ichhadgoldfloorsandcrystalwalls.FairySibianasatonathroneofcrystalandgold.
"Kingsandprinceshavebroughtentirearmiestofreetheprincess,"saidthefairy,"andeverylastoneofthemdied."
"AllIhavearemywillandmycourage,"saidtheyouth.
"Well,then,youmustundergothreetrials.Ifyoufail,youllnotgetawayfromherealive.Doyouseethatmountainshuttingoutthesunfrommyview?Youmustlevelitbytomorrowmorning.WhenIwakeupIwantthesunlightstreamingintomyroom."
Thedwarfcameoutwithapickaxandledtheyouthtothefootofthemountain.Theyoungmanbroughtthepickaxdownonce,andthebladesnappedintwo."NowhowamIgoingtodig?"hewondered,thenrememberedtheratsontheotherisland."Rats,finerats,helpme!"
Hednotgotthewordsoutofhismouthbeforethemountainwasswarmingwithratsfromtoptobottom.Theydugandgnawedandclawed,whilethemountaindwindledanddwindledanddwindled
NextmorningFairySibianawasawakenedbythefirstraysofsunstreamingintoherroom."congratulations!"shesaidtotheyouth,"butyourenotdoneyet."Sheledhimtothepalacesundergroundvaults,inthecenterofwhichwasaroomwithaceilingashighasachurchsandcontainingonebigheapofpeasandlentilsthatreachedtheceiling."Youhavethiswholenighttoseparatethepeasfromthelentilsintotwodistinctpiles.Heavenhelpyouifyouleaveonesinglelentilinthepeapile,oronesinglepeainthelentilpile."
Thedwarflefthimacandlewickandwentoffwiththefairy.Asthewickburneddowntonothing,theyouthcontinuedtostareatthehugepile,wonderinghowanyhumancouldeveraccomplishsointricateatask.Thenherememberedtheantsontheotherisland."Ants,fineants,"hecalled,"helpme!"
Nosoonerhadhesaidthosewordsthantheentirecellarteemedwiththosetinyinsects.Theyconvergedontheheapand,withorderandpatience,madetwoseparatepiles,oneteamofantscarryingpeasandtheotherlentils.
"Imstillnotdefeated,"saidthefairywhenshesawthetaskcompleted."Afarmoredifficulttrialnowawaitsyou.Youhavefromnowtilldawntofetchmeabarrelofthewateroflonglife."
Thespringoflonglifewasatthetopofasteepmountaininfestedwithsavagebeasts.Scalingthemountainwasoutofthequestion,muchlesswhilecarryingabarrel.Buttheyouthcalled,"Vultures,fine
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