Cheri took pity on it, and savedit. "My Lord Cheri," she said, "I am not ungrateful; I can guide you tothe dancing-water, which, without me, you could never obtain, as itrises in the middle of the forest, and can only be reached by goingunderground." The Dove then flew away, and summoned a number of foxes,badgers, moles, snails, ants, and all sorts of creatures that burrow inthe earth. Cheri got off his horse at the entrance of the subterraneanpassage they made for him, and groped his way after the kind Dove, whichsafely conducted him to the fountain. The Prince filled his golden vase;and returned the same way he came.
He found Belle-Etoile sorrowfully seated under some trees, but when shesaw him she was so pleased that she scarcely knew how to welcome him.
Old Feintise learned from her spies that Cheri had returned, and thatthe Princess, having washed her face with the dancing-water, had becomemore lovely than ever. Finding this, she lost no time in artfully makingthe Princess sigh for the wonderful singing-apple. Prince Cheri againfound her unhappy, and again found out the cause, and once more set outon his white horse, leaving a letter for Belle-Etoile.
In the meanwhile, the King did not forget the lovely children, andreproached them for never going to the Palace. They excused themselvesby saying that their brother's absence prevented them.
Prince Cheri at break of day perceived a handsome young man, from whomhe learned where the singing-apple was to be found: but after travellingsome time without seeing any sign of it, he saw a poor turtle-dove fallat his feet almost dead. He took pity on it, and restored it, when itsaid, "Good-day, handsome Cheri, you are destined to save my life, and Ito do you signal service. You are come to seek for the singing-apple: itis guarded by a terrible dragon." The Dove then led him to a place wherehe found a suit of armour, all of glass: and by her advice he put it on,and boldly went to meet the dragon. The two-headed monster came boundingalong, fire issuing from his throat; but when he saw his alarming figuremultiplied in the Prince's mirrors he was frightened in his turn. Hestopped, and looking fiercely at the Prince, apparently laden withdragons, he took flight and threw himself into a deep chasm. The Princethen found the tree, which was surrounded with human bones, and breakingoff an apple, prepared to return to the Princess. She had never sleptduring his absence, and ran to meet him eagerly.
When the wicked Feintise heard the sweet singing of the apple, her griefwas excessive, for instead of doing harm to these lovely children, sheonly did them good by her perfidious counsels. She allowed some days topass by without showing herself; and then once more made the Princessunhappy by saying that the dancing-water and the singing-apple wereuseless without the little green bird that tells everything.
Cheri again set out, and after some trouble learnt that this bird was tobe found on the top of a frightful rock, in a frozen climate. At length,at dawn of day, he perceived the rock, which was very high and verysteep, and upon the summit of it was the bird, speaking like an oracle,telling wonderful things. He thought that with a little dexterity itwould be easy to catch it, for it seemed very tame. He got off hishorse, and climbed up very quietly. He was so close to the green birdthat he thought he could lay hands on it, when suddenly the rock openedand he fell into a spacious hall, and became as motionless as a statue;he could neither stir, nor utter a complaint at his deplorablesituation. Three hundred knights, who had made the same attempt, were inthe same state. To look at each other was the only thing permitted them.
The time seemed so long to Belle-Etoile, and still no signs of herbeloved Cheri, that she fell dangerously ill; and in the hopes ofcuring her, Petit-Soleil resolved to seek him.
But he too was swallowed up by the rock and fell into the great hall.The first person he saw was Cheri, but he could not speak to him; andPrince Heureux, following soon after, met with the same fate as theother two.
When Feintise was aware that the third Prince was gone, she wasexceedingly delighted at the success of her plan; and when Belle-Etoile,inconsolable at finding not one of her brothers return, reproachedherself for their loss, and resolved to follow them, she was quiteoverjoyed.
The Princess was disguised as a cavalier, but had no other armour thanher helmet. She was dreadfully cold as she drew near the rock, butseeing a turtle-dove lying on the snow, she took it up, warmed it, andrestored it to life: and the dove reviving, gaily said, "I know you, inspite of your disguise; follow my advice: when you arrive at the rock,remain at the bottom and begin to sing the sweetest song you know; thegreen bird will listen to you; you must then pretend to go to sleep;when it sees me, it will come down to peck me, and at that moment youwill be able to seize it."
All this fell out as the Dove foretold. The green bird begged forliberty. "First," said Belle-Etoile, "I wish that thou wouldst restoremy three brothers to me."
"Under my left wing there is a red feather," said the bird: "pull itout, and touch the rock with it."
The Princess hastened to do as she was instructed; the rock split fromthe top to the bottom: she entered with a victorious air the hall inwhich stood the three Princes with many others; she ran towards Cheri,who did not know her in her helmet and male attire, and could neitherspeak nor move. The green bird then told the Princess she must rub theeyes and mouth of all those she wished to disenchant with the redfeather, which good office she did to all.
The three Princes and Belle-Etoile hastened to present themselves to theKing; and when Belle-Etoile showed her treasures, the little green birdtold him that the Princes Petit-Soleil and Heureux and the PrincessBelle-Etoile were his children, and that Prince Cheri was his nephew.Queen Blondine, who had mourned for them all these years, embraced them,and the wicked Queen-Mother and old Feintise were justly punished. Andthe King, who thought his nephew Cheri the handsomest man at Court,consented to his marriage with Belle-Etoile. And lastly, to makeeveryone happy, the King sent for the Corsair and his wife, who gladlycame.
WALTER CRANE'S PICTURE BOOKS
LARGE SERIES
ENGRAVED & PRINTED BY EDMUND EVANS, LTD.
Thank you for reading books on BookFrom.Net Share this book with friends