Page:Story of the little white mouse, or, The overthrow of the tyrant king (1).pdf/14

14 know not by what means to get the child out of her wicked hands."

When the queen heard this melancholy account, she almost died with grief; she wept bitterly, and beseeched her good friend to save her child, at whatever price it might be done.

When the gaoler entered the chamber of the queen, he perceived that she had been delivered, and he went and told the king of it, who came in a great passion to ask for the child; but she told him that a fairy, whose name she knew not, had entered the prison, and carried it away by force. At this the wicked king stamped and bit his lips, with every expression of the most violent rage. "I promised to hang thee," said he to the unfortunate queen, "and now I will keep my word. He then dragged her by the hair from the place of her confinement to a neighbouring wood, mounted a high tree, and was just going to hang her, when the fairy, having rendered herself invisible, pushed him rudely down, and four of his teeth were struck out by the fall. Before he had time to recover himself, she carried away his intended victim to a secure retreat in her magnificent palace. She was there treated with every attention and kindness, and if it had not been for the thoughts of her little daughter, she had once more been happy; but she was