rince reflected for a moment, and then, entering the
shop, dragged forth the maker of sugared cream-beans, and ordered him to
lead the way to the presence of the King. The confectioner, crouching to
the earth, immediately started off, and the Prince and Princess, side by
side, followed over what seemed to them a very short road to the palace.
The Princess talked a great deal, but the Prince was rather quiet. He
had a good many things to think about. He was the younger son of a king
who lived far away to the north, and had been obliged to flee the
kingdom on account of the custom of allowing only one full-grown heir to
the throne to live in the country.

"Now," thought he, "this is an excellent commencement of my adventures.
Here is a truly lovely Princess whom I am conducting to her anxious
parent. He will be overwhelmed with gratitude, and will doubtless bestow
upon me the government of a province--or--perhaps he will make me his
Vizier--no, I will not accept that,--the province will suit me better."
Having settled this little matter to his mind, he gladdened the heart of
the Princess with the dulcet tones of his gentle voice.

On reaching the palace, they went directly to the grand hall, where the
King was giving audience. Justly astounded at perceiving his daughter
(now veiled) approaching under the guidance of a crouching sugar-bean
maker and a strange young man, he sat in silent amazement, until the
Prince, who was used to court life, had made his manners, and related
his story. When the King had heard it, he clapped his hands three times,
and in rushed twenty-four eunuchs.

"Take," said the monarch, "this bird to her bower." And they surrounded
the Princess, and hurried her off to the women's apartments.

Then he clapped his hands twice, and in rushed twenty-four armed guards
from another door.

"Bind me this dog!" quoth the King, pointing to the Prince. And they
bound him in a twinkling.

"Is this the way you treat a stranger?" cried the Prince.

"Aye," said the King, merrily. "We will treat you royally. You are
tired. To-night and to-morrow you shall be lodged and feasted daintily
and the day after we will have a celebration, when you shall be beaten
with sticks, and shall fight a tiger, and be tossed by a bull, and be
bowstrung, and beheaded, and drawn and quartered, and we will have a
nice time. Bear him away to his soft couch."

[Illustration]

The guards then led the Prince away to be kept a prison