Beyond lay a long corridor.
Down this the Princess fled, not knowing where it would lead her.
But the dwarf saw the mirror move, and guessed she had passed out
through it. With a cry of rage he sprang after her.
At the end of the corridor was a barred door. Beautiful had scarcely
time to unfasten this door and run through before the dwarf reached it.
But once outside the door she found herself in a wide and open garden.
Here she could pause and take breath. The dwarf had no means of knowing
in which direction she had gone. He could not hear her footsteps upon
the soft grass, and the rustling of the wind among the leaves prevented
his hearing the sound of her dress as she moved.
For a while the dwarf ran up and down the garden, hoping some accident
might bring him to the Princess. But he grasped nothing except empty
air. Discouraged, he turned back to the castle at last, muttering
threats as he went.
After he had gone the Princess began to look about her. She found the
garden very beautiful. There were winding paths and fountains and fruit
trees and pergolas where she could rest when she was weary. She tasted
the fruit and found it delicious. It seemed to her she could live there
for ever very happily, if only her dear Prince Dobrotek were with her.
As for the dwarf, in the days that followed the Princess quite lost her
fear of him, though he often came to the garden in search of her. After
a time she even amused herself by teasing him. She would take off her
cap and allow him to see her. Then, as he rushed toward her, she would
put it on again and vanish from his sight. Or she would run just in
front of him, singing as she went, that he might know where she was.
The poor dwarf would chase madly after the sound. Then, when it seemed
that he was just about to catch her, she would suddenly become silent
and step aside on the grass, and laugh to herself to see him run past
her, grasping at the air.
But this was a dangerous game for the Princess to play; she was not
always to escape so easily. One day she was running before him, just
out of reach, and calling to him to follow, when a low branch caught
her cap and brushed it from her head. Immediately she became visible.
With a cry of triumph the dwarf caught the cap as it fell and thrust it
in his bosom. Then he seized the Princess by the wrist.
“I have you now, my pretty bird. No use to struggle. You shall not
escape again.”
In despair the Princess tried to tear herself loose from his hold, but
the dwarf’s fingers were like iron.
At this moment from outside the gate sounded the loud blast of a war
trumpet. At once the dwarf guessed that it was Prince Dobrotek who blew
it, and that he had come in search of the Princess.
Suddenly, and before Beautiful could hinder him, he drew her to him and
breathed upon her eyelids; at the same time he muttered the words of a
magic charm.