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 after him, bidding the man to start for the Royal residence.

The soldier had a great talent for music; he possessed a fine voice, and this he made use of the best he knew, while the man drew him along from one place to another. Every one stopped and listened—a golden stag which sang so beautifully they had never seen before. At length they passed the Royal palace. When the king learned the news of the singing stag, he came out to look at it, and was much pleased to hear that it could sing all the tunes which he liked best. He took such a fancy to the stag that he wished to buy it; but the man, who had received instructions from the soldier, asked such a large sum that the king declared the purchase impossible.

The princess had seen the stag from her window and heard its beautiful voice. When her father came into her room she besought him to buy it: she had been sitting alone in the dreadful tower for over a year, and the stag would help to cheer her solitude. The king thought this wish reasonable enough, and finally bought the stag, which was taken into the tower. The princess was happy, and as soon as she wished for a song the stag readily complied.

Towards evening, when the king had left his daughter, the soldier opened the door and jumped out. The princess was frightened, and began to scream at the top of her voice. No one heard her,