Strona 36 z 626

In the morning when he awoke, he began to search over hill and

dale for this pretty flower; and eight long days he sought for it

in vain: but on the ninth day, early in the morning, he found the

beautiful purple flower; and in the middle of it was a large

dewdrop, as big as a costly pearl. Then he plucked the flower,

and set out and travelled day and night, till he came again to

the castle.

He walked nearer than a hundred paces to it, and yet he did not

become fixed as before, but found that he could go quite close up

to the door. Jorindel was very glad indeed to see this. Then he

touched the door with the flower, and it sprang open; so that he

went in through the court, and listened when he heard so many

birds singing. At last he came to the chamber where the fairy

sat, with the seven hundred birds singing in the seven hundred

cages. When she saw Jorindel she was very angry, and screamed

with rage; but she could not come within two yards of him, for

the flower he held in his hand was his safeguard. He looked

around at the birds, but alas! there were many, many

nightingales, and how then should he find out which was his

Jorinda? While he was thinking what to do, he saw the fairy had

taken down one of the cages, and was making the best of her way

off through the door.