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Then Trusty John was quite delighted； and brought
her to the ship； and the King； when he beheld her； saw
that she was even more beautiful than her picture； and
thought every moment that his heart would burst。 She
stepped on to the ship； and the King led her inside。 But
Trusty John remained behind with the steersman； and
ordered the ship to push off。 〃Spread all sail； that we
may fly on the ocean like a bird in the air。〃 Meanwhile
the King showed the Princess inside all his gold wares；
every single bit of itdishes； goblets； bowls； the birds
and game； and all the wonderful beasts。 Many hours
passed thus； and she was so happy that she did not
notice that the ship was sailing away。 After she had
seen the last thing she thanked the merchant and
prepared to go home； but when she came to the ship's side
she saw that they were on the high seas； far from land；
and that the ship was speeding on its way under full
canvas。 〃Oh！〃 she cried in terror； 〃I am deceived；
carried away and betrayed into the power of a merchant；
I would rather have died！〃 But the King seized her
hand and spake： 〃I am no merchant； but a king of as
high birth as yourself； and it was my great love for you
that made me carry you off by stratagem。 The first
time I saw your likeness I fell to the ground in a swoon。〃
When the Princess of the Golden Roof heard this she
was comforted； and her heart went out to him； so that
she willingly consented to become his wife。
Now it happened one day； while they were sailing on
the high seas； that Trusty John； sitting on the forepart
of the ship； fiddling away to himself； observed three
ravens in the air flying toward him。 He ceased playing；
and listened to what they were saying； for he understood
their language。 The one croaked： 〃Ah； ha！ so he's
bringing the Princess of the Golden Roof home。〃 〃Yes；〃
answered the second； 〃but he's not got her yet。〃 〃Yes；
he has；〃 spake the third； 〃for she's sitting beside him
on the ship。〃 Then number one began again and cried：
〃That'll not help him！ When they reach the land a
chestnut horse will dash forward to greet them： the King
will wish to mount it； and if he does it will gallop away
with him； and disappear into the air； and he will never
see his bride again。〃 〃Is there no escape for him？〃 asked
number two。 〃Oh！ yes； if someone else mounts quickly
and shoots the horse dead with the pistol that is sticking
in the holster； then the young King is saved。 But who's
to do that？ And anyone who knows it and tells him will
be turned into stone from his feet to his knees。〃 Then
spake number two： 〃I know more than that： even if the
horse is slain； the young King will still not keep his
bride： when they enter the palace together they will
find a ready…made wedding shirt in a cupboard； which
looks as though it were woven of gold and silver； but is
really made of nothing but sulphur and tar： when the
King puts it on it will burn him to his marrow and bones。〃
Number three asked： 〃Is there no way of escape； then？〃
〃Oh！ yes；〃 answered number two： 〃If someone seizes
the shirt with gloved hands and throws it into the fire；
and lets it burn； then the young King is saved。 But
what's the good？ Anyone knowing this and telling it will
have half his body turned into stone； from his knees
to his heart。〃 Then number three spake： 〃I know yet
more： though the bridal shirt too be burnt； the King
hasn't even then secured his bride： when the dance is
held after the wedding； and the young Queen is dancing；
she will suddenly grow deadly white； and drop down like
one dead； and unless some one lifts her up and draws three
drops of blood from her right side； and spits them out
again； she will die。 But if anyone who knows this
betrays it； he will be turned into stone from the crown of
his head to the soles of his feet。〃 When the ravens had
thus conversed they fled onward； but Trusty John had
taken it all in； and was sad and depressed from that time
forward； for if he were silent to his master concerning
what he had heard； he would involve him in misfortune；
but if he took him into his confidence； then he himself
would forfeit his life。 At last he said： 〃I will stand by
my master； though it should be my ruin。〃
Now when they drew near the land it came to pass
just as the ravens had predicted； and a splendid chestnut
horse bounded forward。 〃Capital！〃 said the King； 〃this
animal shall carry me to my palace；〃 and was about to
mount； but Trusty John was too sharp for him； and；
springing up quickly； seized the pistol out of the holster
and shot the horse dead。 Then the other servants of
the King； who at no time looked favorably on Trusty
John； cried out： 〃What a sin to kill the beautiful beast
that was to bear the King to his palace！〃 But the King
spake： 〃Silence！ let him alone； he is ever my most trusty
John。 Who knows for what good end he may have done
this thing？〃 So they went on their way and entered the
palace； and there in the hall stood a cupboard in which
lay the ready…made bridal shirt； looking for all the world
as though it were made of gold and silver。 The young
King went toward it and was about to take hold of it；
but Trusty John； pushing him aside； seized it with his
gloved hands； threw it hastily into the fire； and let it
burn The other servants commenced grumbling again；
and said： 〃See； he's actually burning the King's bridal
shirt。〃 But the young King spoke： 〃Who knows for
what good purpose he does it？ Let him alone； he is my
most trusty John。〃 Then the wedding was celebrated；
the dance began； and the bride joined in； but Trusty John
watched her countenance carefully。 Of a sudden she
grew deadly white； and fell to the ground as if she were
dead。 He at once sprang hastily toward her； lifted her
up； and bore her to a room； where he laid her down； and
kneeling beside her he drew three drops of blood from her
right side； and spat them out。 She soon breathed again
and came to herself； but the young King had watched
the proceeding； and not knowing why Trusty John had
acted as he did； he flew into a passion； and cried： 〃Throw
him into prison。〃 On the following morning sentence
was passed on Trusty John； and he was condemned to
be hanged。 As he stood on the gallows he said： 〃Every
one doomed to death has the right to speak once before he
dies； and I too have that privilege？〃 〃Yes；〃 said the
King； 〃it shall be granted to you。〃 So Trusty John
spoke： 〃I am unjustly condemned； for I have always
been faithful to you〃； and he proceeded to relate how he
had heard the ravens' conversation on the sea； and how he
had to do all he did in order to save his master。 Then
the King cried： 〃Oh！ my most trusty John； pardon！
pardon！ Take him down。〃 But as he uttered the last
word Trusty John had fallen lifeless to the ground； and
was a stone。
The King and Queen were in despair； and the King
spake： 〃Ah！ how ill have I rewarded such great fidelity！〃
and made them