n three months, and day by day the Ice Mountain, which they had
seen for a long time, grew clearer, until at last they stood close to
it, and shuddered at its height and steepness. But by patience and
perseverance they crept up foot by foot, aided by their fires of magic
wood, without which they must have perished in the intense cold, until
presently they stood at the gates of the magnificent Ice Palace which
crowned the mountain, where, in deadly silence and icy sleep, lay the
heart of Sabella. Now the difficulty became immense, for if they
maintained enough heat to keep themselves alive they were in danger
every moment of melting the blocks of solid ice of which the palace was
entirely built, and bringing the whole structure down upon their heads;
but cautiously and quickly they traversed courtyards and halls, until
they found themselves at the foot of a vast throne, where, upon a
cushion of snow, lay an enormous and brilliantly sparkling diamond,
which contained the heart of the lovely Princess Sabella. Upon the
lowest step of the throne was inscribed in icy letters, 'Whosoever thou
art who by courage and virtue canst win the heart of Sabella enjoy
peacefully the good fortune which thou hast richly deserved.'

[Illustration]

Prince Mannikin bounded forward, and had just strength left to grasp the
precious diamond which contained all he coveted in the world before he
fell insensible upon the snowy cushion. But his good spaniels lost no
time in rushing to the rescue, and between them they bore him hastily
from the hall, and not a moment too soon, for all around them they heard
the clang of the falling blocks of ice as the Fairy Palace slowly
collapsed under the unwonted heat. Not until they reached the foot of
the mountain did they pause to restore the Prince to consciousness, and
then his joy to find himself the possessor of Sabella's heart knew no
bounds.

With all speed they began to retrace their steps, but this time the
happy Prince could not bear the sight of his defeated and disappointed
rivals, whose frozen forms lined his triumphant way. He gave orders to
his spaniels to spare no pains to restore them to life, and so
successful were they that day by day his train increased, so that by the
time he got back to the little village where he had left his horse he
was escorted by five hundred sovereign Princes, and knights and squires
without number, and he was so courteous and unassuming that they all
followed h