itter, which was placed
on the ground close to the bushes where the girl lay.

'Now go, all of you, and call my attendants, for I do not wish to stay
here any longer,' he said to the men, and as soon as they were out of
sight he bade the girl get into the litter, and fasten the curtains
tightly. Then he got in on the other side, and waited till his
attendants came up.

'What is the matter, O son of a king?' asked they, breathless with
running.

'I think I am ill; I am cold,' he said, and signing to the bearers, he
drew the curtains, and was carried through the forest right inside his
own house.

'Tell my father and mother that I have a fever, and want some gruel,'
said he, 'and bid them send it quickly.'

[Illustration: THE KING'S SON FINDS THE GIRL IN THE TREE]

So the slave hastened to the king's palace and gave his message, which
troubled both the king and the queen greatly. A pot of hot gruel was
instantly prepared, and carried over to the sick man, and as soon as the
council which was sitting was over, the king and his ministers went to
pay him a visit, bearing a message from the queen that she would follow
a little later.

* * * * *

Now the prince had pretended to be ill in order to soften his parents'
hearts, and the next day he declared he felt better, and, getting into
his litter, was carried to the palace in state, drums being beaten all
along the road.

He dismounted at the foot of the steps and walked up, a great parasol
being held over his head by a slave. Then he entered the cool, dark room
where his father and mother were sitting, and said to them:

'I saw a girl yesterday in the forest whom I wish to marry, and, unknown
to my attendants, I brought her back to my house in a litter. Give me
your consent, I beg, for no other woman pleases me as well, even though
she has but one hand!'

Of course the king and queen would have preferred a daughter-in-law with
two hands, and one who could have brought riches with her, but they
could not bear to say 'No' to their son, so they told him it should be
as he chose, and that the wedding feast should be prepared immediately.

The girl could scarcely believe her good fortune, and, in gratitude for
all the kindness shown her, was so useful and pleasant to her husband's
parents that they soon loved her.

By and bye a baby was born to her, and soon after that the prince was
sent on a journey by his father to visit some of t