Page:Stories of Prince Lupin.pdf/13

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HERE was once a queen, who, though she had born many children, had but one daughter left alive, of whom she was fond to an excess, humouring and indulging her in all her ways and wishes. This princess was exceedingly beautiful, so that she was called All-Fair, and had twenty kings courting her at one time. Her mother, being advanced in years, would fain have had her married and settled before she died, but no entreaties could prevail; whereupon she determined to go to the Desert Fairy to ask advice concerning her stuborn daughter.

Now, this fairy being guarded by two fierce lions, the queen made a cake of millet, sugarcanday, and crocodiles’ eggs, in order to appease their fury and pass by them; and having thus provided herself, she set out. After traveling some time, she found herself weary, and, lying down under a tree, fell asleep. When she awoke, she heard the lions which guarded the fairy roaring, upon which, looking for her cake, she found it was gone. This threw her into the utmost agony, not knowing how to save herself