Page:The jade story book; stories from the Orient (IA jadestorybooksto00cous).pdf/59

Rh am in search of my father and mother and my uncles, whom a wicked enchanter bewitched."

Then said the Malee's wife: "This country and this palace belong to a great Magician, who is all-powerful, and if anyone displeases him he turns them into stones and trees. All the rocks and trees you see here were once living people, and the enchanter turned them into what they now are. Some time ago a Rajah's son came here, and soon afterwards came his six brothers, and all of them were turned into stones and trees; and these are not the only unfortunate ones, for up in that tower lives a beautiful Princess whom the Magician has kept prisoner there for twelve years, because she hates him and will not marry him."

The young Prince said to himself, "At last I have found what I seek; these must be my parents and uncles." So he told his story to the Malee's wife, and begged her to help him. This she agreed to do, and advised him to disguise himself, lest the Magician should see him and turn him into stone. So she dressed him up in a saree,