Page:The Strand Magazine (Volume 2).djvu/427

 terrible magician was in a state of rage. His eyes darted flames, and he gave utterance to such horrible cries that the roof of his palace trembled as if it were going to collapse. The Prince crawled humbly towards him. At length Czernuch burst into a fit of laughter, and cried:

Tis well; I shall not be your enemy. But, nevertheless, you must be punished for not having come sooner. To-morrow you shall know my will."

Two servants politely conducted the Prince to the chamber which had been reserved for him; and, being fatigued, he immediately went to sleep.

Next day the enchanter sent for him, and said:

"I want to ascertain what you can do. This evening you must set to work, and during the night you must build me a palace, the roof and walls of marble, and the windows of crystal. Around this palace there must be a large garden, waterfall, and a lake with fish in it. If this work is well executed, I shall be good-natured towards you; if not, you will have your head chopped off."

"Accursed magician!" the Prince said to himself, on returning to his chamber; "he condemns me to death, and laughs at me while doing it."

He sat with his head between his hands all day, absorbed in the thought of his cruel destiny.

At last evening came, and with its coming a little bee tapped at his window, and said to him:

"Let me in."

He opened the window. The bee transformed itself: Wellena stood before him.

"Good evening,” she said; "why are you so downcast?"

"Do you not know that your father has condemned me to death?"

"And what are you going to do?"

"Submit to my fate."

"What an idea! Don't let yourself be so easily conquered. Go to bed, and sleep in peace. To-morrow morning rise early; your palace shall be built; go round it, a hammer in your hand, as if you had just finished constructing it."

The next morning, on rising, Prince Milan beheld the palace completely built. Czernuch examined it minutely, and was astonished by it.

"Ah," he said to the young Prince, "you are a skilful artist. I must now try the penetration of your mind. I have thirty daughters. To-morrow they shall be drawn up before you; you shall look at them once, twice, and, the third time, you shall tell me which is the youngest, or you shall have your head chopped off."

"Very good," said the Prince to himself; "that's an agreeable task. Why, at the first glance, I shall recognise Wellena! Nothing could be easier to do."

"It's not so easy as you think," said the little bee. "My sisters and I are so much alike, that my father himself can hardly tell which of us is the oldest and which the youngest. But, so that you may not make any mistake, I will, on your third examination, wear a patch on my right cheek."

The next day the magician's thirty daughters were ranged in a single line. The Prince looked at them attentively, and could not distinguish which of them he loved. He examined them again, without lessening his embarrassment. Finally, at the third trial, he perceived on a white cheek a tiny rose-coloured patch, and turned towards Czernuch:

"This," he said, "is the youngest of your daughters, the Princess Wellena."

"He's protected by Satan himself!" muttered the magician, grinding his teeth in fury at the defeat he had sustained. "I admit your ability," he said to Prince Milan; "but I must try you once more, and in a different fashion. Come back to me at the end of three hours. I will then set fire to a match, and, before it is burnt out, you must make me a pair of boots reaching to my knees. Go and get ready for this new piece of work, and return to me at the time I have named."

The Prince retired dispirited. The little bee flew to him.

"How melancholy you appear!" she said.

"Alas! I shall never be able to do what your father demands, and shall have to die."

"No. I love you; I am your affianced bride; we must live or die together. And, now, we must fly."

Saying these words she licked the window, the moisture instantly congealing there. Then she took her lover by the hand and led him to the spot where they had descended together into the subterranean region, thence to the margin of the lake where she had first met him. There the Prince found his horse awaiting him. The animal neighed with delight on recognising his master. The two fugitives seated them-