.

Accordingly the prince was equipped for his journey. He was given fine
raiment, a splendid black horse upon which to ride, and a great bag
full of money. Thus prepared, he started forth from the palace one
bright morning with the blessing of the king, his father, and of all
the wise men of the kingdom.

The prince journeyed through many lands. In one country he learned one
thing, and in another country he learned another thing. There was no
country or kingdom so small or poor that it did not have something to
teach the prince. And the prince, though he had been so insufferably
stupid at his books, learned the lessons of his journey with an open
mind.

After long wanderings the prince arrived at a city where there was an
auction going on. A singing bird was being offered for sale. "What is
the special advantage of this singing bird?" asked the prince.

"This bird, at the command of its owner, will sing a song which will
put to sleep any one who listens to it," was the reply.

The prince decided that the bird was worth purchasing.

The next thing which was offered for sale was a beetle. "What is the
special advantage of this beetle?" asked the prince.

"This beetle will gnaw its way through any wall in the world," was the
reply.

The prince purchased the beetle.

Then a butterfly was offered for sale. "What is the special advantage
of owning this butterfly?" asked the prince.

"This butterfly is strong enough to bear upon its wings any weight
which is put upon them," was the answer.

The prince bought the butterfly. With his bird and beetle and
butterfly he travelled on and on until he became lost in the jungle.
The foliage was so dense that he could not see his way, so he climbed
to the top of the tallest tree he saw. From its summit he spied in the
distance what looked like a mountain; but, when he had journeyed near
to it, he saw that it was really the wall which surrounds the land of
the giants.

A great giant whose head reached to the clouds stood on the wall as
guard. A song from the singing bird put this guard to sleep
immediately. The beetle soon had gnawed an entrance through the wall.
Through this opening the prince entered the land of the giants.

The very first person whom the prince saw in the land of the giants
was a lovely captive princess. The opening which the beetle had made
in the wall led directly to the dungeon in which she was confined.

The prince had learned many things on his