to do all you
could to free me, you must do exactly as I bid you now. Take this bow
and arrow and kill every beast you see with them, and be sure you
spare no living creature.'

With these words she disappeared, and hardly had she done so than a
huge wild boar started out of the thicket near and made straight for
the Prince. But the youth did not lose his presence of mind, and
drawing his bow he pierced the beast with his arrow right through the
skull. The creature fell heavily on the ground, and out of its side
sprang a little hare, which ran like the wind along the river bank.
The Prince drew his bow once more, and the hare lay dead at his feet;
but at the same moment a dove rose up in the air, and circled round
the Prince's head in the most confiding manner. But mindful of the
black girl's commands, he dared not spare the little creature's life,
and taking another arrow from his quiver he laid it as dead as the
boar and the hare. But when he went to look at the body of the bird he
found instead of the dove a round white egg lying on the ground.

While he was gazing on it and wondering what it could mean, he heard
the sweeping of wings above him, and looking up he saw a huge vulture
with open claws swooping down upon him. In a moment he seized the egg
and flung it at the bird with all his might, and lo and behold!
instead of the ugly monster the most beautiful girl he had ever seen
stood before the astonished eyes of the Prince.

[Illustration: 'But the Waters Seized Her Chariot and Sunk It In the
Lowest Depths']

But while all this was going on the wicked old Fairy had managed to
make her way out of the wood, and was now using the last resource in
her power to overtake her daughter and the Prince. As soon as she was
in the open again she mounted her chariot, which was drawn by a fiery
dragon, and flew through the air in it. But just as she got to the
river she saw the two lovers in each other's arms swimming through the
water as easily as two fishes.

Quick as lightning, and forgetful of every danger, she flew down upon
them. But the waters seized her chariot and sunk it in the lowest
depths, and the waves bore the wicked old woman down the stream till
she was caught in some thorn bushes, where she made a good meal for
all the little fishes that were swimming about.

And so at last the Prince and his lovely Bride were free. They hurried
as quickly as they could to the old King, who received them with joy
and