umanform.Alas,theprincereappeareddrippingbloodfromthedeepstabsthathadrenttheyellowgarmentonhischest,andlaybacksurroundedbyhisdogs.
Atthehowlingofthedogs,theotherhunterscametohisaidandcarriedhimoffonastretcherofbranches,buthedidntsomuchasglanceupatthewindowofhisbeloved,whowasstilloverwhelmedwithgriefandfright.
Backathispalace,theprinceshowednopromiseofrecovery,nordidthedoctorsknowwhattodoforhim.Thewoundsrefusedtohealover,andconstantlyhurt.Hisfatherthekingpostedproclamationsoneverystreetcornerpromisingafortunetoanyonewhocouldcurehim,butnotasoulturneduptotry.
Theprincessmeanwhilewasconsumedwithlongingforherlover.Shecuthersheetsintothinstripswhichshetiedonetotheotherinalong,longrope.Thenonenightsheletherselfdownfromthehightowerandsetoutonthehunterstrail.Butbecauseofthethickdarknessandthehowlsofthewolves,shedecidedtowaitfordaylight.Findinganoldoakwithahollowtrunk,shenestledinsideand,inherexhaustion,fellasleepatonce.Shewokeupwhileitwasstillpitch-dark,undertheimpressionshehadheardawhistle.Listeningclosely,sheheardanotherwhistle,thenathirdandafourth,afterwhichshesawfourcandleflamesadvancing.Theywerefourwitchescomingfromthefourcornersoftheearthtotheirappointedmeetingunderthattree.Throughacrackinthetrunktheprincess,unseenbythem,spiedonthefourcronescarryingcandlesandsneeringawelcometooneanother:"Ah,ah,ah!"
Theylitabonfireunderthetreeandsatdowntowarmthemselvesandroastacoupleofbatsfordinner.Whentheyhadeatentheirfill,theybeganaskingoneanotherwhattheyhadseenofinterestoutintheworld.
"IsawthesultanofTurkey,whoboughthimselftwentynewwives."
"IsawtheemperorofChina,whohaslethispigtailgrowthreeyardslong."
"Isawthekingofthecannibals,whoatehischamberlainbymistake."
"Isawthekingofthisregion,whohasthesicksonnobodycancure,sinceIaloneknowtheremedy."
"Andwhatisit?"askedtheotherwitches.
"Inthefloorofhisroomisaloosetile.Alloneneedtodoisliftthetile,andthereunderneathisaphialcontaininganointmentthatwouldhealeveryoneofhiswounds."
Itwasalltheprincessinsidethetreecoulddonottoscreamforjoy.Bythistimethe
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