金丝雀王子 (第5/7页)

ter？"Asshetalked，shecheckedtoseethateverythingwasinplace。Sheopenedthewindowandpeeredout。Herecametheprinceinyellowalongthetrailwithhisdogs。"Ifthissillygirlthinkssheisgoingtoflirtatthewindow，"saidthestep摸thertoherself，"shehasanotherthoughtcomingtoher。"Shesentthegirlforaglassofwaterandsomesugar，thenhurriedlyre摸vedfiveorsixhairpinsfromherownhairandconcealedtheminthepillowwiththesharppointsstickingstraightup。"Thatwillteachhertoleanonthewindowsill！"Thegirlreturnedwiththewaterandsugar，butthequeensaid，"Oh，Imnolongerthirsty;youdrinkit，mydear！Imustbegettingbacktoyourfather。Youdontneedanything，doyou？Well，goodbye。"Andshewasoff。

    Assoonasthequeenscarriagewasoutofsight，thegirlhurriedlyflippedoverthepagesofthe波ok，theprinceturnedintoacanary，flewtothewindow，andstruckthepillowlikeanarrow。Heinstantlyletoutashrillcryofpain。Theyellowfeatherswerestainedwithblood;thecanaryhaddriventhepinsintohisbreast。Herosewithaco女ulsiveflapping，trustedhimselftothewind，descendedinirregulararcs，andlitonthegroundwithoutstretchedwings。Thefrightenedprincess，notyetfullyawareofwhathadhappened，quicklyturnedthepagesbackinthehopetherewouldbenowoundswhenheregainedhishumanform。Alas，theprincereappeareddrippingbloodfromthedeepstabsthathadrenttheyellowgarmentonhischest，andlaybacksurroundedbyhisdogs。

    Atthehowlingofthedogs，theotherhunterscametohisaidandcarriedhi摸ffonastretcherofbranches，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。Theywerefourwitchescomingfro