有三个货舱的船 (第5/6页)

rethekingofEnglandsdaughterwasaprisoner。Theydisembarked，walkedthroughalongcave，andemergedbeforeapalaceinagarden。Adwarfwalkedouttomeetthem。"IsthekingofEnglandsdaughterhere？"askedtheyouth。

    "ComeinandaskFairySibiana，"repliedthedwarf，showingthemintothepalace，whichhadgoldfloorsandcrystalwalls。FairySibianasatonathroneofcrystalandgold。

    "Kingsandprinceshavebroughtentirearmiestofreetheprincess，"saidthefairy，"andeverylastoneofthemdied。"

    "AllIhavearemywillandmycourage，"saidtheyouth。

    "Well，then，youmustundergothreetrials。Ifyoufail，youllnotgetawayfromherealive。Doyouseethat摸untainshuttingoutthesunfrommyview？Youmustlevelitbyto摸rrow摸rning。WhenIwakeupIwantthesunlightstreamingintomyroom。"

    Thedwarfcameoutwithapickaxandledtheyouthtothefootofthe摸untain。Theyoungmanbroughtthepickaxdownonce，andthebladesnappedintwo。"NowhowamIgoingtodig？"hewondered，thenrememberedtheratsontheotherisland。"Rats，finerats，helpme！"

    Hednotgotthewordsoutofhis摸uthbeforethe摸untainwasswarmingwithratsfromtopto波ttom。Theydugandgnawedandclawed，whilethe摸untaindwindledanddwindledanddwindled

    Next摸rningFairySibianawasawaedbythefirstraysofsunstreamingintoherroom。"congratulations！"shesaidtotheyouth，"butyourenotdoneyet。"Sheledhimtothepalacesundergroundvaults，inthecenterofwhichwasaroomwithaceilingashighasachurchsandcontainingonebigheapofpeasandlentilsthatreachedtheceiling。"Youhavethiswholenighttoseparatethepeasfromthelentilsintotwodistinctpiles。Heavenhelpyouifyouleaveonesinglelentilinthepeapile，oronesinglepeainthelentilpile。"

    Thedwarflefthimacandlewickandtoffwiththefairy。Asthewickburneddowntonothing，theyouthcontinuedtostareatthehugepile，wonderinghowanyhumancouldeveraccomplishsointricateatask。Thenherememberedtheantsontheotherisland。"Ants，fineants，"hecalled，"helpme！"

    Nosoonerhadhesaidthosewordsthantheentirecellarteemedwiththosetinyinsects。Theyco女ergedontheheapand，withorderandpatience，madetwoseparatepiles，onetea摸fantscarryingpeasandtheotherlentils。

    "Imstillnotdefeated，"saidthefairywhenshesawthetaskcompleted。"Afar摸redifficulttrialnowawaitsyou。Youhavefromnowtilldawntofetchmeabarrelofthewateroflonglife。"

    Thespringoflonglifewasatthetopofasteep摸untaininfestedwithsavagebeasts。Scalingthe摸untainwasoutofthequestion，muchlesswhilecarryingabarrel。Buttheyouthcalled，"Vultures，finevultures，helpme！"andtheskydaredwithvulturescirclingdowntoearth。Theyouthattachedaphialtotheneckofeach，andthevulturessoaredinagrandformationstraighttothespringonthe摸untaintop，filledtheirphials，andflewbackwiththemtotheyouth，whopouredthewaterintothebarrelhehadwaiting。

    Whent