The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1867-12-20

lie began to speak 10 her, and to ask
her many things; but she answered no.
nor did she even smile or look upon
him, but remained like marble statue
He sa. down by her side, and resolved
here to sleep during tho whole of the
night, so that she might not escape.
For greater safety, Longbody length
ened himselfto the fullest extent, and
lay all round the room. Broadbody
PLACED himself within the doorway,
swelled out his body and stopped the
way so completely, that even mouse
could not get through. And Keeneye
stood In the middle Of the room like n
pillar, so as to keep watch. Ina little
while, however, all thiee growing
weary fell asleep, and slept the whole
night as soundly "a If they had been at
the bottom Of the ocean.
When the morning twilight began to
dawn, the prince awoke, and when he
saw that the princess had disappeared
he seemed a. If he had been struck in
the heab with a knife. He lost no time
in arousing the three companions. and
asked what w1s to be done,
"De not be in the least trouble, mas
teri" quoth Keeneye looking out Of
the window, "for see her already. A
hundred miles from this castle IS forest.
In the midst of the forest stands az
oak, upon that oak is an acorn and thai
acorn is the princess. Longbody shall
take me on his shoulders, and we will
soon get her back again"
So he got upon Longbody's shoul.
ders, who stretched himself out. and
left the castle. Each step he took
measured ten miles. Keencyc showed
him the way, and in less time than one
requires togo round a cottage they wcrc
back again. Longbody gave the acorr
to the prince, and said:" Let 1t fall up
on the ground !" The prince did as h
was told. and at the same moment th
beautiful princess st0on before him
And as the sun hcgan to show hmsc
above the hills the door flew open with
i loud crash, and the magician entered
with fendish laugh but as soon aS h.
beheld the princess there he appeared
gloomy. And as he was mutterinp
something between his teeth, in i'm in.
stan t one of the iron rings that wcr
round his waist snapped asundcr and
fell to the ground. He then took tn,
princess by the hand end led her away
The next day as the prince had moth
ing to dohe wandered through the castle
and all around it, to see everything thai
was most remarkable there. On all
sides it appeared rs if life had been
stopped at one blow. In one of the hall
was a prince holding with both hand-
IL sword over his head. He seemed on
the point of cutting some one into picc-
es, but had been turned into stone ere
me could finish his stroke. In one room
was knight who appeared, whilst hy.
ing with outstretchcd arms TOWARD
some one, to have stumble against the
threshold Of the door, and was falling
but had been turned into stone before
he Reached the earth. In another room
he bchcld Il man servant sitting before
the fireplace with piece of meat il
one hand and another piece in the other
which he was raising to his mouth bu
had not brought it so far ere he had be
come amasS Ol iffeless stone. And man,
-thers he saw in the same pctrifiet
state, each in the position in which h
was when the magician uttered III
words" Become stone"
He also saw many beautiful horses
both inside and outside the castle, whic
mad shared the same fate. Death an,
gloom were on all sides. There wer
trees, but they had no leaves on them
meadows without grass; and river i
which water did not flow. Not a birt
was 70 be seen that could sing; not
flower that could bloom not a fish tha
could swim in the water.
At morning, noon, and evening tn
prince and his three companions foun
a sumptuous meal ready for them. Al
unseen power served up the viands an
poured the wine into their glasses, 5
that they had nothing to do but to ca
and drink.
Scarcely was the evening meal owe
before the door opened and the magicia
again appeared, leading the princes
who was to be guarded n second nigh
by the prince. Now, although they ha
all iirmly made up their minds to viii
stand the Influence Of sleep this nigh
yet it was Of no use, FOR they soon ic
into sound sleep. And when at earl
dawn the prince aWokc and iOund III
princess gone again, he sprarg up, an
shaking kccncyc by the shoulders
cried; clio, there hostir thyself, tho
OF the sharp eye. Knowrst thou whel
the lady has llcd:"
Kecneyc rubbed his eyes little viii,
then looked around him and said:
~ already see her Two hundrc
miles from here stands u hill; With
that hill il II rock; within that rock
u precious stone, and that precious stor
is the fair princess, If Longbody wi
carry me on his shoulders, we shall 500
recover her."
L0ngbOdy then took his comrade o
his shoulder, lcngthencd himself on
and departed from the castle, Eacl
step he made measured twenty miles
: When they arrived within sight of tn
, hill, Keeneye fixed his fiery eyes upo
it, and Immediately ii began to crumbl'
and the rock became a burning mass, /
the midst of which the precious ston
was seen to glitter. They took It Il
and brought it tothe prince, and rs 500
as he had thrown il on the ground II
princess stood again before him. Thet
when the magician came and INV hI
there, his eyes flashed With .lpger, an
before he had time TO, speak, q secon
/ ring snapped nsundcr and fen from h
body. The magician growlcd Wit,