of the same beauty, all having the grace, all the same golden locks as the true princess.
As soon as the princess set eyes on the prince, she uttered a cry of joy and sprang to meet him.
"If life is dear to you," she cried, "fly from hence, for Vikhar may return at any moment, and he could kill you with a look!"
"If I fail to rescue you, of what value to me will my life be? But I am of good hope; only give me to drink from the heroic well some of the water drunk by Vikhar."
The princess, having drawn a pailful, handed it to him. The young prince emptied it at a draught, and asked for a second. Though somewhat astonished at this, the princess drew him another pailful, which he drank off as before. After which he said—
"Princess, permit me to sit down for a moment to recover breath."
She handed him an iron chair, on which he seated himself, but which broke under him in a thousand pieces. She then brought the chair used by Vikhar himself, but though it was made of steel, the prince had no sooner sat down upon it than it cracked and bent under his weight.
"You see, princess, that I have become heavier than your invincible Storm. But, before he returns, tell me, I beg, how you pass your time here?"
"Alas! I pass my time in tears. and sorrow; my only consolation is that, so far, I have been able to resist the importunities of my persecutor, who vainly solicits me to become his wife. I have told him that I will never marry anyone but the man who succeeds in finding the answers to six enigmas which I have composed; thus two years have passed and, in spite of all his efforts, he has failed. The last time he went from the palace he announced to me that if, on returning, he was still unable to answer my enigmas, he would compel me to marry him in spite of my opposition."
"Then I will be the priest on that occasion—and wed him to death."
At that instant a horrible hissing sound was heard.
"Be on your guard, prince," cried the princess. "Vikhar is coming.'
"The prince seized him by the gullet."
The palace began to turn rapidly on the claw which supported it. Frightful noises arose on all sides, thousands of ravens and other birds of ill omen croaked, and all the doors flew open of themselves with a terrifying crash.
Mounted upon a winged steed which snorted flames, Vikhar dashed into the glass room, and beheld the presence of the prince with astonishment. The impatient horse reared and beat its wings. Vikhar had the body of a giant and the head of a dragon.
