to take the little sardine as a guide, and bring him the iron
casket. They soon returned with the box placed across their backs
and laid it down before him. Then the youth produced the key and
said ‘Key, open that box!' and the key opened it, and though they
were all crowding round, ready to catch it, the white dove within
flew away.

It was useless to go after it, and for a moment the young man's
heart sank. The next minute, however, he remembered that he had
still his feather, and drew it out crying, ‘Come to me, King of
the Birds!' and a rushing noise was heard, and the King of the
Birds perched on his shoulder, and asked what he could do to help
him. His brother-in-law told him the whole story, and when he had
finished the King of the Birds commanded all his subjects to
hasten to his presence. In an instant the air was dark with birds
of all sizes, and at the very last came the white dove,
apologising for being so late by saying that an old friend had
arrived at his nest, and he had been obliged to give him some
dinner. The King of the Birds ordered some of them to show the
young man the white dove's nest, and when they reached it, there
lay the egg which was to break the spell and set them all free.
When it was safely in his pocket, he told the boots to carry him
straight to the cavern where his youngest sister sat awaiting
him.

Now it was already far on into the third day, which the old man
had fixed for the wedding, and when the youth reached the cavern
with his cap on his head, he found the monster there, urging the
girl to keep her word and let the marriage take place at once. At
a sign from her brother she sat down and invited the old monster