ter was
attired, the step-mother told him many falsehoods about Swanwhite having
fallen into the sea. When the young man heard this he and all the
ship-folk were afraid, for they well knew what punishment awaited them
for having so ill looked after the king's bride. The false hag then
thought of another deception. She said they had better dress her own
daughter as the bride, and then no one need know that Swanwhite had
perished. The young man would not agree to this, but the sailors, being
in fear of their lives, made him do as the step-mother had suggested.
Maiden Foxtail was dressed out in the finest manner with red rings and a
gold girdle, but the young man was ill at ease, and could not forget
what had happened to his sister.

In the midst of this the vessel came to shore, where was the king with
all his court with much splendour awaiting their arrival. Carpets were
spread upon the ground, and the king's bride left the ship in great
state. When the king beheld Maiden Foxtail, and was told that that was
his bride, he suspected some cheat, and was very angry, and he ordered
that the young man should be thrown into the lions' den. He would not,
however, break his kingly word, so he took the ugly maiden for his wife,
and she became queen in the place of her step-sister.

Now Maiden Swanwhite had a little dog of which she was very fond, and
she called it Snow-white. Now that its mistress was lost, there was no
one who cared for it, so it came into the king's palace and took refuge
in the kitchen, where it lay down in front of the fire. When it was
night and all had gone to bed, the master-cook saw the kitchen door open
of itself and a beautiful little duck, fastened to a chain, came into
the kitchen. Wherever the little bird trod the most beautiful roses
sprang up. The duck went up to the dog upon the hearth, and said--

"Poor little Snow-white! Once on a time you lay on blue silk cushions.
Now you must lie on the grey ashes. Ah! my poor brother, who is in the
lions' den! Shame on Maiden Foxtail! she sleeps in my lord's arms."

"Alas, poor me!" continued the duck, "I shall come here only on two more
nights. After that I shall see you no more."

Then it caressed the little dog, and the dog returned its caresses.
After a little while the door opened of itself and the little bird went
its way.

The next morning, when it was daylight, the master-cook took the
beautiful roses that lay strewn on the floor and with them d