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threw herself at Miranda's feet
〃Madam；〃 she said； 〃I offer you my life； let me be
killed； I shall be only too happy to die for such a kind
mistress。〃
〃Why； Patypata；〃 cried the Princess； kissing her；
〃that would never do； your life is as precious to me as
my own； especially after such a proof of your affection
as you have just given me。〃
〃You are right； Princess；〃 said Grabugeon； coming
forward； 〃to love such a faithful slave as Patypata； she
is of more use to you than I am； I offer you my tongue
and my heart most willingly； especially as I wish to
make a great name for myself in Goblin Land。〃
〃No； no； my little Grabugeon；〃 replied Miranda； 〃I
cannot bear the thought of taking your life。〃
〃Such a good little dog as I am；〃 cried Tintin； acould
not think of letting either of you die for his mistress。 If
anyone is to die for her it must be me。〃
And then began a great dispute between Patypata；
Grabugeon； and Tintin； and they came to high words；
until at last Grabugeon； who was quicker than the
others； ran up to the very top of the nearest tree； and
let herself fall； head first； to the ground； and there she
layquite dead！
The Princess was very sorry； but as Grabugeon was
really dead； she allowed the Captain of the Guard to
take her tongue； but； alas！ it was such a little onenot
bigger than the Princess's thumbthat they decided
sorrowfully that it was of no use at all： the King would
not have been taken in by it for a moment！
〃Alas！ my little monkey；〃 cried the Princess； 〃I have
lost you； and yet I am no better off than I was before。〃
〃The honor of saving your life is to be mine；〃
interrupted Patypata； and； before they could prevent her；
she had picked up a knife and cut her head off in an instant。
But when the Captain of the Guard would have taken
her tongue it turned out to be quite black； so that would
not have deceived the King either。
〃Am I not unlucky？〃 cried the poor Princess； 〃I lose
everything I love； and am none the better for it。〃
〃If you had accepted my offer；〃 said Tintin； 〃you
would only have had me to regret； and I should have had
all your gratitude。〃
Miranda kissed her little dog； crying so bitterly； that
at last she could bear it no longer； and turned away into
the forest。 When she looked back the Captain of the
Guard was gone； and she was alone； except for Patypata；
Grabugeon； and Tintin； who lay upon the ground。 She
could not leave the place until she had buried them in a
pretty little mossy grave at the foot of a tree； and she
wrote their names upon the bark of the tree； and how
they had all died to save her life。 And then she began
to think where she could go for safetyfor this forest
was so close to her father's castle that she might be seen
and recognized by the first passer…by； and； besides that；
it was full of lions and wolves； who would have snapped
up a princess just as soon as a stray chicken。 So she
began to walk as fast as she could； but the forest was so
large and the sun was so hot that she nearly died of heat
and terror and fatigue； look which way she would there
seemed to be no end to the forest； and she was so frightened
that she fancied every minute that she heard the
King running after her to kill her。 You may imagine
how miserable she was； and how she cried as she went
on； not knowing which path to follow； and with the
thorny bushes scratching her dreadfully and tearing her
pretty frock to pieces。
At last she heard the bleating of a sheep； and said to
herself：
〃No doubt there are shepherds here with their flocks；
they will show me the way to some village where I can
live disguised as a peasant girl。 Alas！ it is not always
kings and princes who are the happiest people in the
world。 Who could have believed that I should ever be
obliged to run away and hide because the King； for no
reason at all； wishes to kill me？〃
So saying she advanced toward the place where she
heard the bleating； but what was her surprise when； in a
lovely little glade quite surrounded by trees； she saw a
large sheep； its wool was as white as snow； and its horns
shone like gold； it had a garland of flowers round its
neck； and strings of great pearls about its legs； and a
collar of diamonds； it lay upon a bank of orange…flowers；
under a canopy of cloth of gold which protected it from
the heat of the sun。 Nearly a hundred other sheep were
scattered about； not eating the grass； but some drinking
coffee； lemonade； or sherbet； others eating ices；
strawberries and cream； or sweetmeats； while others； again；
were playing games。 Many of them wore golden collars
with jewels； flowers； and ribbons。
Miranda stopped short in amazement at this unexpected
sight； and was looking in all directions for the
shepherd of this surprising flock； when the beautiful
sheep came bounding toward her。
〃Approach； lovely Princess；〃 he cried； 〃have no fear
of such gentle and peaceable animals as we are。〃
〃What a marvel！〃 cried the Princess； starting back a
little。 〃Here is a sheep that can talk。〃
〃Your monkey and your dog could talk； madam；〃 said
he； 〃are you more astonished at us than at them？〃
〃A fairy gave them the power to speak；〃 replied
Miranda。 〃So I was used to them。〃
〃Perhaps the same thing has happened to us；〃 he said；
smiling sheepishly。 〃But； Princess； what can have led
you here？〃
〃A thousand misfortunes； Sir Sheep；〃 she answered。
〃I am the unhappiest princess in the world； and I am
seeking a shelter against my father's anger。〃
〃Come with me； madam；〃 said the Sheep； 〃I offer you
a hiding…place which you only will know of； and where
you will be mistress of everything you see。〃
〃I really cannot follow you；〃 said Miranda； 〃for I am
too tired to walk another step。〃
The Sheep with the golden horns ordered that his
chariot should be fetched； and a moment after appeared
six goats； harnessed to a pumpkin； which was so big that
two people could quite well sit in it； and was all lined
with cushions of velvet and down。 The Princess stepped
into it； much amused at such a new kind of carriage； the
King of the Sheep took his place beside her； and the
goats ran away with them at full speed； and only stopped
when they reached a cavern； the entrance to which was
blocked by a great stone。 This the King touched with
his foot； and immediately it fell down； and he invited
the Princess to enter without fear。 Now； if she had not
been so alarmed by everything that had happened； nothing
could have induced her to go into this frightful cave；
but she was so afraid of what might be behind her that
she would have thrown herself even down a well at this
moment。 So； without hesitation； she followed the Sheep；
who went before her； down； down； down； until she
thought they must come out at the other side of the
worldindeed； she was not sure that he wasn't leading
her into Fairyland。 A