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。