Pagina 4 di 626

As the clock struck twelve he heard a rustling noise in the air,

and a bird came flying that was of pure gold; and as it was

snapping at one of the apples with its beak, the gardener's son

jumped up and shot an arrow at it. But the arrow did the bird no

harm; only it dropped a golden feather from its tail, and then

flew away. The golden feather was brought to the king in the

morning, and all the council was called together. Everyone agreed

that it was worth more than all the wealth of the kingdom: but

the king said, 'One feather is of no use to me, I must have the

whole bird.'