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s sailed by rapidly； and steered as far away asthey could from the iceberg； as if they were afraid of it。 Towardsevening； as the sun went down； dark clouds covered the sky； thethunder rolled and the lightning flashed； and the red light glowedon the icebergs as they rocked and tossed on the heaving sea。 On allthe ships the sails were reefed with fear and trembling； while she satcalmly on the floating iceberg； watching the blue lightning； as itdarted its forked flashes into the sea。
When first the sisters had permission to rise to the surface； theywere each delighted with the new and beautiful sights they saw； butnow； as grown…up girls； they could go when they pleased； and theyhad bee indifferent about it。 They wished themselves back againin the water； and after a month had passed they said it was muchmore beautiful down below； and pleasanter to be at home。 Yet often； inthe evening hours； the five sisters would twine their arms roundeach other； and rise to the surface； in a row。 They had more beautifulvoices than any human being could have； and before the approach of astorm； and when they expected a ship would be lost； they swam beforethe vessel； and sang sweetly of the delights to be found in the depthsof the sea； and begging the sailors not to fear if they sank to thebottom。 But the sailors could not understand the song； they took itfor the howling of the storm。 And these things were never to bebeautiful for them； for if the ship sank； the men were drowned； andtheir dead bodies alone reached the palace of the Sea King。
When the sisters rose； arm…in…arm； through the water in thisway； their youngest sister would stand quite alone； looking afterthem； ready to cry； only that the mermaids have no tears； andtherefore they suffer more。 〃Oh； were I but fifteen years old；〃 saidshe： 〃I know that I shall love the world up there； and all thepeople who live in it。〃
At last she reached her fifteenth year。 〃Well； now； you aregrown up；〃 said the old dowager； her grandmother； 〃so you must letme adorn you like your other sisters；〃 and she placed a wreath ofwhite lilies in her hair； and every flower leaf was half a pearl。 Thenthe old lady ordered eight great oysters to attach themselves to thetail of the princess to show her high rank。
〃But they hurt me so；〃 said the little mermaid。
〃Pride must suffer pain；〃 replied the old lady。 Oh； how gladly shewould have shaken off all this grandeur； and laid aside the heavywreath！ The red flowers in her own garden would have suited her muchbetter； but she could not help herself： so she said； 〃Farewell；〃 androse as lightly as a bubble to the surface of the water。 The sun hadjust set as she raised her head above the waves； but the clouds weretinted with crimson and gold； and through the glimmering twilightbeamed the evening star in all its beauty。 The sea was calm； and theair mild and fresh。 A large ship； with three masts； lay becalmed onthe water； with only one sail set； for not a breeze stiffed； and thesailors sat idle on deck or amongst the rigging。 There was music andsong on board； and； as darkness came on； a hundred colored lanternswere lighted； as if the flags of all nations waved in the air。 Thelittle mermaid swam close to the cabin windows； and now and then； asthe waves lifted her up； she could look in through clear glasswindow…panes； and see a number of well…dressed people within。 Amongthem was a young prince； the most beautiful of all； with large blackeyes； he was sixteen years of age； and his birthday was being keptwith much rejoicing。 The sailors were dancing on deck； but when theprince came out of the cabin； more than a hundred rockets rose inthe air； making it as bright as day。 The little mermaid was sostartled that she dived under water； and when she again stretchedout her head； it appeared as if all the stars of heaven were fallingaround her； she had never seen such fireworks before。 Great sunsspurted fire about； splendid fireflies flew into the blue air； andeverything was reflected in the clear； calm sea beneath。 The shipitself was so brightly illuminated that all the people； and even thesmallest rope； could be distinctly and plainly seen。 And howhandsome the young prince looked； as he pressed the hands of allpresent and smiled at them； while the music resounded through theclear night air。
It was very late； yet the little mermaid could not take her eyesfrom the ship； or from the beautiful prince。 The colored lanternshad been extinguished； no more rockets rose in the air； and the cannonhad ceased firing； but the sea became restless； and a moaning；grumbling sound could be heard beneath the waves： still the littlemermaid remained by the cabin window； rocking up and down on thewater； which enabled her to look in。 After a while； the sails werequickly unfurled； and the noble ship continued her passage； but soonthe waves rose higher； heavy clouds darkened the sky； and lightningappeared in the distance。 A dreadful storm was approaching； oncemore the sails were reefed； and the great ship pursued her flyingcourse over the raging sea。 The waves rose mountains high； as ifthey would have overtopped the mast； but the ship dived like a swanbetween them； and then rose again on their lofty； foaming crests。 Tothe little mermaid this appeared pleasant sport； not so to thesailors。 At length the ship groaned and creaked； the thick planks gaveway under the lashing of the sea as it broke over the deck； themainmast snapped asunder like a reed； the ship lay over on her side；and the water rushed in。 The little mermaid now perceived that thecrew were in danger； even she herself was obliged to be careful toavoid the beams and planks of the wreck which lay scattered on thewater。 At one moment it was so pitch dark that she could not see asingle object； but a flash of lightning revealed the whole scene；she could see every one who had been on board excepting the prince；when the ship parted； she had seen him sink into the deep waves； andshe was glad； for she thought he would now be with her； and then sheremembered that human beings could not live in the water； so that whenhe got down to her father's palace he would be quite dead。 But he mustnot die。 So she swam about among the beams and planks which strewedthe surface of the sea； forgetting that they could crush her topieces。 Then she dived deeply under the dark waters； rising andfalling with the waves； till at length she managed to reach theyoung prince； who was fast losing the power of swimming in that stormysea。 His limbs were failing him； his beautiful eyes were closed； andhe would have died had not the little mermaid e to hisassistance。 She held his head above the water； and let the waves driftthem where they would。
In the morning the storm had ceased； but of the ship not asingle fragment could be seen。 The sun rose up red and glowing fromthe water； and its beams brought back the hue of health to theprince's cheeks； but his eyes remained closed。 The mermaid kissedhis high； smooth forehead； and stroked back his wet hair； he seemed toher like the marble statue in her little garden； and she kissed himagain； and wished that he might live。 Presently they came in sightof land； she saw lofty blue mountains； on which the white snowrested as if a flock of swans were lying upon them。 Near the coastwere beautiful green forests； and close by stood a large building；whether a church or a convent she could not tell。 Orange and citrontrees grew in the garden； and before the door stood lofty palms。 Thesea here formed a little bay； in which the water was quite still；but very deep； so she swam with the handsome prince to the beach；which was covered with fine； white sand； and there she laid him in thewarm sunshine； taking care to raise his head higher than his body。Then bells sounded in the large white building； and a number ofyoung girls came into the garden。 The little mermaid swam outfarther from the shore and placed herself between some high rocks thatrose out of the water； then she covered her head and neck with thefoam of the sea so that her little face might not be seen； and watchedto see what would bee of the poor prince。 She did not wait longbefore she saw a young girl approach the spot where he lay。 She seemedfrightened at first； but only for a moment； then she fetch