groan. At the same
instant the Swan fairy became a woman again, for no magician, however
powerful, can work spells which last beyond his own life.

So when the Swan fairy returned to her capital she found all her
courtiers waiting at the gate to receive her, and in their midst,
beaming with happiness, Hermosa and King Lino. Standing behind them,
though a long way off, was Rabot; but his dirty clothes had given
place to clean ones, when his earnest desire was granted, and the
princess had made him head of her stables.

And here we must bid them all farewell, feeling sure they will have
many years of happiness before them after the terrible trials through
which they have passed.

(Adapted and shortened from _Le Cabinet des Fees_.)

_GEIRLAUG THE KING'S DAUGHTER_

One day a powerful king and his beautiful wife were sitting in the
gardens of their capital city, talking earnestly about the future life
of their little son, who was sleeping by their side in his beautiful
golden cradle. They had been married for many years without children,
so when this baby came they thought themselves the happiest couple in
the whole world. He was a fine sturdy little boy, who loved to kick
and to strike out with his fists; but even if he had been weak and
small they would still have thought him the most wonderful creature
upon earth, and so absorbed were they in making plans for him, that
they never noticed a huge dark shadow creeping up, till a horrible
head with gleaming teeth stretched over them, and in an instant their
beloved baby was snatched away.

For a while the king and queen remained where they were, speechless
with horror. Then the king rose slowly, and holding out his hand to
his wife, led her weeping into the palace, and for many days their
subjects saw no more of them.

Meanwhile the dragon soared high into the air, holding the cradle
between his teeth, and the baby still slept on. He flew so fast that
he soon crossed the borders of another kingdom, and again he beheld
the king and queen of the country seated in the garden with a little
girl lying in a wonderful cradle of white satin and lace. Swooping
down from behind as he had done before, he was just about to seize the
cradle, when the king jumped up and dealt him such a blow with his
golden staff that the dragon not only started back, but in his pain
let fall the boy, as he spread his wings and soared into the air away
from all danger.

'That was a narro