nd of your troubles; and," she added
viciously, "you will have cause to lament more than once ere I wed the
old King of France."

They arrived promptly at Paris, where N'Oun Doare presented the lovely
Princess to the monarch, saying:

"Sire, I have brought to you the Princess Golden Bell, whom you desire
to make your wife."

[Illustration: N'OUN DOARE AND THE PRINCESS GOLDEN BELL]

The King was dazed by the wondrous beauty of the Princess, and was
eager for the marriage to take place immediately, but this the royal
maiden would not hear of, and declared petulantly that she would not
be wed until she had a ring which she had left behind her at her
chateau, in a cabinet of which she had lost the key.

Summoning N'Oun Doare, the King charged him with the task of finding
the ring. The unfortunate youth returned to his wise mare, feeling
much cast down.

"Why," said the mare, "foolish one! do you not remember the King of
the Birds whom you rescued? Call upon him, and mayhap he will aid you
as he promised to do."

With a return of hope N'Oun Doare did as he was bid, and immediately
the royal bird was with him, and asked him in what way he could help
him. Upon N'Oun Doare explaining his difficulty, the Bird-King
summoned all his subjects, calling each one by name. They came, but
none of them appeared to be small enough to enter the cabinet by way
of the keyhole, which was the only means of entrance. The wren was
decided to be the only bird with any chance of success, and he set out
for the chateau.

Eventually, with much difficulty and the loss of the greater part of
his feathers, the bird procured the ring, and flew back with it to
Paris. N'Oun Doare hastened to present the ring to the Princess.

"Now, fair one," said the impatient King, "why delay our wedding
longer?"

"Nay," said she, pouting discontentedly, "there is one thing that I
wish, and without it I will do nothing."

"What do you desire? You have only to speak and it shall be brought."

"Well, transport my chateau with all it contains opposite to yours."

"What!" cried the King, aghast. "Impossible!"

"Well, then, it is just as impossible that I should marry you, for
without my chateau I shall not consent."

For a second time the King gave N'Oun Doare what seemed an insurmountable
task.

"Now indeed I am as good as lost!" lamented the youth as they came to
the chateau and he saw its massive walls towering above him.

"Call Grifescorne, King o