THE BOY WHO KNEW WHAT THE BIRDS SAID
spear would make a dragon's heart burst within him.
So the Princess White-as-a-Pearl went to her father's cavern and took the precious stones I spoke of and gave them to the King's son. And he went forth the next day and when he came to him the dragon's eyes were blinded, and his blood turned to water and his heart burst within him. And the King's son cut off his head and brought it into the Palace. Then the Magician fled amongst the dark, dark trees and I was given the red marble palace to live in."
"I lived in Lapland," said Hoodie the Crow. "And who do you think I knew there?"
"No one of any dignity," said Purpurpurati the Peacock.
"I knew your White-as-a-Pearl. She had become an old ugly witch-woman."
"Base crow!" said Purpurpurati and he walked up the steps and went away.
Then Hoodie the Crow dressed himself in the feathers he had stolen from the Peacock and went away and walked across the field admiring
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