court went out to see the wonder, and their astonishment was
great at the sight which met their eyes. A splendid palace reared
itself on the hill just outside the walls of the city, made of the
most exquisite flowers that ever grew in mortal garden. The roof was
all of crimson roses, the windows of lilies, the walls of white
carnations, the floors of glowing auriculas and violets, the doors of
gorgeous tulips and narcissi with sunflowers for knockers, and all
round hyacinths and other sweet-smelling flowers bloomed in masses, so
that the air was perfumed far and near and enchanted all who were
present.

This splendid palace had been built by the grateful queen bee, who had
summoned all the other bees in the kingdom to help her.

The King's amazement knew no bounds, and the Princess's eyes beamed
with delight as she turned them from the wonderful building on the
delighted Ferko. But the two brothers had grown quite green with envy,
and only declared the more that Ferko was nothing but a wicked
magician.

The King, although he had been surprised and astonished at the way his
commands had been carried out, was very vexed that the stranger should
escape with his life, and turning to the two brothers he said, 'He has
certainly accomplished the first task, with the aid no doubt of his
diabolical magic; but what shall we give him to do now? Let us make it
as difficult as possible, and if he fails he shall die.'

Then the eldest brother replied, 'The corn has all been cut, but it
has not yet been put into barns; let the knave collect all the grain
in the kingdom into one big heap before to-morrow night, and if as
much as a stalk of corn is left let him be put to death.'

The Princess grew white with terror when she heard these words; but
Ferko felt much more cheerful than he had done the first time, and
wandered out into the meadows again, wondering how he was to get out
of the difficulty. But he could think of no way of escape. The sun
sank to rest and night came on, when a little mouse started out of the
grass at Ferko's feet, and said to him, 'I'm delighted to see you, my
kind benefactor; but why are you looking so sad? Can I be of any help
to you, and thus repay your great kindness to me?'

Then Ferko recognised the mouse whose front paws he had healed, and
replied, 'Alas! how can you help me in a matter that is beyond any
human power! Before to-morrow night all the grain in the kingdom has
to be gathered into one bi