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rods with him。 No onesaw him go in with her； and he heard all that was said。 The princessthis time was to think of a glove； and he told John as if he had againheard it in a dream。 The next day； therefore； he was able to guesscorrectly the second time； and it caused great rejoicing at thepalace。 The whole court jumped about as they had seen the king dothe day before； but the princess lay on the sofa； and would not saya single word。 All now depended upon John。 If he only guessedrightly the third time； he would marry the princess； and reign overthe kingdom after the death of the old king： but if he failed； hewould lose his life； and the magician would have his beautiful blueeyes。 That evening John said his prayers and went to bed very early；and soon fell asleep calmly。 But his panion tied on his wings tohis shoulders； took three rods； and； with his sword at his side；flew to the palace。 It was a very dark night； and so stormy that thetiles flew from the roofs of the houses； and the trees in the gardenupon which the skeletons hung bent themselves like reeds before thewind。 The lightning flashed； and the thunder rolled in onelong…continued peal all night。 The window of the castle opened； andthe princess flew out。 She was pale as death； but she laughed at thestorm as if it were not bad enough。 Her white mantle fluttered inthe wind like a large sail； and the traveller flogged her with thethree rods till the blood trickled down； and at last she couldscarcely fly； she contrived； however； to reach the mountain。 〃What ahail…storm！〃 she said； as she entered； 〃I have never been out insuch weather as this。〃
〃Yes； there may be too much of a good thing sometimes；〃 said themagician。
Then the princess told him that John had guessed rightly thesecond time； and if he succeeded the next morning； he would win； andshe could never e to the mountain again； or practice magic as shehad done； and therefore she was quite unhappy。 〃I will find outsomething for you to think of which he will never guess； unless heis a greater conjuror than myself。 But now let us be merry。〃
Then he took the princess by both hands； and they danced withall the little goblins and Jack…o'…lanterns in the room。 The redspiders sprang here and there on the walls quite as merrily； and theflowers of fire appeared as if they were throwing out sparks。 Theowl beat the drum； the crickets whistled and the grasshoppers playedthe mouth…organ。 It was a very ridiculous ball。 After they haddanced enough； the princess was obliged to go home； for fear sheshould be missed at the palace。 The magician offered to go with her；that they might be pany to each other on the way。 Then they flewaway through the bad weather； and the traveller followed them； andbroke his three rods across their shoulders。 The magician had neverbeen out in such a hail…storm as this。 Just by the palace the magicianstopped to wish the princess farewell； and to whisper in her ear；〃To…morrow think of my head。〃
But the traveller heard it； and just as the princess slippedthrough the window into her bedroom； and the magician turned roundto fly back to the mountain； he seized him by the long black beard；and with his sabre cut off the wicked conjuror's head just behindthe shoulders； so that he could not even see who it was。 He threwthe body into the sea to the fishes； and after dipping the head intothe water； he tied it up in a silk handkerchief； took it with him tothe inn； and then went to bed。 The next morning he gave John thehandkerchief； and told him not to untie it till the princess asked himwhat she was thinking of。 There were so many people in the greathall of the palace that they stood as thick as radishes tiedtogether in a bundle。 The council sat in their arm…chairs with thewhite cushions。 The old king wore new robes； and the golden crownand sceptre had been polished up so that he looked quite smart。 Butthe princess was very pale； and wore a black dress as if she weregoing to a funeral。
〃What have I thought of？〃 asked the princess； of John。 Heimmediately untied the handkerchief； and was himself quitefrightened when he saw the head of the ugly magician。 Every oneshuddered； for it was terrible to look at； but the princess sat like astatue； and could not utter a single word。 At length she rose and gaveJohn her hand； for he had guessed rightly。
She looked at no one； but sighed deeply； and said； 〃You are mymaster now； this evening our marriage must take place。〃
〃I am very pleased to hear it；〃 said the old king。 〃It is justwhat I wish。〃
Then all the people shouted 〃Hurrah。〃 The band played music in thestreets； the bells rang； and the cake…women took the black crape offthe sugar…sticks。 There was universal joy。 Three oxen； stuffed withducks and chickens； were roasted whole in the market…place； whereevery one might help himself to a slice。 The fountains spouted forththe most delicious wine； and whoever bought a penny loaf at thebaker's received six large buns； full of raisins； as a present。 In theevening the whole town was illuminated。 The soldiers fired offcannons； and the boys let off crackers。 There was eating and drinking；dancing and jumping everywhere。 In the palace； the high…born gentlemenand beautiful ladies danced with each other； and they could be heardat a great distance singing the following song：…
〃Here are maidens； young and fair；
Dancing in the summer air；
Like two spinning…wheels at play；
Pretty maidens dance away…
Dance the spring and summer through
Till the sole falls from your shoe。〃
But the princess was still a witch； and she could not love John。His fellow…traveller had thought of that； so he gave John threefeathers out of the swan's wings； and a little bottle with a few dropsin it。 He told him to place a large bath full of water by theprincess's bed； and put the feathers and the drops into it。 Then； atthe moment she was about to get into bed； he must give her a littlepush； so that she might fall into the water； and then dip her threetimes。 This would destroy the power of the magician； and she wouldlove him very much。 John did all that his panion told him to do。The princess shrieked aloud when he dipped her under the water thefirst time； and struggled under his hands in the form of a great blackswan with fiery eyes。 As she rose the second time from the water；the swan had bee white； with a black ring round its neck。 Johnallowed the water to close once more over the bird； and at the sametime it changed into a most beautiful princess。 She was more lovelyeven than before； and thanked him； while her eyes sparkled with tears；for having broken the spell of the magician。 The next day； the kingcame with the whole court to offer their congratulations； and stayedtill quite late。 Last of all came the travelling panion； he had hisstaff in his hand and his knapsack on his back。 John kissed him manytimes and told him he must not go； he must remain with him； for he wasthe cause of all his good fortune。 But the traveller shook his head；and said gently and kindly； 〃No： my time is up now； I have only paidmy debt to you。 Do you remember the dead man whom the bad peoplewished to throw out of his coffin？ You gave all you possessed thathe might rest in his grave； I am that man。〃 As he said this； hevanished。
The wedding festivities lasted a whole month。 John and hisprincess loved each other dearly； and the old king lived to see many ahappy day； when he took their little children on his knees and letthem play with his sceptre。 And John became king over the wholecountry。
THE END。
1872
FAIRY TALES OF HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN
THE UGLY DUCKLING
by Hans Christian Andersen
IT was lovely summer weather in the country； and the goldencorn； the green oats； and the haystacks piled up in the meadows lookedbeautiful。 The stork walking about on his long red legs chattered inthe Egyptian language； which he had learnt from his mother。 Thecorn…fields and meadows were surrounded by large forests； in the midstof which were deep pools。 It was； indeed； delightful to walk aboutin the country。 In a sunny spot stood a pleasant old farm…houseclose by a deep river； and from the house down to the water sidegrew great burdock leaves； so high； that under the tallest of them alittle child