ll
that her mother had promised him and the help he had already received
from a Fairy who had assured him that she would give him means to
transport the Princess to her mother's arms.

When he found her listening attentively to him, he implored the
Princess to allow him to resume his natural shape. She did not speak,
so he drew a feather from his wing, and she beheld before her a Prince
of such surpassing beauty that it was impossible not to hope that she
might owe her liberty to so charming a person.

Meantime the Fairy had prepared a chariot, to which she harnessed two
powerful eagles; then placing the cage, with the parrot in it, she
charged the bird to conduct it to the window of the Princess's
dressing-room. This was done in a few minutes, and the Princess,
stepping into the chariot with the Prince, was delighted to find her
parrot again.

As they rose through the air the Princess remarked a figure mounted on
an eagle's back flying in front of the chariot. She was rather
alarmed, but the Prince reassured her, telling her it was the good
Fairy to whom she owed so much, and who was now conducting her in
safety to her mother.

That same morning the King woke suddenly from a troubled sleep. He had
dreamt that the Princess was being carried off from him, and,
transforming himself into an eagle, he flew to the palace. When he
failed to find her he flew into a terrible rage, and hastened home to
consult his books, by which means he discovered that it was his son
who had deprived him of this precious treasure. Immediately he took
the shape of a harpy, and, filled with rage, was determined to devour
his son, and even the Princess too, if only he could overtake them.

He set out at full speed; but he started too late, and was further
delayed by a strong wind which the Fairy raised behind the young
couple so as to baffle any pursuit.

You may imagine the rapture with which the Queen received the daughter
she had given up for lost, as well as the amiable Prince who had
rescued her. The Fairy entered with them, and warned the Queen that
the Wizard King would shortly arrive, infuriated by his loss, and that
nothing could preserve the Prince and Princess from his rage and magic
unless they were actually married.

The Queen hastened to inform the King her husband, and the wedding
took place on the spot.

As the ceremony was completed the Wizard King arrived. His despair at
being so late bewildered him so entirely that h