ss was very fond of wearing, not so much because she
felt cold, as that its richness set off to perfection the delicate tints
of her complexion and the brilliant gold of her hair. However, she took
it off, and with graceful politeness begged Prince Mannikin to accept
it, which you may be sure he was charmed to do, and, taking only this
and a little bundle of all kinds of wood, and accompanied only by two
spaniels out of the fifty who had stayed with him when the war was
ended, he set forth, receiving many tokens of love and favour from the
people in every town he passed through. At the last little village he
left his horse behind him, to begin his toilful march through the snow,
which extended, blank and terrible, in every direction as far as the eye
could see. Here he had appointed to meet the other forty-eight spaniels,
who received him joyfully, and assured him that, happen what might, they
would follow and serve him faithfully. And so they started, full of
heart and hope. At first there was a slight track, difficult, but not
impossible to follow; but this was soon lost, and the Pole Star was
their only guide. When the time came to call a halt, the Prince, who had
after much consideration decided on his plan of action, caused a few
twigs from the faggot he had brought with him to be planted in the snow,
and then he sprinkled over them a pinch of the magic powder he had
collected from the enchanted boat. To his great joy they instantly began
to sprout and grow, and in a marvellously short time the camp was
surrounded by a perfect grove of trees of all sorts, which blossomed and
bore ripe fruit, so that all their wants were easily supplied, and they
were able to make huge fires to warm themselves. The Prince then sent
out several spaniels to reconnoitre, and they had the good luck to
discover a horse laden with provisions stuck fast in the snow. They at
once fetched their comrades, and brought the spoil triumphantly into the
camp, and, as it consisted principally of biscuits, not a spaniel among
them went supperless to sleep. In this way they journeyed by day and
encamped safely at night, always remembering to take on a few branches
to provide them with food and shelter. They passed by the way armies of
those who had set out upon the perilous enterprise, who stood frozen
stiffly, without sense or motion; but Prince Mannikin strictly forbade
that any attempt should be made to thaw them. So they went on and on for
more tha