But this time the Prince was not sleeping. He jumped out of his bed and
ran to the window, and there he saw the bird, and its feathers shone
like fire because they were of pure gold. Then he got his magic key and
looked through the ring of it, and whom should he see but his own
Princess sitting in the linden tree.
Then the Prince called to her, "What shall I do to set you free from
this enchantment?"
"Throw your knife over me," said the Princess.
No sooner said than done. The Prince threw his knife over her, and
there she stood in her own true shape. Then the Prince took her to the
King, and when the King saw how pretty she was, he skipped and danced
till his slippers flew about his ears.
The next morning the old King went to the false Princess, and said,
"What should be done to one who would do thus and so?"
[Illustration: The Old King Rejoices at His New Daughter-in-Law.]
To this the false Princess answered, as bold as brass, "Such a one
should be thrown into a pit full of toads and snakes."
"You have spoken for yourself," said the King; and he would have done
just so to her had not the true Princess begged for her so that she was
sent back again to tend the geese, for that was what she was fit for.
Then they had the grandest wedding that ever was seen in all of the
world. Everybody was asked, and there was enough for all to eat as much
as they chose, and to take a little something home to the children
beside.
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