Hemetathirdtraveler,whoseeyes,likehislegs,bespokeperfecthealth.Asforanyscalpdisease,thismanhadthethickestandcleanestheadofblackhairyoueversaw.AsthestrangerwasalsoonhiswaytoEngland,theytraveledtogether.Theystoppedforthenightataninn,wheretheyouth,waryofhiscompanion,handedoverhispurseandtheletterforthekingtotheinnkeeperforsafekeeping.Duringthenightwhileeverybodywassleeping,thestrangerroseandwenttotheinnkeeperforthepurse,letter,andhorse.Inthemorningtheyoungmanfoundhimselfalone,penniless,onfoot,andwithnoletterfortheking.
"Yourservantcametomeinthenight,"explainedtheinnkeeper,"forallyourbelongings.Thenheleft"
Theyouthsetoutonfoot.Atabendintheroadhespiedhishorsetetheredtoatreeinafield.Hewasabouttountieit,whenfrombehindthetreerushedlastnightscompanionarmedwithapistol."Ifyourdontwanttodieonthespot,"hesaid,"youmustbecomemyservantandpretendImthekingofEnglandsgodson."Ashespoke,heremovedhisblackwig,revealingascalpcompletelycoveredwithmange.
Theysetout,themangyoneonhorseback,theyouthonfoot,andatlastreachedEngland.Withopenarmsthekingwelcomedthemangyone,takinghimforhisgodson,whiletherealgodsonwasassignedtothestablesasstableboy.Butthemangyonecouldntwaittogetridofhiscompanion,andtheopportunitysoonpresenteditself.Thekingonedaysaidtothefalsegodson,"Ifyoucouldfreemydaughterfromthespellthatholdsherprisoneronacertainisland,Idgivehertoyouinmarriage.Theonlydifficultyisthatnobodywhohasattemptedtofreeherhasevercomebackalive."Themangyonelostnotimeinreplying."Trysendingmyservant,whoissurelycapableofsettingherfree."
Thekingsummonedtheyouthatonceandasked,"Canyousetmydaughterfree?"
"Yourdaughter?Tellmewheresheis,Majesty!"
Thekingwouldonlysay,"Iwarnyouthatyoullloseyourheadifyoucomebacktomewithouther."
Theyouthwenttothepierandwatchedtheshipssailaway.Hehadnoideahowtoreachtheprincesssisland.Anoldsailorwithabearddowntohiskneesapproachedhimandsaid,"Askforashipwiththreedecks."
Theyouthwenttothekingandhadashipwiththreedecksrigged.Whenitwasinportandreadytoweighanchor,theoldsailorreappeared."Nowhaveonedeckloadedwithcheeserinds,anotherwithbreadcrumbs,andthethirdwithstinkingcarrion."
Theyouthhadthethreedecksloaded.
"Now,"saidtheoldman,"whenthekingsays,Chooseallthesailorsyouwant,youwillreply,Ineedonlyone,andselectme."Thathedid,andthewholetownturnedouttowatchtheshipsailoffwiththatstrangecargoandacrewofone,whoalsohappenedtobeonhislastlegs.
Theysailedforthreemonthsstraight,attheendofwhichtimetheyspiedalighthouseinthenightandenteredaport.Alltheycouldmakeoutonshorewerelow,lowhousesandstealthymovement.Atlastavoiceasked,"Whatcargodoyoucarry?"
"Cheeserinds,"repliedtheoldsailor.
"Fine,"theysaidonshore."Thatswhatweneed."
ItwastheIslandofRats,wherealltheinhabitantswererats,whosaid,"Wellbuytheentirecargo,butwehavenomoneywithwhichtopayyou.Butanytimeyouneedus,youhaveonlytosay,Rats,finerats,helpus!andwellberighttheretohelpyou."
Theyouthandthesailordroppedthegangplank,andtheratscameaboardandunloadedthecheeserindsinaflash.
Fromtherethemensailedtoanotherisland.Itwasalsonightandtheycouldmakeoutnothingatallinport.Itwasworsethantheotherplace,withnotahouseoratreeanywhereinsight."Whatcargodoyoubring?"askedvoicesinthedark.
"Breadcrumbs,"repliedthesailor.
"Fine!Thatsjustwhatweneed!"
ItwastheIslandofAnts,wherealltheinhabitantswereants.Nordidtheyhaveanymoneyeither,buttheysaid,"Wheneveryouneedus,youhaveonlytosay,Ants,fineants,helpus!andwellberightthere,nomatterwhereyouare."
Theantscarriedallthebreadcrumbsdowntheforeandaftmoorings,andtheshipcastoffagain.
Itcametoanislandofrockycliffsthatdroppedstraightdowntoport."Whatcargodoyoubring?"criedvoicesfromabove.
"Stinkingcarrion!"
"Excellent!Thatsjustwhatweneed,"andhugeshadowsswoopeddownontheship.
ItwastheIslandofVultures,inhabitedentirelybythosegreedybirds.Theyflewoffwitheveryounceofcarrion,promisinginreturntohelpthemenwhenevertheycalled,"Vultures,finevultures,helpus!"
Afterseveralmoremonthsofsailing,theylandedontheislandwherethekingofEnglandsdaughterwasaprisoner.Theydisembarked,walkedthroughalongcave,andemergedbeforeapalaceinagarden.Adwarfwalkedouttomeetthem."IsthekingofEnglandsdaughterhere?"askedtheyouth.
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