lackhairyoueversaw.AsthestrangerwasalsoonhiswaytoEngland,theytraveledtogether.Theystoppedforthenightataninn,wheretheyouth,waryofhiscompanion,handedoverhispurseandtheletterforthekingtotheinnkeeperforsafekeeping.Duringthenightwhileeverybodywassleeping,thestrangerroseandwenttotheinnkeeperforthepurse,letter,andhorse.Inthemorningtheyoungmanfoundhimselfalone,penniless,onfoot,andwithnoletterfortheking.
"Yourservantcametomeinthenight,"explainedtheinnkeeper,"forallyourbelongings.Thenheleft"
Theyouthsetoutonfoot.Atabendintheroadhespiedhishorsetetheredtoatreeinafield.Hewasabouttountieit,whenfrombehindthetreerushedlastnightscompanionarmedwithapistol."Ifyourdontwanttodieonthespot,"hesaid,"youmustbecomemyservantandpretendImthekingofEnglandsgodson."Ashespoke,heremovedhisblackwig,revealingascalpcompletelycoveredwithmange.
Theysetout,themangyoneonhorseback,theyouthonfoot,andatlastreachedEngland.Withopenarmsthekingwelcomedthemangyone,takinghimforhisgodson,whiletherealgodsonwasassignedtothestablesasstableboy.Butthemangyonecouldntwaittogetridofhiscompanion,andtheopportunitysoonpresenteditself.Thekingonedaysaidtothefalsegodson,"Ifyoucouldfreemydaughterfromthespellthatholdsherprisoneronacertainisland,Idgivehertoyouinmarriage.Theonlydifficultyisthatnobodywhohasattemptedtofreeherhasevercomebackalive."Themangyonelostnotimeinreplying."Trysendingmyservant,whoissurelycapableofsettingherfree."
Thekingsummonedtheyouthatonceandasked,"Canyousetmydaughterfree?"
"Yourdaughter?Tellmewheresheis,Majesty!"
Thekingwouldonlysay,"Iwarnyouthatyoullloseyourheadifyoucomebacktomewithouther."
Theyouthwenttothepierandwatchedtheshipssailaway.Hehadnoideahowtoreachtheprincesssisland.Anoldsailorwithabearddowntohiskneesapproachedhimandsaid,"Askforashipwiththreedecks."
Theyouthwenttothekingandhadashipwiththreedecksrigged.Whenitwasinportandreadytoweighanchor,theoldsailorreappeared."Nowhaveonedeckloadedwithcheeserinds,anotherwithbreadcrumbs,andthethirdwithstinkingcarrion."
Theyouthhadthethreedecksloaded.
"Now,"saidtheol
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