foot¡¡before£»¡¡and¡¡which¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡stretch¡¡out¡¡indefinitely¡£¡¡¡¡The
Prince¡¡was¡¡about¡¡to¡¡enter¡¡the¡¡wood¡¡by¡¡a¡¡little¡¡path¡¡he¡¡had
discovered£»¡¡when¡¡he¡¡heard¡¡a¡¡voice¡¡shouting¡¡to¡¡him£º¡¡'Hold£»¡¡youth£¡¡¡
Whither¡¡are¡¡you¡¡going£¿'
Iwanich¡¡turned¡¡round£»¡¡and¡¡saw¡¡a¡¡tall£»¡¡gaunt¡looking¡¡man£»¡¡clad¡¡in
miserable¡¡rags£»¡¡leaning¡¡on¡¡a¡¡crooked¡¡staff¡¡and¡¡seated¡¡at¡¡the¡¡foot
of¡¡an¡¡oak¡¡tree£»¡¡which¡¡was¡¡so¡¡much¡¡the¡¡same¡¡colour¡¡as¡¡himself¡¡that
it¡¡was¡¡little¡¡wonder¡¡the¡¡Prince¡¡had¡¡ridden¡¡past¡¡the¡¡tree¡¡without
noticing¡¡him¡£
'Where¡¡else¡¡should¡¡I¡¡be¡¡going£»'¡¡he¡¡said£»¡¡'than¡¡through¡¡the¡¡wood£¿'
'Through¡¡the¡¡wood£¿'¡¡said¡¡the¡¡old¡¡man¡¡in¡¡amazement¡£¡¡¡¡'It's¡¡easily
seen¡¡that¡¡you¡¡have¡¡heard¡¡nothing¡¡of¡¡this¡¡forest£»¡¡that¡¡you¡¡rush¡¡so
blindly¡¡to¡¡meet¡¡your¡¡doom¡£¡¡¡¡Well£»¡¡listen¡¡to¡¡me¡¡before¡¡you¡¡ride
any¡¡further£»¡¡let¡¡me¡¡tell¡¡you¡¡that¡¡this¡¡wood¡¡hides¡¡in¡¡its¡¡depths¡¡a
countless¡¡number¡¡of¡¡the¡¡fiercest¡¡tigers£»¡¡hyenas£»¡¡wolves£»¡¡bears£»
and¡¡snakes£»¡¡and¡¡all¡¡sorts¡¡of¡¡other¡¡monsters¡£¡¡¡¡If¡¡I¡¡were¡¡to¡¡cut
you¡¡and¡¡your¡¡horse¡¡up¡¡into¡¡tiny¡¡morsels¡¡and¡¡throw¡¡them¡¡to¡¡the
beasts£»¡¡there¡¡wouldn't¡¡be¡¡one¡¡bit¡¡for¡¡each¡¡hundred¡¡of¡¡them¡£¡¡¡¡Take
my¡¡advice£»¡¡therefore£»¡¡and¡¡if¡¡you¡¡wish¡¡to¡¡save¡¡your¡¡life¡¡follow
some¡¡other¡¡path¡£'
The¡¡Prince¡¡was¡¡rather¡¡taken¡¡aback¡¡by¡¡the¡¡old¡¡man's¡¡words£»¡¡and
considered¡¡for¡¡a¡¡minute¡¡what¡¡he¡¡should¡¡do£»¡¡then¡¡looking¡¡at¡¡his
ring£»¡¡and¡¡perceiving¡¡that¡¡it¡¡sparkled¡¡as¡¡brightly¡¡as¡¡ever£»¡¡he
called¡¡out£º¡¡'If¡¡this¡¡wood¡¡held¡¡even¡¡more¡¡terrible¡¡things¡¡than¡¡it
does£»¡¡I¡¡cannot¡¡help¡¡myself£»¡¡for¡¡I¡¡must¡¡go¡¡through¡¡it¡£'
Here¡¡he¡¡spurred¡¡his¡¡horse¡¡and¡¡rode¡¡on£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡old¡¡beggar
screamed¡¡so¡¡loudly¡¡after¡¡him¡¡that¡¡the¡¡Prince¡¡turned¡¡round¡¡and
rode¡¡back¡¡to¡¡the¡¡oak¡¡tree¡£
'I¡¡am¡¡really¡¡sorry¡¡for¡¡you£»'¡¡said¡¡the¡¡beggar£»¡¡'but¡¡if¡¡you¡¡are
quite¡¡determined¡¡to¡¡brave¡¡the¡¡dangers¡¡of¡¡the¡¡forest£»¡¡let¡¡me¡¡at
least¡¡give¡¡you¡¡a¡¡piece¡¡of¡¡advice¡¡which¡¡will¡¡help¡¡you¡¡against
these¡¡monsters¡£
'Take¡¡this¡¡bagful¡¡of¡¡bread¡crumbs¡¡and¡¡this¡¡live¡¡hare¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡will
make¡¡you¡¡a¡¡present¡¡of¡¡them¡¡both£»¡¡as¡¡I¡¡am¡¡anxious¡¡to¡¡save¡¡your
life£»¡¡but¡¡you¡¡must¡¡leave¡¡your¡¡horse¡¡behind¡¡you£»¡¡for¡¡it¡¡would
stumble¡¡over¡¡the¡¡fallen¡¡trees¡¡or¡¡get¡¡entangled¡¡in¡¡the¡¡briers¡¡and
thorns¡£¡¡¡¡When¡¡you¡¡have¡¡gone¡¡about¡¡a¡¡hundred¡¡yards¡¡into¡¡the¡¡wood
the¡¡wild¡¡beasts¡¡will¡¡surround¡¡you¡£¡¡¡¡Then¡¡you¡¡must¡¡instantly¡¡seize
your¡¡bag£»¡¡and¡¡scatter¡¡the¡¡bread¡crumbs¡¡among¡¡them¡£¡¡¡¡They¡¡will
rush¡¡to¡¡eat¡¡them¡¡up¡¡greedily£»¡¡and¡¡when¡¡you¡¡have¡¡scattered¡¡the
last¡¡crumb¡¡you¡¡must¡¡lose¡¡no¡¡time¡¡in¡¡throwing¡¡the¡¡hare¡¡to¡¡them£»¡¡as
soon¡¡as¡¡the¡¡hare¡¡feels¡¡itself¡¡on¡¡the¡¡ground¡¡it¡¡will¡¡run¡¡away¡¡as
quickly¡¡as¡¡possible£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡wild¡¡beasts¡¡will¡¡turn¡¡to¡¡pursue¡¡it¡£¡¡
In¡¡this¡¡way¡¡you¡¡will¡¡be¡¡able¡¡to¡¡get¡¡through¡¡the¡¡wood¡¡unhurt¡£'
Iwanich¡¡thanked¡¡the¡¡old¡¡man¡¡for¡¡his¡¡counsel£»¡¡dismounted¡¡from¡¡his
horse£»¡¡and£»¡¡taking¡¡the¡¡bag¡¡and¡¡the¡¡hare¡¡in¡¡his¡¡arms£»¡¡he¡¡entered
the¡¡forest¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡had¡¡hardly¡¡lost¡¡sight¡¡of¡¡his¡¡gaunt¡¡grey¡¡friend
when¡¡he¡¡heard¡¡growls¡¡and¡¡snarls¡¡in¡¡the¡¡thicket¡¡close¡¡to¡¡him£»¡¡and
before¡¡he¡¡had¡¡time¡¡to¡¡think¡¡he¡¡found¡¡himself¡¡surrounded¡¡by¡¡the
most¡¡dreadful¡looking¡¡creatures¡£¡¡¡¡On¡¡one¡¡side¡¡he¡¡saw¡¡the
glittering¡¡eye¡¡of¡¡a¡¡cruel¡¡tiger£»¡¡on¡¡the¡¡other¡¡the¡¡gleaming¡¡teeth
of¡¡a¡¡great¡¡she¡wolf£»¡¡here¡¡a¡¡huge¡¡bear¡¡growled¡¡fiercely£»¡¡and
there¡¡a¡¡horrible¡¡snake¡¡coiled¡¡itself¡¡in¡¡the¡¡grass¡¡at¡¡his¡¡feet¡£
But¡¡Iwanich¡¡did¡¡not¡¡forget¡¡the¡¡old¡¡man's¡¡advice£»¡¡and¡¡quickly¡¡put
his¡¡hand¡¡into¡¡the¡¡bag¡¡and¡¡took¡¡out¡¡as¡¡many¡¡bread¡crumbs¡¡as¡¡he
could¡¡hold¡¡in¡¡his¡¡hand¡¡at¡¡a¡¡time¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡threw¡¡them¡¡to¡¡the¡¡beasts£»
but¡¡soon¡¡the¡¡bag¡¡grew¡¡lighter¡¡and¡¡lighter£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡Prince¡¡began
to¡¡feel¡¡a¡¡little¡¡frightened¡£¡¡¡¡And¡¡now¡¡the¡¡last¡¡crumb¡¡was¡¡gone£»
and¡¡the¡¡hungry¡¡beasts¡¡thronged¡¡round¡¡him£»¡¡greedy¡¡for¡¡fresh¡¡prey¡£¡¡
Then¡¡he¡¡seized¡¡the¡¡hare¡¡and¡¡threw¡¡it¡¡to¡¡them¡£
No¡¡sooner¡¡did¡¡the¡¡little¡¡creature¡¡feel¡¡itself¡¡on¡¡the¡¡ground¡¡than
it¡¡lay¡¡back¡¡its¡¡ears¡¡and¡¡flew¡¡through¡¡the¡¡wood¡¡like¡¡an¡¡arrow¡¡from
a¡¡bow£»¡¡closely¡¡pursued¡¡by¡¡the¡¡wild¡¡beasts£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡Prince¡¡was
left¡¡alone¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡looked¡¡at¡¡his¡¡ring£»¡¡and¡¡when¡¡he¡¡saw¡¡that¡¡it
sparkled¡¡as¡¡brightly¡¡as¡¡ever¡¡he¡¡went¡¡straight¡¡on¡¡through¡¡the
forest¡£
He¡¡hadn't¡¡gone¡¡very¡¡far¡¡when¡¡he¡¡saw¡¡a¡¡most¡¡extraordinary¡¡looking
man¡¡coming¡¡towards¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡was¡¡not¡¡more¡¡than¡¡three¡¡feet¡¡high£»
his¡¡legs¡¡were¡¡quite¡¡crooked£»¡¡and¡¡all¡¡his¡¡body¡¡was¡¡covered¡¡with
prickles¡¡like¡¡a¡¡hedgehog¡£¡¡¡¡Two¡¡lions¡¡walked¡¡with¡¡him£»¡¡fastened¡¡to
his¡¡side¡¡by¡¡the¡¡two¡¡ends¡¡of¡¡his¡¡long¡¡beard¡£
He¡¡stopped¡¡the¡¡Prince¡¡and¡¡asked¡¡him¡¡in¡¡a¡¡harsh¡¡voice£º¡¡'Are¡¡you
the¡¡man¡¡who¡¡has¡¡just¡¡fed¡¡my¡¡body¡guard£¿'
Iwanich¡¡was¡¡so¡¡startled¡¡that¡¡he¡¡could¡¡hardly¡¡reply£»¡¡but¡¡the
little¡¡man¡¡continued£º¡¡'I¡¡am¡¡most¡¡grateful¡¡to¡¡you¡¡for¡¡your
kindness£»¡¡what¡¡can¡¡I¡¡give¡¡you¡¡as¡¡a¡¡reward£¿'
'All¡¡I¡¡ask£»'¡¡replied¡¡Iwanich£»¡¡'is£»¡¡that¡¡I¡¡should¡¡be¡¡allowed¡¡to¡¡go
through¡¡this¡¡wood¡¡in¡¡safety¡£'
'Most¡¡certainly£»'¡¡answered¡¡the¡¡little¡¡man£»¡¡'and¡¡for¡¡greater
security¡¡I¡¡will¡¡give¡¡you¡¡one¡¡of¡¡my¡¡lions¡¡as¡¡a¡¡protector¡£¡¡¡¡But
when¡¡you¡¡leave¡¡this¡¡wood¡¡and¡¡come¡¡near¡¡a¡¡palace¡¡which¡¡does¡¡not
belong¡¡to¡¡my¡¡domain£»¡¡let¡¡the¡¡lion¡¡go£»¡¡in¡¡order¡¡that¡¡he¡¡may¡¡not
fall¡¡into¡¡the¡¡hands¡¡of¡¡an¡¡enemy¡¡and¡¡be¡¡killed¡£'
With¡¡these¡¡words¡¡he¡¡loosened¡¡the¡¡lion¡¡from¡¡his¡¡beard¡¡and¡¡bade¡¡the
beast¡¡guard¡¡the¡¡youth¡¡carefully¡£
With¡¡this¡¡new¡¡protector¡¡Iwanich¡¡wandered¡¡on¡¡through¡¡the¡¡forest£»
and¡¡though¡¡he¡¡came¡¡upon¡¡a¡¡great¡¡many¡¡more¡¡wolves£»¡¡hyenas£»
leopards£»¡¡and¡¡other¡¡wild¡¡beasts£»¡¡they¡¡always¡¡kept¡¡at¡¡a¡¡respectful
distance¡¡when¡¡they¡¡saw¡¡what¡¡sort¡¡of¡¡an¡¡escort¡¡the¡¡Prince¡¡had¡¡with
him¡£
Iwanich¡¡hurried¡¡through¡¡the¡¡wood¡¡as¡¡quickly¡¡as¡¡his¡¡legs¡¡would
carry¡¡him£»¡¡but£»¡¡nevertheless£»¡¡hour¡¡after¡¡hour¡¡went¡¡by¡¡and¡¡not¡¡a
trace¡¡of¡¡a¡¡green¡¡field¡¡or¡¡a¡¡human¡¡habitation¡¡met¡¡his¡¡eyes¡£¡¡¡¡At
length£»¡¡towards¡¡evening£»¡¡the¡¡mass¡¡of¡¡trees¡¡grew¡¡more¡¡transparent£»
and¡¡through¡¡the¡¡interlaced¡¡branches¡¡a¡¡wide¡¡plain¡¡was¡¡visible¡£
At¡¡the¡¡exit¡¡of¡¡the¡¡wood¡¡the¡¡lion¡¡stood¡¡still£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡Prince¡¡took
leave¡¡of¡¡him£»¡¡having¡¡first¡¡thanked¡¡him¡¡warmly¡¡for¡¡his¡¡kind
protection¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡had¡¡become¡¡quite¡¡dark£»¡¡and¡¡Iwanich¡¡was¡¡forced¡¡to
wait¡¡for¡¡daylight¡¡before¡¡continuing¡¡his¡¡journey¡£
He¡¡made¡¡himself¡¡a¡¡bed¡¡of¡¡grass¡¡and¡¡leaves£»¡¡lit¡¡a¡¡fire¡¡of¡¡dry
branches£»¡¡and¡¡slept¡¡soundly¡¡till¡¡the¡¡next¡¡morning¡£
Then¡¡he¡¡got¡¡up¡¡and¡¡walked¡¡towards¡¡a¡¡beautiful¡¡white¡¡palace¡¡which
he¡¡saw¡¡gleaming¡¡in¡¡the¡¡distance¡£¡¡¡¡In¡¡about¡¡an¡¡hour¡¡he¡¡reached¡¡the
building£»¡¡and¡¡opening¡¡the¡¡door¡¡he¡¡walked¡¡in¡£
After¡¡wandering¡¡through¡¡many¡¡marble¡¡halls£»¡¡he¡¡came¡¡to¡¡a¡¡huge
staircase¡¡made¡¡of¡¡porphyry£»¡¡leading¡¡down¡¡to¡¡a¡¡lovely¡¡garden¡£
The¡¡Prince¡¡burst¡¡into¡¡a¡¡shout¡¡of¡¡joy¡¡when¡¡he¡¡suddenly¡¡perceived
Militza¡¡in¡¡the¡¡centre¡¡of¡¡a¡¡group¡¡of¡¡girls¡¡who¡¡were¡¡weaving
wreaths¡¡of¡¡flowers¡¡with¡¡which¡¡to¡¡deck¡¡their¡¡mistress¡£
As¡¡soon¡¡as¡¡Militza¡¡saw¡¡the¡¡Prince¡¡she¡¡ran¡¡up¡¡to¡¡him¡¡and¡¡embraced
him¡¡tenderly£»¡¡and¡¡after¡¡he¡¡had¡¡told¡¡her¡¡all¡¡his¡¡adventures£»¡¡they
went¡¡into¡¡the¡¡palace£»¡¡where¡¡a¡¡sumptuous¡¡meal¡¡awaited¡¡them¡£¡¡¡¡Then
the¡¡Princess¡¡called¡¡her¡¡court¡¡together£»¡¡and¡¡introduced¡¡Iwanich¡¡to
them¡¡as¡¡her¡¡future¡¡husband¡£
Preparations¡¡were¡¡at¡¡once¡¡made¡¡for¡¡the¡¡wedding£»¡¡which¡¡was¡¡held
soon¡¡after¡¡with¡¡great¡¡pomp¡¡and¡¡magnificence¡£
Three¡¡months¡¡of¡¡great¡¡happiness¡¡followed£»¡¡when¡¡Militza¡¡received
one¡¡day¡¡an¡¡invitation¡¡to¡¡visit¡¡her¡¡mother's¡¡sister¡£
Although¡¡the¡¡Princess¡¡was¡¡very¡¡unhappy¡¡at¡¡leaving¡¡her¡¡husband£»
she¡¡did¡¡not¡¡like¡¡to¡¡refuse¡¡the¡¡invitation£»¡¡and£»¡¡promising¡¡to
return¡¡in¡¡seven¡¡days¡¡at¡¡the¡¡latest£»¡¡she¡¡took¡¡a¡¡tender¡¡farewell¡¡of
the¡¡Prince£»¡¡and¡¡said£º¡¡'Before¡¡I¡¡go¡¡I¡¡will¡¡hand¡¡you¡¡over¡¡all¡¡the
keys¡¡of¡¡the¡¡castle¡£¡¡¡¡Go¡¡everywhere¡¡and¡¡do¡¡anything¡¡you¡¡like£»¡¡only
one¡¡thing¡¡I¡¡beg¡¡and¡¡beseech¡¡you£»¡¡do¡¡not¡¡open¡¡the¡¡little¡¡iron¡¡door
in¡¡the¡¡north¡¡tower£»¡¡which¡¡is¡¡closed¡¡with¡¡seven¡¡locks¡¡and¡¡seven
bolts£»¡¡for¡¡if¡¡you¡¡do£»¡¡we¡¡shall¡¡both¡¡suffer¡¡for¡¡it¡£'
Iwanich¡¡promised¡¡what¡¡she¡¡asked£»¡¡and¡¡Militza¡¡departed£»¡¡repeating
her¡¡promise¡¡to¡¡return¡¡in¡¡seven¡¡days¡£
When¡¡the¡¡Prince¡¡found¡¡himself¡¡alone¡¡he¡¡began¡¡to¡¡be¡¡tormented¡¡by
pangs¡¡of¡¡curiosity¡¡as¡¡to¡¡what¡¡the¡¡room¡¡in¡¡the¡¡tower¡¡contained¡£¡¡
For¡¡two¡¡days¡¡he¡¡resisted¡¡the¡¡temptation¡¡to¡¡go¡¡and¡¡look£»¡¡but¡¡on
the¡¡third¡¡he¡¡could¡¡stand¡¡it¡¡no¡¡longer£»¡¡and¡¡taking¡¡a¡¡torch¡¡in¡¡his
hand¡¡he¡¡hurried¡¡to¡¡the¡¡tower£»¡¡and¡¡unfastened¡¡one¡¡lock¡¡after¡¡the
other¡¡of¡¡the¡¡little¡¡iron¡¡door¡¡until¡¡it¡¡burst¡¡open¡£¡¡
What¡¡an¡¡unexpected¡¡sight¡¡met¡¡his¡¡gaze£¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡Prince¡¡perceived¡¡a
small¡¡room¡¡black¡¡with¡¡smoke£»¡¡lit¡¡up¡¡feebly¡¡by¡¡a¡¡fire¡¡from¡¡which
issued¡¡long¡¡blue¡¡flames¡£¡¡¡¡Over¡¡the¡¡fire¡¡hung¡¡a¡¡huge¡¡cauldron¡¡full
of¡¡boiling¡¡pitch£»¡¡and¡¡fastened¡¡into¡¡the¡¡cauldron¡¡by¡¡iron¡¡chains
stood¡¡a¡¡wretched¡¡man¡¡screaming¡¡with¡¡agony¡£
Iwanich¡¡was¡¡much¡¡horrified¡¡at¡¡the¡¡sight¡¡before¡¡him£»¡¡and¡¡asked¡¡the
man¡¡what¡¡terrible¡¡crime¡¡he¡¡had¡¡committed¡¡to¡¡be¡¡punished¡¡in¡¡this
dreadful¡¡fashion¡£
'I¡¡will¡¡tell¡¡you¡¡everything£»'¡¡said¡¡the¡¡man¡¡in¡¡the¡¡cauldron£»¡¡'but
first¡¡relieve¡¡my¡¡torments¡¡a¡¡little£»¡¡I¡¡implore¡¡you¡£'
'And¡¡how¡¡can¡¡I¡¡do¡¡that£¿'¡¡asked¡¡the¡¡Prince¡£
'With¡¡a¡¡little¡¡water£»'¡¡replied¡¡the¡¡man£»¡¡'only¡¡sprinkle¡¡a¡¡few
drops¡¡over¡¡me¡¡and¡¡I¡¡shall¡¡feel¡¡better¡£'
The¡¡Prince£»¡¡moved¡¡by¡¡pity£»¡¡without¡¡thinking¡¡what¡¡he¡¡was¡¡doing£»
ran¡¡to¡¡the¡¡courtyard¡¡of¡¡the¡¡castle£»¡¡and¡¡filled¡¡a¡¡jug¡¡with¡¡water£»
which¡¡he¡¡poured¡¡over¡¡the¡¡man¡¡in¡¡the¡¡cauldron¡£
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