Sayfa 18 / 626

The youngest son fell to the bottom of the river's bed: luckily

it was nearly dry, but his bones were almost broken, and the bank

was so steep that he could find no way to get out. Then the old

fox came once more, and scolded him for not following his advice;

otherwise no evil would have befallen him: 'Yet,' said he, 'I

cannot leave you here, so lay hold of my tail and hold fast.'

Then he pulled him out of the river, and said to him, as he got

upon the bank, 'Your brothers have set watch to kill you, if they

find you in the kingdom.' So he dressed himself as a poor man,

and came secretly to the king's court, and was scarcely within

the doors when the horse began to eat, and the bird to sing, and

the princess left off weeping. Then he went to the king, and told

him all his brothers' roguery; and they were seized and punished,

and he had the princess given to him again; and after the king's

death he was heir to his kingdom.