Hardly had he crossed the threshold of the door ere everything in the castle awoke and all there became movement. He sprang upon the back of the whale, which was impatiently awaiting him.
[Illustration: "THIS IS HE WHOM YOU MUST MARRY."]
On reaching the middle of the sea, the gigantic animal suddenly plunged into the depths of the waters, then, remounting, said to the Prince:--
"Yes; I confess it greatly frightened me."
"Well, I was quite as much alarmed when you filled your wallet with apples."
When he had gone a little further, the whale again plunged, only deeper than the first time, and then said to the Prince:--
"Well, I was quite as much frightened when you stopped to look at the Princess."
A little further on, the whale once more plunged and remained longer under the water, saying to the Prince on rising again to the surface:--
"Well, I was quite as much terrified when you wrote your name on the wall."
In the evening Carl arrived at the cottage of the Queen of the Fishes. As a return for the service she had rendered him, he gave her a golden apple and some drops from the marvellous spring.
As soon as the nine-hundred-years-old woman had drunk the water and eaten the apple, the wrinkles disappeared from her face; between her lips shone two rows of white teeth; her form became upright; and, in short, in place of a decrepit old woman, appeared a young girl with golden tresses, sparkling eyes, and rosy cheeks. She warmly thanked Carl for his generosity, and said to him, as he was departing:--
"I also have a present for you. Take this bridle and shake it--and you will see what it will give you."
The Prince obeyed, and at the same moment saw before him a superb horse, which quietly allowed itself to be mounted and, with the rapidity of the wind, bore him to the Queen of the Birds.
To her also he gave some water of youthfulness and an apple, which rejuvenated her in an instant. And as he was departing, she said, thanking him for his generosity:--
"I also have a present for you. Take this tablecloth, and, as soon as you spread it, it will furnish you a royal repast."
Carl remounted his good horse, rode to the Queen of the Quadrupeds, and renewed her youthfulness, as he had done to her two sisters. She also thanked him cordially and said, as he was departing:--