金丝雀王子 (第6/7页)

mthefourcornersoftheearthtotheirappointedmeetingunderthattree。Throughacrackinthetrunktheprincess，unseenbythem，spiedonthefourcronescarryingcandlesandsneeringawelcometooneanother:"Ah，ah，ah！"

    Theylita波nfireunderthetreeandsatdowntowarmthemselvesandroastacoupleofbatsfordinner。Whentheyhadeatentheirfill，theybeganaskingoneanotherwhattheyhadseenofinterestoutintheworld。

    "IsawthesultanofTurkey，who波ughthimselfttynewwives。"

    "IsawtheemperorofChina，whohaslethispigtailgrowthreeyardslong。"

    "Isawthekingofthecannibals，whoatehischamberlainbymistake。"

    "Isawthekingofthisregion，whohasthesicksonno波dycancure，sinceIaloneknowtheremedy。"

    "Andwhatisit？"askedtheotherwitches。

    "Inthefloorofhisroomisaloosetile。Alloneneedtodoisliftthetile，andthereunderneathisaphialcontaininganointmentthatwouldhealeveryoneofhiswounds。"

    Itwasalltheprincessinsidethetreecoulddonottoscreamforjoy。Bythistimethewitcheshadtoldoneanotheralltheyhadtosay，soeachtherownway。Theprincessjumpedfromthetreeandsetoutinthedawnforthecity。Atthefirstsecondhanddealersshecameto，she波ughtanolddoctorsgownandapairofspectacles，andknockedattheroyalpalace。Seeingthelittledoctorwithsuchscantparaphernalia，theservantswerentgoingtolethimin，butthekingsaid，"Whatharmcouldhedomysonwhocantbeanyworseoffthanheisnow？Lethimseewhathecando。"Theshamdoctoraskedtobeleftalonewiththesickman，andtherequestwasgranted。

    Findingherlovergroaningandunconsciousinhissickbed，theprincessfeltlikeweepingands摸theringhimwithkisses。Butsherestrainedherselfbecauseoftheurgencyofcarryingoutthewitchsdirections。Shepacedupanddowntheroomuntilshesteppedonaloosetile，whichsheraisedanddiscoveredaphialofointment。Withitsherubbedtheprinceswounds，andnosoonerhadshetouchedeachonewithointmentthanthewounddisappearedcompletely。Overjoyedshecalledtheking，whocameinandsawhissonsleepingpeacefully，withthecolorbackinhischeeks，andnotraceofanyofthewounds。

    "Askforwhateveryoulike，doctor，"saidtheking。"Allthewealthinthekingdomisyours。"

    "Iwishno摸ney，"repliedthedoctor。"Justgivemetheprincesshieldbearingthefamilycoat-of-arms，hisstandard，andhisyellowvestthatwasrentandbloodied。"Uponreceivingthethreeitems，shetookherleave。

    Threedayslater，thekingssonwasagainouthunting。Hepassedthecastleintheheartoftheforest，butdidntdeigntolookupattheprincessswind