her brothers nor herself had returned during that time, they were to go and acquaint the corsair and his wife of their death; she then dressed herself in male attire, believing she would be less exposed to danger in travelling thus disguised, than if she roamed the world as an adventurer of her own sex. Feintise saw her depart upon her beautiful horse; she was overjoyed, and ran to the palace, to delight the Queen-Mother with this good news.
The Princess had no other armour than a helmet, the vizor of which she scarcely ever raised, for her beauty was of so delicate and perfect a description that no one would have believed (as she wished they should) that she was a cavalier. It was a very severe winter, and the country in which the talking bird was, never, in any season, felt the happy influence of the sun!
Belle-Etoile was dreadfully cold, but nothing could deter her progress when she saw a turtle-dove, scarcely less white or colder than the snow upon which it lay extended. Notwithstanding her impatience to arrive at the rock, she could not leave it thus to die, and getting off her horse, she took it up, warmed it with her breath, and then put it into her bosom: the poor little thing never moved, Belle-Etoile thought it was dead, which she was very sorry for; she took it out again, and looking at it, said, as though it could understand her, "What shall I do, sweet dove, to save thy life?" "Belle-Etoile," replied the bird, "one sweet kiss from your lips, will complete the charitable work you have begun." "Not only one," said the Princess, "but a hundred, if they are needed." She kissed it, and the dove reviving, gaily said, "I know you, in spite of your disguise; learn that you have undertaken a thing it would be impossible for you to succeed in, without my assistance,—follow, therefore, my advice: as soon as you have arrived at the rock, instead of trying to ascend it, remain at the bottom of it, and begin to sing the best and sweetest song you know; the green bird that tells everything, will listen to you, and observe from whence the voice proceeds; you must then pretend to go to sleep; I will be near you; when it sees me, it will come down from the point of the rock to peck me, at that moment you will be able to seize it."
The Princess, enchanted at this hope, speedily arrived at
