lden rays. Soon he saw the golden mermaid swimming near the ship,
beckoning and calling to him to follow her; but, mindful of the wolf's
warning, he told her in a loud voice that if she wished to buy anything
she must come to him. With these words he turned his magic ship round
and steered back towards the land. The mermaid called out to him to
stand still, but he refused to listen to her and never paused till
he reached the sand of the shore. Here he stopped and waited for the
mermaid, who had swum after him. When she drew near the boat he saw that
she was far more beautiful than any mortal he had ever beheld. She
swam round the ship for some time, and then swung herself gracefully
on board, in order to examine the beautiful silken stuffs more closely.
Then the Prince seized her in his arms, and kissing her tenderly on the
cheeks and lips, he told her she was his for ever; at the same moment
the boat turned into a wolf again, which so terrified the mermaid that
she clung to the Prince for protection.

So the golden mermaid was successfully caught, and she soon felt quite
happy in her new life when she saw she had nothing to fear either from
the Prince or the wolf--she rode on the back of the latter, and the
Prince rode behind her. When they reached the country ruled over by the
Emperor with the golden horse, the Prince jumped down, and, helping the
mermaid to alight, he led her before the Emperor. At the sight of the
beautiful mermaid and of the grim wolf, who stuck close to the Prince
this time, the guards all made respectful obeisance, and soon the three
stood before his Imperial Majesty. When the Emperor heard from the
Prince how he had gained possession of his fair prize, he at once
recognized that he had been helped by some magic art, and on the spot
gave up all claim to the beautiful mermaid. 'Dear youth,' he said,
'forgive me for my shameful conduct to you, and, as a sign that you
pardon me, accept the golden horse as a present. I acknowledge your
power to be greater even than I can understand, for you have succeeded
in gaining possession of the golden mermaid, whom hitherto no mortal has
ever been able to approach.' Then they all sat down to a huge feast, and
the Prince had to relate his adventures all over again, to the wonder
and astonishment of the whole company.

But the Prince was wearying now to return to his own kingdom, so as soon
as the feast was over he took farewell of the Emperor, and set out on
hi