The Olive Fairy Book

now and then a faint air blew through the lattice, and they hoped they were going to sleep, but they

t tiger!' rema

should there be a tiger inside

was a tiger,'

ming if you thought it was anythin

r,' cried the king;

was a jackal.' And the dispute waxe

ackal I'll leave this kingdom to you and go away; and if it

the queen, 'there isn't

m. But, whilst the dispute was going on, the king and queen had got so excited and talked

ut, if we say so, the king will probably not keep his word about going

ade no remark, but sent for a palanquin, and ordered the queen to be placed in it, bidding the four bearers of the palanquin to take her a long way off into the forest and there leave her. In spite of he

ening with all her ears for approaching footsteps, but heard none. After a while she grew nervous, for she was all alone, and put her head out of the palanquin and looked about her. Day was just breaking, and birds a

and his wife lived alone far from any neighbours. As it was hot weather the farmer had been sleeping on the flat roof of his house, but was awakened by the so

little way off, 'who are you?' At this salutation from a

the queen weeping

'fear not to speak to me, for you are to

, the farmer called his wife, who led her to their house, and gave her food to eat, and a bed to lie on

om the world; very few ever came near them, and the prince was continually begging his mother and the farmer to be allowed to go away and seek adventures and to make his own living. But she and the wise farmer always counselled him to wait, until, at last, when he was eight

ugh a thicket, he saw a pigeon which he thought would make a good dinner, so he fired a pellet at it from his galail, but missed the pigeon which fluttered away with a startled clatter. At the same instant he heard a great clamour from beyond the thicke

Where am I to get a fresh pitcher instead of this one that you have broken with your f

he old woman from

my pellet missed it, it must have broken your pitcher. But, in exchange, you shall have my brass pot, and that will not break easily; an

me to a hut in the forest, and as they drew near it Ameer Ali beheld in the doorway the loveliest damsel his eyes had ever looked on. At the sight of a stranger she drew her veil about her and stepped into the hut, and much as h

you now stand and cry: "Fairy of the Forest! Fairy of

nd of his money, he walked straight to the palace of the king and asked for employment. The king said he had plenty of servants and wanted no more; but the young man pleaded so hard that at last the rajah was sorry for him, and

d see what was the matter; but the servant, falling on his knees in terror, begged that he might not be sent on such an errand, particularly on a night so wild, when evil spirits and witches were

your majesty,' he

Inch by inch, and foot by foot he fought his way across, now nearly swept off his feet by some sudden swirl or eddy, now narrowly escaping being caught in the branches of some floating tree that came tossing and swinging down the stre

ness of the night or of the roaring river. As for ghosts and witches, they had never tr

ls you?'

earth. If ever a man strayed into Witchland the ogresses used to eat him up, and this old witch thought she would like to catc

li questioned h

ngs upon that gallows; help me to get h

than sorrowful, and he suspected that she was not te

i wins t

,' he said, 'for the gallows i

swered the old witch, 'I think I could reach him.' And her voice now sounded s

ent so that the old woman could clamber on to his back, which she did very nimbly. Then, suddenly, he f

ave got you, and will

lipped round his neck, and not only cut the cord but cut also the old woman's foot as

way back to the palace. When he had finished his story, he took the anklet out of his pocket and handed it to the king, who, like everyone else, was amazed at the glory of the jewels which composed it. Indeed, Ameer Ali himself was astonis

nd these two birds could talk as well as human beings. They were both pets of the princess who always fed them herself, and t

s name), 'how do you think the p

g, 'I think she looks like a washerwoman's daughter, with one shoe on and the other off! Why

anklet to wear on the other leg, or she would die of shame. So the king sent for Ameer Ali and told him that he must get a sec

jewels were to be got; but though he sought night and day he never found one to compare with the anklet. At last only a week remained, and he was in sore difficulty, when he remembered the Fairy of the forest, and de

! Fairy of the fores

autiful girl he had seen before, whom in

tion before he could answer. Then he told her his story, and she went within the cottage and came back with two wands, an

over the cauldron, and every drop of blood that falls from it into the water will become a jewel. Next you must change the wands so that the one that stood at my head

e saw each turn in the water into shining gems, his heart took courage. Very soon there were plenty of jewels in the cauldron, and he quickly changed the wands, placed the severed foot against the wound, and immediately the two parts became one as before. Then the maiden opened her eyes, sprang to her feet, and drawing her veil about her, ran into the hut, and would not com

day the vain princess put two anklets on each foot, and strutted up

'how do you think our princess

e maiden's instructi

unch, 'she's got all her beauty at one end of her now; if she had a few of those fine gew-gaws round her neck and wr

elf quite ill; and then she declared to her father that, unless s

m to get a necklace and bracelets to match those

hing for the jewels, but all in vain. At length he mad

! Fairy of the fores

rror; but she reminded him that no harm had come to her before, and at last he consented to do as she bade him. From her severed hands and head there fell into the cauldron bracelets and chains of rubies and diamonds, emeralds and pearls that surpassed any that eve

hment knew no bounds, and as for his daughter she was nearly mad with joy. The very next morning she put on all her finery, and thought tha

ou think our prince

ressing up like that for oneself only? She ought to have a husband -

er father and told him that

ease, and want something new every day. It certainly is time you marri

n a month he proposed to do him the honour of marrying

ng. The king, who considered his daughter's hand a prize for any man, flew into a passion, and the princess was more furious still. Ameer Ali was instantly

o he sent forth heralds throughout the neighbouring countries, proclaiming that on a certain day

ad as good a chance as anyone else to gain both the throne and the princess. As soon as the king was seated, he called upon an ushe

said the king; 'I h

his city, and will know that the tiger who is king of beasts hunts only in the for

s all this?' asked the ki

hered to-day to try and claim your daughter and kingdom: every city has sent them, and they wait hungry and eag

ed first red

al tiger bred in the forest who has the

' stammered the king, gro

if your majesty will clear this co

he king; and, very unwillingly

hat riddle thi

n herself, whom he had left outside. At the sight of her the king was filled with shame and self-reproach, and wished he could hav

s son Ameer Ali, who went once more and called to the for

the maiden did not run away, but agreed to be his wife. So the t

the forest maiden's fairy godmother, and when she was no longer

his wife any more. If he even looks as if he doe

jackal?' And he has not anoth