ing； and sky…blue batsflapped their transparent wings。 Altogether the place had afrightful appearance。 In the middle of the floor stood a thronesupported by four skeleton horses； whose harness had been made byfiery…red spiders。 The throne itself was made of milk…white glass； andthe cushions were little black mice； each biting the other's tail。Over it hung a canopy of rose…colored spider's webs； spotted withthe prettiest little green flies； which sparkled like precious stones。On the throne sat an old magician with a crown on his ugly head； and asceptre in his hand。 He kissed the princess on the forehead； seatedher by his side on the splendid throne； and then the musicmenced。 Great black grasshoppers played the mouth organ； and theowl struck herself on the body instead of a drum。 It was altogethera ridiculous concert。 Little black goblins with false lights intheir caps danced about the hall； but no one could see thetraveller； and he had placed himself just behind the throne where hecould see and hear everything。 The courtiers who came in afterwardslooked noble and grand； but any one with mon sense could see whatthey really were； only broomsticks； with cabbages for heads。 Themagician had given them life； and dressed them in embroidered robes。It answered very well； as they were only wanted for show。 Afterthere had been a little dancing； the princess told the magician thatshe had a new suitor； and asked him what she could think of for thesuitor to guess when he came to the castle the next morning。
〃Listen to what I say；〃 said the magician； 〃you must choosesomething very easy； he is less likely to guess it then。 Think ofone of your shoes； he will never imagine it is that。 Then cut his headoff； and mind you do not forget to bring his eyes with you to…morrownight； that I may eat them。〃
The princess curtsied low； and said she would not forget the eyes。
The magician then opened the mountain and she flew home again； butthe traveller followed and flogged her so much with the rod； thatshe sighed quite deeply about the heavy hail…storm； and made as muchhaste as she could to get back to her bedroom through the window。The traveller then returned to the inn where John still slept； tookoff his wings and laid down on the bed； for he was very tired。 Earlyin the morning John awoke； and when his fellow…traveller got up； hesaid that he had a very wonderful dream about the princess and hershoe； he therefore advised John to ask her if she had not thought ofher shoe。 Of course the traveller knew this from what the magicianin the mountain had said。
〃I may as well say that as anything；〃 said John。 〃Perhaps yourdream may e true； still I will say farewell； for if I guess wrong Ishall never see you again。〃
Then they embraced each other； and John went into the town andwalked to the palace。 The great hall was full of people； and thejudges sat in arm…chairs； with eider…down cushions to rest their headsupon； because they had so much to think of。 The old king stood near；wiping his eyes with his white pocket…handkerchief。 When theprincess entered； she looked even more beautiful than she had appearedthe day before； and greeted every one present most gracefully； butto John she gave her hand； and said； 〃Good morning to you。〃
Now came the time for John to guess what she was thinking of；and oh； how kindly she looked at him as she spoke。 But when he utteredthe single word shoe； she turned as pale as a ghost； all her wisdomcould not help her； for he had guessed rightly。 Oh； how pleased theold king was！ It was quite amusing to see how he capered about。 Allthe people clapped their hands； both on his account and John's； whohad guessed rightly the first time。 His fellow…traveller was gladalso； when he heard how successful John had been。 But John foldedhis hands； and thanked God； who； he felt quite sure； would help himagain； and he knew he had to guess twice more。 The evening passedpleasantly like the one preceding。 While John slept； his panionflew behind the princess to the mountain； and flogged her evenharder than before； this time he had taken two rods with him。 No onesaw him go in with her； and he heard all that was said。 The princessthis time was to think of a glove； and he told John as if he had againheard it in a dream。 The next day； therefore； he was able to guesscorrectly the second time； and it caused great rejoicing at thepalace。 The whole court jumped about as they had seen the king dothe day before； but the princess lay on the sofa； and would not saya single word。 All now depended upon John。 If he only guessedrightly the third time； he would marry the princess； and reign overthe kingdom after the death of the old king： but if he failed； hewould lose his life； and the magician would have his beautiful blueeyes。 That evening John said his prayers and went to bed very early；and soon fell asleep calmly。 But his panion tied on his wings tohis shoulders； took three rods； and； with his sword at his side；flew to the palace。 It was a very dark night； and so stormy that thetiles flew from the roofs of the houses； and the trees in the gardenupon which the skeletons hung bent themselves like reeds before thewind。 The lightning flashed； and the thunder rolled in onelong…continued peal all night。 The window of the castle opened； andthe princess flew out。 She was pale as death； but she laughed at thestorm as if it were not bad enough。 Her white mantle fluttered inthe wind like a large sail； and the traveller flogged her with thethree rods till the blood trickled down； and at last she couldscarcely fly； she contrived； however； to reach the mountain。 〃What ahail…storm！〃 she said； as she entered； 〃I have never been out insuch weather as this。〃
〃Yes； there may be too much of a good thing sometimes；〃 said themagician。
Then the princess told him that John had guessed rightly thesecond time； and if he succeeded the next morning； he would win； andshe could never e to the mountain again； or practice magic as shehad done； and therefore she was quite unhappy。 〃I will find outsomething for you to think of which he will never guess； unless heis a greater conjuror than myself。 But now let us be merry。〃
Then he took the princess by both hands； and they danced withall the little goblins and Jack…o'…lanterns in the room。 The redspiders sprang here and there on the walls quite as merrily； and theflowers of fire appeared as if they were throwing out sparks。 Theowl beat the drum； the crickets whistled and the grasshoppers playedthe mouth…organ。 It was a very ridiculous ball。 After they haddanced enough； the princess was obliged to go home； for fear sheshould be missed at the palace。 The magician offered to go with her；that they might be pany to each other on the way。 Then they flewaway through the bad weather； and the traveller followed them； andbroke his three rods across their shoulders。 The magician had neverbeen out in such a hail…storm as this。 Just by the palace the magicianstopped to wish the princess farewell； and to whisper in her ear；〃To…morrow think of my head。〃
But the traveller heard it； and just as the princess slippedthrough the window into her bedroom； and the magician turned roundto fly back to the mountain； he seized him by the long black beard；and with