the show was over, it was late at night. "It's no good your going
away, when it's so late," said the _King_. "The bear had best sleep
here."

"Perhaps it might sleep in the ingle by the kitchen fire," said the
captain.

"Nay," said the _King_, "it shall sleep up here, and it shall have
pillows and cushions to sleep on." So a whole heap of pillows and
cushions was brought, and the captain had a bed in a side room.

But at midnight the _King_ came with a lamp in his hand and a big
bunch of keys, and carried off the white bear. He passed along gallery
after gallery through doors and rooms, up-stairs and down-stairs, till
at last he came to a pier which ran out into the sea. Then the _King_
began to pull and haul at posts and pins, this one up and that one
down, till at last a little house floated up to the water's edge.
There he kept his daughter, for she was so dear to him that he had hid
her, so that no one could find her out. He left the white bear outside
while he went in and told her how it had danced and played its pranks.
She said she was afraid, and dared not look at it; but he talked her
over, saying there was no danger if she only wouldn't laugh. So they
brought the bear in, and locked the door, and it danced and played
its tricks; but just when the fun was at its height, the _Princess's_
maid began to laugh. Then the lad flew at her and tore her to bits,
and the _Princess_ began to cry and sob.

"Stuff and nonsense," cried the _King_; "all this fuss about a maid!
I'll get you just as good a one again. But now I think the bear had
best stay here till morning, for I don't care to have to go and lead
it along all those galleries and stairs at this time of night."

"Well!" said the _Princess_, "if it sleeps here, I'm sure I won't."

[Illustration: The Lad in the Bear's skin, and the King of Arabia's
daughter.]

But just then the bear curled himself up and lay down by the stove;
and it was settled at last that the _Princess_ should sleep there too,
with a light burning. But as soon as the _King_ had well gone, the
white bear came and begged her to undo his collar. The _Princess_ was
so scared she almost swooned away; but she felt about till she found
the collar, and she had scarce undone it before the bear pulled his
head off. Then she knew him again, and was so glad there was no end to
her joy, and she wanted to tell her father at once that her deliverer
was come. But the lad would not hear of it; he would