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180 have come, not to devour you but to set you free. A lad and a lass who, in such a dire strait, think only of each other, deserve to live long in peace. By my magic power I declare your bonds broken! Go, and from henceforth think of the demon-bears as no longer enemies but friends!"

The wretched sacks dropped from the sides of Sunshine and the princess, and they stood up safe and sound and as free as the wind that blew about them.

The Siddhi-kur ceased speaking, and a long pause followed, but the Prince said never a word. Only he stood still a moment and seemed to gurgle unintelligibly in his throat.

"What did you say? " said the Siddhi-kur, leaning forward.

Another gurgle, and the Prince turned his head, whereat the Siddhi-kur burst into a merry peal of laughter, for wedged between the lad's teeth was a piece of wood, making speech impossible.