Now,threedays'journeyfromthehutonthepasturestwobrothersSodnodweltinasmallcottagewiththeirsisterLyma,whotendedalargeherdofreindeerwhiletheywereouthunting。OflateithadbeenwhisperedfromonetoanotherthatthethreeyoungStalosweretobeseenonthepastures,buttheSodnobrothersdidnotdisturbthemselves,thedangerseemedtoofaraway。
Unluckily,however,oneday,whenLymawasleftbyherselfinthehut,thethreeStaloscamedownandcarriedherandthereindeerofftotheirowncottage。Thecountrywasverylonely,andperhapsnoonewouldhaveknowninwhichdirectionshehadgonehadnotthegirlmanagedtotieaballofthreadtothehandleofadooratthebackofthecottageandletittrailbehindher。Ofcoursetheballwasnotlongenoughtogoalltheway,butitlayontheedgeofasnowytrackwhichledstraighttotheStalos'house。
Whenthebrothersreturnedfromtheirhuntingtheyfoundboththehutandtheshedsempty。Loudlytheycried:'Lyma！Lyma！'Butnovoiceansweredthem;andtheyfelltosearchingallabout,lestperchancetheirsistermighthavedroppedsomecluetoguidethem。Atlengththeireyesdroppedonthethreadwhichlayonthesnow,andtheysetouttofollowit。
Onandontheywent,andwhenatlengththethreadstoppedthebrothersknewthatanotherday'sjourneywouldbringthemtotheStalos'
dwelling。Ofcoursetheydidnotdaretoapproachitopenly,fortheStaloshadthestrengthofgiants,andbesides,therewerethreeofthem;sothetwoSodnosclimbedintoabigbushytreewhichoverhungawell。
'Perhapsoursistermaybesenttodrawwaterhere,'theysaidtoeachother。
Butitwasnottillthemoonhadrisenthatthesistercame,andassheletdownherbucketintothewell,theleavesseemedtowhisper'Lyma！
Lyma！'
Thegirlstartedandlookedup,butcouldseenothing,andinamomentthevoicecameagain。
'Becareful——takenonotice,fillyourbuckets,butlistencarefullyallthewhile,andwewilltellyouwhattodosothatyoumayescapeyourselfandsetfreethereindeeralso。'
SoLymanbentoverthewelllowerthanbefore,andseemedbusierthanever。
'Youknow,'saidherbrother,'thatwhenaStalofindsthatanythinghasbeendroppedintohisfoodhewillnoteatamorsel,butthrowsittohisdogs。Now,afterthepothasbeenhangingsometimeoverthefire,andthebrothisnearlycooked,justrakeupthelogofwoodsothatsomeoftheashesflyintothepot。TheStalowillsoonnoticethis,andwillcallyoutogiveallthefoodtothedogs;but,instead,youmustbringitstraighttous,asitisthreedayssincewehaveeatenordrunk。Thatisallyouneeddoforthepresent。'
ThenLymatookupherbucketsandcarriedthemintothehouse,anddidasherbrothershadtoldher。Theyweresohungrythattheyatethefoodupgreedilywithoutspeaking,butwhentherewasnothingleftinthepot,theeldestonesaid:
'ListencarefullytowhatIhavetotellyou。AftertheeldestStalohascookedandeatenafreshsupper,hewillgotobedandsleepsosoundlythatnotevenawitchcouldwakehim。Youcanhearhimsnoringamileoff,andthenyoumustgointohisroomandpullofftheironmantlethatcovershim,andputitonthefiretillitisalmostredhot。Whenthatisdone,cometousandwewillgiveyoufurtherdirections。'
'Iwillobeyyouineverything,dearbrothers,'answeredLyman;andsoshedid。
IthadhappenedthatonthisveryeveningtheStaloshaddriveninsomeofthereindeerfromthepasture,andhadtiedthemuptothewallofthehousesothattheymightbehandytokillfornextday'sdinner。
ThetwoSodnoshadseenwhattheyweredoing,andwherethebeastsweresecured;so,atmidnight,whenallwasstill,theycreptdownfromtheirtreeandseizedthereindeerbythehornswhichwerelockedtogether。Theanimalswerefrightened,andbegantoneighandkick,asiftheywerefightingtogether,andthenoisebecamesogreatthateventheeldestStalowasawakenedbyit,andthatwasathingwhichhadneveroccurredbefore。Raisinghimselfinhisbed,hecalledtohisyoungestbrothertogooutandseparatethereindeerortheywouldcertainlykillthemselves。
TheyoungStalodidashewasbid,andleftthehouse;butnosoonerwasheoutofthedoorthanhewasstabbedtotheheartbyoneoftheSodnos,andfellwithoutagroan。Thentheywentbacktoworrythereindeer,andthenoisebecameasgreatasever,andasecondtimetheStaloawoke。
'Theboydoesnotseemtobeabletopartthebeasts,'hecriedtohissecondbrother;'goandhelphim,orIshallnevergettosleep。'Sothebrotherwent,andinaninstantwasstruckdeadasheleftthehousebytheswordoftheeldestSodno。TheStalowaitedinbedalittlelongerforthingstogetquiet,butastheclatterofthereindeer'shornswasasbadasever,heroseangrilyfromhisbedmutteringtohimself:
'Itisextraordinarythattheycannotunlockthemselves;butasnooneelseseemsabletohelpthemIsupposeImustgoanddoit。'
Rubbinghiseyes,hestooduponthefloorandstretchedhisgreatarmsandgaveayawnwhichshookthewalls。TheSodnoshearditbelow,andpostedthemselves,oneatthebigdoorandoneatthelittledoorattheback,fortheydidnotknowwhattheirenemywouldcomeoutat。
TheStaloputouthishandtotakehisironmantlefromthebed,whereitalwayslay,butthemantlewasnothere。Hewonderedwhereitcouldbe,andwhocouldhavemovedit,andaftersearchingthroughalltherooms,hefoundithangingoverthekitchenfire。Butthefirsttouchburnthimsobadlythatheletitalone,andwentwithnothing,exceptastickinhishand,throughthebackdoor。
TheyoungSodnowasstandingreadyforhim,andastheStalopassedthethresholdstruckhimsuchablowontheheadthatherolledoverwithacrashandneverstirredagain。ThetwoSodnosdidnottroubleabouthim,butquicklystrippedtheyoungerStalosoftheirclothes,inwhichtheydressedthemselves。ThentheysatstilltillthedawnshouldbreakandtheycouldfindoutfromtheStalos'motherwherethetreasurewashidden。
WiththefirstraysofthesuntheyoungSodnowentupstairsandenteredtheoldwoman'sroom。Shewasalreadyupanddressed,andsittingbythewindowknitting,andtheyoungmancreptinsoftlyandcroucheddownonthefloor,layinghisheadonherlap。Forawhilehekeptsilence,thenhewhisperedgently:
'Tellme,dearmother,wheredidmyeldestbrotherconcealhisriches？'
'Whatastrangequestion！Surelyyoumustknow,'answeredshe。
'No,Ihaveforgotten;mymemoryissobad。'
'Hedugaholeunderthedoorstepandplaceditthere,'saidshe。Andtherewasanotherpause。
By—and—bytheSodnoaskedagain:
'Andwheremaymysecondbrother'smoneybe？'
'Don'tyouknowthateither？'criedthemotherinsurprise。
'Oh,yes;Ididonce。ButsinceIfelluponmyheadIcanremembernothing。'
'Itisbehindtheoven,'answeredshe。Andagainwassilence。
'Mother,dearmother,'saidtheyoungmanatlast,'Iamalmostafraidtoaskyou;butIreallyhavegrownsostupidoflate。WheredidI
hidemyownmoney？'
Butatthisquestiontheoldwomanflewintoapassion,andvowedthatifshecouldfindarodshewouldbringhismemorybacktohim。
Luckily,norodwaswithinherreach,andtheSodnomanaged,afteralittle,tocoaxherbackintogoodhumour,andatlengthshetoldhimthattheyoungestStalohadburiedhistreasureundertheveryplacewhereshewassitting。
'Dearmother,'saidLyman,whohadcomeinunseen,andwaskneelinginfrontofthefire。'Dearmother,doyouknowwhoitisyouhavebeentalkingwith？'
Theoldwomanstarted,butansweredquietly:
'ItisaSodno,Isuppose？'
'Youhaveguessedright,'repliedLyma。
ThemotheroftheStaloslookedroundforherironcane,whichshealwaysusedtokillhervictims,butitwasnotthere,forLymahadputitinthefire。
'Whereismyironcane？'askedtheoldwoman。
'There！'answeredLyma,pointingtotheflames。
Theoldwomansprangforwardsandseizedit,butherclothescaughtfire,andinafewminutesshewasburnedtoashes。
SotheSodnobrothersfoundthetreasure,andtheycarriedit,andtheirsisterandthereindeer,totheirownhome,andweretherichestmeninallLapland。
[FromLapplandischeMarchen,J。C。Poestion。]
AndrasBaiveOnceuponatimetherelivedinLaplandamanwhowassoverystrongandswiftoffootthatnobodyinhisnativetownofVadsocouldcomenearhimiftheywererunningracesinthesummerevenings。ThepeopleofVadsowereveryproudoftheirchampion,andthoughtthattherewasnoonelikehimintheworld,till,by—and—by,itcametotheirearsthattheredweltamongthemountainsaLapp,AndrasBaivebyname,whowassaidbyhisfriendstobeevenstrongerandswifterthanthebailiff。OfcoursenotacreatureinVadsobelievedthat,anddeclaredthatifitmadethemountaineershappiertotalksuchnonsense,why,letthem！
Thewinterwaslongandcold,andthethoughtsofthevillagersweremuchbusierwithwolvesthanwithAndrasBaive,whensuddenly,onafrostyday,hemadehisappearanceinthelittletownofVadso。Thebailiffwasdelightedatthischanceoftryinghisstrength,andatoncewentouttoseekAndrasandtocoaxhimintogivingproofofhisvigour。Ashewalkedalonghiseyesfelluponabigeight—oaredboatthatlayupontheshore,andhisfaceshonewithpleasure。'Thatistheverything,'laughedhe,'Iwillmakehimjumpoverthatboat。'
Andraswasquitereadytoacceptthechallenge,andtheysoonsettledthetermsofthewager。Hewhocouldjumpovertheboatwithoutsomuchastouchingitwithhisheelwastobethewinner,andwouldgetalargesumofmoneyastheprize。So,followedbymanyofthevillagers,thetwomenwalkeddowntothesea。
Anoldfishermanwaschosentostandneartheboattowatchfairplay,andtoholdthestakes,andAndras,asthestrangerwastoldtojumpfirst。Goingbacktotheflagwhichhadbeenstuckintothesandtomarkthestartingplace,heranforward,withhisheadwellthrownback,andclearedtheboatwithamightybound。Thelookers—oncheeredhim,andindeedhewelldeserveit;buttheywaitedanxiouslyallthesametoseewhatthebailiffwoulddo。Onhecame,tallerthanAndrasbyseveralinches,butheavierofbuild。Hetoospranghighandwell,butashecamedownhisheeljustgrazedtheedgeoftheboat。
Deadsilencereignedamidstthetownsfolk,butAndrasonlylaughedandsaidcarelessly:
'Justalittletooshort,bailiff;nexttimeyoumustdobetterthanthat。'
Thebailiffturnedredwithangerathisrival'sscornfulwords,andansweredquickly:'Nexttimeyouwillhavesomethinghardertodo。'
Andturninghisbackonhisfriends,hewentsulkilyhome。Andras,puttingthemoneyhehadearnedinhispocket,wenthomealso。
ThefollowingspringAndrashappenedtobedrivinghisreindeeralongagreatfiordtothewestofVadso。Aboywhohadmethimhastenedtotellthebailiffthathisenemywasonlyafewmilesoff;andthebailiff,disguisinghimselfasaStalo,orogre,calledhissonandhisdogandrowedawayacrossthefiordtotheplacewheretheboyhadmetAndras。
Nowthemountaineerwaslazilywalkingalongthesands,thinkingofthenewhutthathewasbuildingwiththemoneythathehadwononthedayofhisluckyjump。Hewanderedon,hiseyesfixedonthesands,sothathedidnotseethebailiffdrivehisboatbehindarock,whilehechangedhimselfintoaheapofwreckagewhichfloatedinonthewaves。
AstumbleoverastonerecalledAndrastohimself,andlookinguphebeheldthemassofwreckage。'Dearme！Imayfindsomeuseforthat,'
hesaid;andhasteneddowntothesea,waitingtillhecouldlayholdofsomestrayropewhichmightfloattowardshim。Suddenly——hecouldnothavetoldwhy——anamelessfearseizeduponhim,andhefledawayfromtheshoreasifforhislife。Asheranheheardthesoundofapipe,suchasonlyogresoftheStalokindwerewonttouse;andthereflashedintohismindwhatthebailiffhadsaidwhentheyjumpedtheboat:'Nexttimeyouwillhavesomethinghardertodo。'Soitwasnowreckageafterallthathehadseen,butthebailiffhimself。
Ithappenedthatinthelongsummernightsupinthemountain,wherethesunneverset,anditwasverydifficulttogettosleep,Andrashadspentmanyhoursinthestudyofmagic,andthisstoodhimingoodsteadnow。TheinstantheheardtheStalomusichewishedhimselftobecomethefeetofareindeer,andinthisguisehegallopedlikethewindforseveralmiles。Thenhestoppedtotakebreathandfindoutwhathisenemywasdoing。Nothinghecouldsee,buttohisearsthenotesofapipefloatedovertheplain,andever,ashelistened,itdrewnearer。
AcoldshivershookAndras,andthistimehewishedhimselfthefeetofareindeercalf。Forwhenareindeercalfhasreachedtheageatwhichhebeginsfirsttolosehishairheissoswiftthatneitherbeastnorbirdcancomenearhim。Areindeercalfistheswiftestofallthingsliving。Yes;butnotsoswiftasaStalo,asAndrasfoundoutwhenhestoppedtorest,andheardthepipeplaying！
Foramomenthisheartsank,andhegavehimselfupfordead,tillherememberedthat,notfaroff,weretwolittlelakesjoinedtogetherbyashortthoughverybroadriver。Inthemiddleoftheriverlayastonethatwasalwayscoveredbywater,exceptindryseasons,andasthewinterrainshadbeenveryheavy,hefeltquitesurethatnoteventhetopofitcouldbeseen。Thenextminute,ifanyonehadbeenlookingthatway,hewouldhavebeheldasmallreindeercalfspeedingnorthwards,andby—and—bygivingagreatspring,whichlandedhiminthemidstofthestream。But,insteadofsinkingtothebottom,hepausedasecondtosteadyhimself,thengaveasecondspringwhichlandedhimonthefurthershore。Henextranontoalittlehillwherehesawdownandbegantoneighloudly,sothattheStalomightknowexactlywherehewas。
'Ah！Thereyouare,'criedtheStalo,appearingontheoppositebank;
'foramomentIreallythoughtIhadlostyou。'
'Nosuchluck,'answeredAndras,shakinghisheadsorrowfully。Bythistimehehadtakenhisownshapeagain。
'Well,butIdon'tseehowIamtogettoyou1'saidtheStalo,lookingupanddown。
'Jumpover,asIdid,'answeredAndras;'itisquiteeasy。'
'ButIcouldnotjumpthisriver;andIdon'tknowhowyoudid,'
repliedtheStalo。
'Ishouldbeashamedtosaysuchthings,'exclaimedAndras。'Doyoumeantotellmethatajump,whichtheweakestLappboywouldmakenothingof,isbeyondyourstrength？'
TheStalogrewredandangrywhenheheardthesewords,justasAndrasmeanthimtodo。Heboundedintotheairandfellstraightintotheriver。Notthatthatwouldhavemattered,forhewasagoodswimmer;
butAndrasdrewoutthebowandarrowswhicheveryLappcarries,andtookaimathim。Hisaimwasgood,buttheStalosprangsohighintotheairthatthearrowflewbetweenhisfeet。Asecondshot,directedathisforehead,farednobetter,forthistimetheStalojumpedsohightotheothersidethatthearrowpassedbetweenhisfingerandthumb。ThenAndrasaimedhisthirdarrowalittleovertheStalo'shead,andwhenhesprangup,justaninstanttoosoon,ithithimbetweentheribs。
Mortallywoundedashewas,theStalowasnotyetdead,andmanagedtoswimtotheshore。Stretchinghimselfonthesand,hesaidslowlytoAndras:
'Promisethatyouwillgivemeanhonourableburial,andwhenmybodyislaidinthegravegoinmyboatacrossthefiord,andtakewhateveryoufindinmyhousewhichbelongstome。Mydogyoumustkill,butsparemyson,Andras。'
Thenhedied;andAndrassailedinhisboatawayacrossthefiordandfoundthedogandboy。Thedog,afierce,wicked—lookingcreature,heslewwithoneblowfromhisfist,foritiswellknownthatifaStalo'sdoglicksthebloodthatflowsfromhisdeadmaster'swoundstheStalocomestolifeagain。ThatiswhynoREALStaloiseverseenwithouthisdog;butthebailiff,beingonlyhalfaStalo,hadforgottenhim,whenhewenttothelittlelakesinsearchofAndras。
Next,Andrasputallthegoldandjewelswhichhefoundintheboatintohispockets,andbiddingtheboygetin,pusheditofffromtheshore,leavingthelittlecrafttodriftasitwould,whilehehimselfranhome。Withthetreasurehepossessedhewasabletobuyagreatherdofreindeer;andhesoonmarriedarichwife,whoseparentswouldnothavehimasason—in—lawwhenhewaspoor,andthetwolivedhappyforeverafter。
[FromLapplandischeMahrchen,J。C。Poestion。]
TheWhiteSlipperOnceuponatimetherelivedakingwhohadadaughterjustfifteenyearsold。Andwhatadaughter！
Eventhemotherswhohaddaughtersoftheirowncouldnothelpallowingthattheprincesswasmuchmorebeautifulandgracefulthananyofthem;and,asforthefathers,ifoneofthemeverbeheldherbyaccidenthecouldtalkofnothingelseforawholedayafterwards。
Ofcoursetheking,whosenamewasBalancin,wasthecompleteslaveofhislittlegirlfromthemomentheliftedherfromthearmsofherdeadmother;indeed,hedidnotseemtoknowthattherewasanyoneelseintheworldtolove。
NowDiamantina,forthatwashername,didnotreachherfifteenthbirthdaywithoutproposalsformarriagefromeverycountryunderheaven;butbethesuitorwhohemight,thekingalwayssaidhimnay。
Behindthepalacealargegardenstretchedawaytothefootofsomehills,andmorethanoneriverflowedthrough。Hithertheprincesswouldcomeeacheveningtowardssunset,attendedbyherladies,andgatherherselftheflowersthatweretoadornherrooms。Shealsobroughtwithherapairofscissorstocutoffthedeadblooms,andabaskettoputthemin,sothatwhenthesunrosenextmorninghemightseenothingunsightly。Whenshehadfinishedthistaskshewouldtakeawalkthroughthetown,sothatthepoorpeoplemighthaveachanceofspeakingwithher,andtellingheroftheirtroubles;andthenshewouldseekoutherfather,andtogethertheywouldconsultoverthebestmeansofgivinghelptothosewhoneededit。
ButwhathasallthistodowiththeWhiteSlipper？myreaderswillask。
Havepatience,andyouwillsee。
Nexttohisdaughter,Balancinlovedhunting,anditwashiscustomtospendseveralmorningseveryweekchasingtheboarswhichaboundedinthemountainsafewmilesfromthecity。Oneday,rushingdownhillasfastashecouldgo,heputhisfootintoaholeandfell,rollingintoarockypitofbrambles。Theking'swoundswerenotverysevere,buthisfaceandhandswerecutandtorn,whilehisfeetwereinaworseplightstill,for,insteadofproperhuntingboots,heonlyworesandals,toenablehimtorunmoreswiftly。
Inafewdaysthekingwasaswellasever,andthesignsofthescratcheswerealmostgone;butonefootstillremainedverysore,whereathornhadpierceddeeplyandhadfestered。Thebestdoctorsinthekingdomtreateditwithalltheirskill;theybathed,andpoulticed,andbandaged,butitwasinvain。Thefootonlygrewworseandworse,andbecamedailymoreswollenandpainful。
Aftereveryonehadtriedhisownparticularcure,andfounditfail,therecamenewsofawonderfuldoctorinsomedistantlandwhohadhealedthemostastonishingdiseases。Oninquiring,itwasfoundthatheneverleftthewallsofhisowncity,andexpectedhispatientstocometoseehim;but,bydintofofferingalargesumofmoney,thekingpersuadedthefamousphysiciantoundertakethejourneytohisowncourt。
Onhisarrivalthedoctorwasledatonceintotheking'spresence,andmadeacarefulexaminationofhisfoot。
'Alas！yourmajesty,'hesaid,whenhehadfinished,'thewoundisbeyondthepowerofmantoheal;butthoughIcannotcureit,Icanatleastdeadenthepain,andenableyoutowalkwithoutsomuchsuffering。'
'Oh,ifyoucanonlydothat,'criedtheking,'Ishallbegratefultoyouforlife！Giveyourownorders;theyshallbeobeyed。'
'Thenletyourmajestybidtheroyalshoemakermakeyouashoeofgoat—skinverylooseandcomfortable,whileIprepareavarnishtopaintoveritofwhichIalonehavethesecret！'Sosaying,thedoctorbowedhimselfout,leavingthekingmorecheerfulandhopefulthanhehadbeenforlong。
Thedayspassedveryslowlywithhimduringthemakingoftheshoeandthepreparationofthevarnish,butontheeighthmorningthephysicianappeared,bringingwithhimtheshoeinacase。Hedrewitouttoslipontheking'sfoot,andoverthegoat—skinhehadrubbedapolishsowhitethatthesnowitselfwasnotmoredazzling。
'Whileyouwearthisshoeyouwillnotfeeltheslightestpain,'saidthedoctor。'ForthebalsamwithwhichIhaverubbeditinsideandouthas,besidesitshealingbalm,thequalityofstrengtheningthematerialittouches,sothat,evenwereyourmajestytoliveathousandyears,youwouldfindtheslipperjustasfreshattheendofthattimeasitisnow。'
Thekingwassoeagertoputitonthathehardlygavethephysiciantimetofinish。Hesnatcheditfromthecaseandthrusthisfootintoit,nearlyweepingforjoywhenhefoundhecouldwalkandrunaseasilyasanybeggarboy。
'WhatcanIgiveyou？'hecried,holdingoutbothhandstothemanwhohadworkedthiswonder。'Staywithme,andIwillheaponyourichesgreaterthaneveryoudreamedof。'Butthedoctorsaidhewouldacceptnothingmorethanhadbeenagreedon,andmustreturnatoncetohisowncountry,wheremanysickpeoplewereawaitinghim。SokingBalancinhadtocontenthimselfwithorderingthephysiciantobetreatedwithroyalhonours,anddesiringthatanescortshouldattendhimonhisjourneyhome。
Fortwoyearseverythingwentsmoothlyatcourt,andtokingBalancinandhisdaughterthesunnosoonerrosethanitseemedtimeforittoset。Now,theking'sbirthdayfellinthemonthofJune,andastheweatherhappenedtobeunusuallyfine,hetoldtheprincesstocelebrateitinanywaythatpleasedher。Diamantinawasveryfondofbeingontheriver,andshewasdelightedatthischanceofdelightinghertastes。Shewouldhaveamerry—makingsuchasneverhadbeenseenbefore,andintheevening,whentheyweretiredofsailingandrowing,thereshouldbemusicanddancing,playsandfireworks。Attheveryend,beforethepeoplewenthome,everypoorpersonshouldbegivenaloafofbreadandeverygirlwhowastobemarriedwithintheyearanewdress。
ThegreatdayappearedtoDiamantinatobelongincoming,but,likeotherdays,itcameatlast。Beforethesunwasfairlyupintheheavenstheprincess,toofullofexcitementtostayinthepalace,waswalkingaboutthestreetssocoveredwithpreciousstonesthatyouhadtoshadeyoureyesbeforeyoucouldlookather。By—and—byatrumpetsounded,andshehurriedhome,onlytoappearagaininafewmomentswalkingbythesideofherfatherdowntotheriver。Hereasplendidbargewaswaitingforthem,andfromittheywatchedallsortsofracesandfeatsofswimminganddiving。Whenthesewereoverthebargeproceededuptherivertothefieldwherethedancingandconcertsweretotakeplace,andaftertheprizeshadbeengivenawaytothewinners,andtheloavesandthedresseshadbeendistributedbytheprincess,theybadefarewelltotheirguests,andturnedtostepintothebargewhichwastocarrythembacktothepalace。
Thenadreadfulthinghappened。Asthekingsteppedonboardtheboatoneofthesandalsofthewhiteslipper,whichhadgotloose,caughtinanailthatwasstickingout,andcausedthekingtostumble。Thepainwasgreat,andunconsciouslyheturnedandshookhisfoot,sothatthesandalsgaveway,andinamomentthepreciousshoewasintheriver。
Ithadalloccurredsoquicklythatnobodyhadnoticedthelossoftheslipper,noteventheprincess,whomtheking'scriesspeedilybroughttohisside。
'Whatisthematter,dearfather？'askedshe。Butthekingcouldnottellher;andonlymanagedtogaspout:'Myshoe！myshoe！'Whilethesailorsstoodroundstaring,thinkingthathismajestyhadsuddenlygonemad。
Seeingherfather'seyesfixedonthestream,Diamantinalookedhastilyinthatdirection。There,dancingonthecurrent,wasthepointofsomethingwhite,whichbecamemoreandmoredistantthelongertheywatchedit。Thekingcouldbearthesightnomore,and,besides,nowthatthehealingointmentintheshoehadbeenremovedthepaininhisfootwasasbadasever;hegaveasuddencry,staggered,andfelloverthebulwarksintothewater。
Inaninstanttheriverwascoveredwithbobbingheadsallswimmingtheirfastesttowardstheking,whohadbeencarriedfardownbytheswiftcurrent。Atlengthoneswimmer,strongerthantherest,seizedholdofhistunic,anddrewhimtothebank,whereathousandeagerhandswerereadytohaulhimout。Hewascarried,unconscious,tothesideofhisdaughter,whohadfaintedwithterroronseeingherfatherdisappearbelowthesurface,andtogethertheywereplaceinacoachanddriventothepalace,wherethebestdoctorsinthecitywereawaitingtheirarrival。
Inafewhourstheprincesswasaswellasever;butthepain,thewetting,andtheshockoftheaccident,alltoldseverelyontheking,andforthreedayshelayinahighfever。Meanwhile,hisdaughter,herselfnearlymadwithgrief,gaveordersthatthewhiteslippershouldbesoughtforfarandwide;andsoitwas,buteventhecleverestdiverscouldfindnotraceofitatthebottomoftheriver。
Whenitbecameclearthattheslippermusthavebeencarriedouttoseabythecurrent,Diamantinaturnedherthoughtselsewhere,andsentmessengersinsearchofthedoctorwhohadbroughtrelieftoherfather,begginghimtomakeanotherslipperasfastaspossible,tosupplytheplaceoftheonewhichwaslost。Butthemessengersreturnedwiththesadnewsthatthedoctorhaddiedsomeweeksbefore,and,whatwasworse,hissecrethaddiedwithhim。
Inhisweaknessthisintelligencehadsuchaneffectonthekingthatthephysiciansfearedhewouldbecomeasillasbefore。Hecouldhardlybepersuadedtotouchfood,andallnightlonghelaymoaning,partlywithpain,andpartlyoverhisownfollyinnothavingbeggedthedoctortomakehimseveraldozensofwhiteslippers,sothatincaseofaccidentshemightalwayshaveonetoputon。However,by—and—byhesawthatitwasnouseweepingandwailing,andcommandedthattheyshouldsearchforhislosttreasuremorediligentlythanever。
Whatasighttheriverbankspresentedinthosedays！Itseemedasifallthepeopleinthecountryweregatheredonthem。Butthissecondsearchwasnomorefortunatethanthefirst,andatlastthekingissuedaproclamationthatwhoeverfoundthemissingslippershouldbemadeheirtothecrown,andshouldmarrytheprincess。
Nowmanydaughterswouldhaverebelledatbeingdisposedofinthemanner;anditmustbeadmittedthatDiamantina'sheartsankwhensheheardwhatthekinghaddone。Still,shelovedherfathersomuchthatshedesiredhiscomfortmorethananythingelseintheworld,soshesaidnothing,andonlybowedherhead。
Ofcoursetheresultoftheproclamationwasthattheriverbanksbecamemorecrowdedthanbefore;foralltheprincess'ssuitorsfromdistantlandsflockedtothespot,eachhopingthathemightbetheluckyfinder。Manytimesashiningstoneatthebottomofthestreamwastakenfortheslipperitself,andeveryeveningsawabandofdrippingdowncastmenreturninghomewards。Butoneyouthalwayslingeredlongerthantherest,andnightwouldstillseehimengagedinthesearch,thoughhisclothesstucktohisskinandhisteethchattered。
Oneday,whenthekingwaslyingonhisbedrackedwithpain,heheardthenoiseofascufflegoingoninhisantechamber,andrangagoldenbellthatstoodbyhissidetosummononeofhisservants。
'Sire,'answeredtheattendant,whenthekinginquiredwhatwasthematter,'thenoiseyouheardwascausedbyayoungmanfromthetown,whohashadtheimpudencetocomeheretoaskifhemaymeasureyourmajesty'sfoot,soastomakeyouanotherslipperinplaceofthelostone。'
'Andwhathaveyoudonetotheyouth？'saidtheking。
'Theservantspushedhimoutofthepalace,and,addedafewblowstoteachhimnottobeinsolent,'repliedtheman。
'Thentheydidveryill,'answeredtheking,withafrown。'Hecameherefromkindness,andtherewasnoreasontomaltreathim。'
'Oh,mylord,hehadtheaudacitytowishtotouchyourmajesty'ssacredperson——he,agood—for—nothingboy,amereshoemaker'sapprentice,perhaps！Andevenifhecouldmakeshoestoperfectiontheywouldbenousewithoutthesoothingbalsam。'
Thekingremainedsilentforafewmoments,thenhesaid:
'Nevermind。Goandfetchtheyouthandbringhimtome。Iwouldgladlytryanyremedythatmayrelievemypain。'
So,soonafterwards,theyouth,whohadnotgonefarfromthepalace,wascaughtandusheredintotheking'spresence。
Hewastallandhandsomeand,thoughheprofessedtomakeshoes,hismannersweregoodandmodest,andhebowedlowashebeggedthekingnotonlytoallowhimtotakethemeasureofhisfoot,butalsotosufferhimtoplaceahealingplasteroverthewound。