ith
eyes like saucers, for he thought that his end had come for sure.

"What are my lord's commands?" said the being, in a voice that shook the
marrow of the soldier's bones.

"Who are you?" said the soldier.

"I am the spirit of the stone," said the being. "You have heated it in
the flame, and I am here. Whatever you command I must obey."

"Say you so?" cried the soldier, scrambling to his feet. "Very well,
then, just carry me to where I may find my wife and my palace again."

Without a word the spirit of the stone snatched the soldier up, and
flew away with him swifter than the wind. Over forest, over field, over
mountain and over valley he flew, until at last, just at the crack of
day, he set him down in front of his own palace gate in the far country
where the magician had transported it.

After that the soldier knew his way quickly enough. He clapped his
feather cap upon his head and into the palace he went, and from one room
to another, until at last he came to where the princess sat weeping and
wailing, with her pretty eyes red from long crying.

Then the soldier took off his cap again, and you may guess what sounds
of rejoicing followed. They sat down beside one another, and after the
soldier had eaten, the princess told him all that had happened to her;
how the magician had found the stool, and how he had transported the
palace to this far-away land; how he came every day and begged her to
marry him--which she would rather die than do.

To all this the soldier listened, and when she had ended her story he
bade her to dry her tears, for, after all, the jug was only cracked,
and not past mending. Then he told her that when the sorcerer came again
that day she should say so and so and so and so, and that he would be by
to help her with his feather cap upon his head.

After that they sat talking together as happy as two turtle-doves,
until the magician's foot was heard on the stairs. And then the soldier
clapped his feather cap upon his head just as the door opened.

"Snuff, snuff!" said the magician, sniffing the air, "here is a smell of
Christian blood."

"Yes," said the princess, "that is so; there came a peddler to-day, but
after all he did not stay long."

"He'd better not come again," said the magician, "or it will be the
worse for him. But tell me, will you marry me?"

"No," said the princess, "I shall not marry you until you can prove
yourself to be a greater man than my husband."

"Pooh!"