Page:The Allies Fairy Book.djvu/170

 ordered me to tell you to strike off the head of the nail from the lower part, and then you will find her.” When the prince heard that, he drew his sword and cut off his servant’s head.

After that he travelled alone about the world, and after long travelling came to a mountain and remained all night there with a hermit, whom he asked if he knew anything about nine golden peahens. The hermit said: “Eh! my son, you are lucky! God has led you in the right place. From this place it is only half a day’s walk. But you must go straight on, then you will come to a large gate, which you must pass through; and, after that, you must keep always to the right hand, and so you will come to the peahens’ city, and there find their palace.” So next morning the king’s son arose, and prepared to go. He thanked the hermit, and went as he had told him. After a while he came to the great gate, and, having passed it, turned to the right, so that at midday he saw the city, and beholding how white it shone, rejoiced very much. When he came into the city he found the palace where lived the nine golden peahens. But at the gate he was stopped by the guard, who demanded who he was, and whence he came. After he had answered these questions, the guards went to announce him to the queen. When the queen heard who he was, she came running out to the gate and took him by the hand to lead him into the palace. She was a young and beautiful maiden, and so there was a great rejoicing when, after a few days, he married her and remained there with her.

One day, some time after their marriage, the queen went out to walk, and the king’s son remained in the palace. Before going out, however, the queen gave him the keys of twelve cellars, telling him: “You may go down into all the cellars except the twelfth—that you must on no account open, or it will cost you your head!” She then went away. The king’s son whilst remaining in the palace began to