aw them settle themselves under a
tree, with the hermit in their midst--all but one, who remained on
guard, as was the custom.

The hermit had a great deal to say, and the day was very hot, so the
nun, tired of sitting by herself, lay down right across the threshold,
and fell sound asleep.

Then Sunlight told the princess what she was to do, and the girl stepped
softly over the sleeping nun, and crept like a cat along the dark aisle,
feeling the wall with her fingers, lest she should fall over something
and ruin it all by a noise. But she reached the altar in safety, and
found the vase of holy water standing on it. This she thrust into her
dress, and went back with the same care as she came. With a bound she
was in the saddle, and seizing the reins bade Sunlight take her home as
fast as his legs could carry him.

The sound of the flying hoofs aroused the nun, who understood instantly
that the precious treasure was stolen, and her shrieks were so loud and
piercing that all the rest came flying to see what was the matter. The
hermit followed at their heels, but seeing it was impossible to overtake
the thief, he fell on his knees and called his most deadly curse down on
her head, praying that if the thief was a man, he might become a woman;
and if she was a woman, that she might become a man. In either case he
thought that the punishment would be severe.

But punishments are things about which people do not always agree, and
when the princess suddenly felt she was really the man she had pretended
to be, she was delighted, and if the hermit had only been within reach
she would have thanked him from her heart.

By the time she reached the emperor's court, Fet-Fruners looked a young
man all over in the eyes of everyone; and even the mother of the genius
would now have had her doubts set at rest. He drew forth the vase from
his tunic and held it up to the emperor, saying: 'Mighty Sovereign, all
hail! I have fulfilled this task also, and I hope it is the last you
have for me; let another now take his turn.'

'I am content, Fet-Fruners,' replied the emperor, 'and when I am dead it
is you who will sit upon my throne; for I have yet no son to come after
me. But if one is given me, and my dearest wish is accomplished, then
you shall be his right hand, and guide him with your counsels.'

But though the emperor was satisfied, Iliane was not, and she determined
to revenge herself on the emperor for the dangers which he had caus