Once upon a time there lived in a far country a young Prince, who desired nothing better than to take to himself a wife, but none of the women who had been presented to him suited his fancy or touched his heart.

"How is it," he cried, "that in all my father's kingdom I am unable to find a wife that suits me?"

The poor young Prince became disconsolate. He shed burning tears, refused to eat or drink, and dwindled away in the sight of the sun. The King saw his son's despair and took pity on him. So one day he called the young Prince to him and said:

"My son, here is a gold key. Go to the top of the highest tower of my castle, and there you will find a door. Open it and enter, and you will then see before you the most beautiful and the most virtuous women in the world. You can have your choice. I hope you will find among them the wife you desire."

Filled with joy, Prince Erian took the golden key, climbed the long stairs leading to the tower, and soon arrived at the door his father had described. But there was no lock in which he could place the key. He searched in vain. Disappointed, he returned to his father.

"I found the door," he said, "but the key was useless. There was no lock."

"All that is necessary," the King replied, "is to touch the door with your key, and immediately it will swing back on its ruby hinges, so that you may enter."

The Prince made haste to return to the castle tower, and he had no sooner touched the door with the key than it swung on its ruby hinges.

Never since the day when the sun first shone on this poor earth of ours, never since the golden stars sparkled in the firmament, has such a scene been presented to the human eye as that which Prince Erian saw before him. An immense hall, inlaid with thousands of glistening diamonds, sapphires as blue as the sky, and opals with their changing hues, lay spread out before the King's son, who stood dumb with astonishment and admiration. There were soft carpets everywhere, unmatchable pictures, and bright-colored flowers. Silver perfuming-pans swinging from their golden chains, and filling the air with rich incense, burned incessantly in this enchanted place.

There were twelve windows in this wonderful hall, and in each window a young girl stood, a living picture in a frame. All were so beautiful and so graceful that the young Prince was dazed. Never in his wildest dreams had he caught a glimpse of fairies quite so beautiful, and even the water-nymphs that he had seen disporting themselves on the water's edge were not so charming.

Dazed and delighted as he was, there was, nevertheless, a mystery that puzzled the young Prince. In the first of the twelve windows stood a young girl whose head was covered with a gauze veil. She alone had not turned when the King's son entered. Prince Erian stepped to her side and removed the veil.

"Why do you look at me?" she asked, sadly.

"Because," he replied, "you are the most charming of all the marvellous beauties that surround you; because you are like the moon among the stars—like the rose among the flowers of a garden."

"What do you desire of me?" the young girl asked.

"Something that makes me tremble to say it," responded Prince Erian. "I want to make you my Queen, and live at your side."

"Alas! to marry me you must rescue me. I am the prisoner of the most powerful magician of the earth. I am held captive by Magor, the King of the Sorcerers."

"No matter!" cried the young Prince. "I shall rescue you. I shall die if I do not make you mine."

"May you be victorious over my deadly enemy; but, unfortunate that I am!" sighed the beautiful prisoner, "I fear you will share the sad fate of the many gallant young princes who have wished to deliver me from my bonds."

Quite happy, Prince Erian returned to his father.

"Well," said the King, "did you meet the lady of your dreams?"

"Yes, my father."

"Tell me: which did you choose?"

"The most beautiful of all," exclaimed the Prince; "the fairest of the stars, the rose that perfumes the gardens."

"The stars are all brilliant," said the King, "and each flower sheds its perfume. Answer me, my son; which is the lady of your choice?"

"My father, it is the veiled lady."

"Unfortunate boy, you are lost!" cried the monarch. "It is the Queen of Golconda, the prisoner of Magor, the King of the Magicians, that you have chosen. My poor son! to make her your queen you must take her away from that terrible sorcerer."

"Well, my father," cried the enthusiastic young prince, "I will be her deliverer!"

"Alas, my son!" said the King, "I fear you will fail, and then you will be turned into a statue of stone."

"The risk is mine," cried Prince Erian. "I shall overcome him."

"Ah, my son! your defeat is certain. Remain with me."

"It is too late, my father, I cannot."

The princely lover lost no time in setting out to conquer Magor, the King of the Magicians, who held the beautiful Princess in enchantment.

Prince Erian had been travelling for several days, when he came to a gloomy forest. Unfortunately, in passing through this dark forest, he lost his way, and in spite of all his efforts, he could not find it again. He wandered about in the woods for some time when, suddenly, and as if by magic, a stranger appeared before him.

"Good-day, friend!" exclaimed Prince Erian. "What are you doing, and what is your name?"

"My name is Long," replied the other; "and I am looking for a master who needs my services."

"The master is already found," said the young Prince. "If you give your consent you shall serve me."

"Agreed!" exclaimed Long. "From this day I am entirely subject to your orders."

"For the present," said Prince Erian. "I ask nothing of you except to help me find my way out of this terrible forest."

"Is that all? Wait a moment." With this, Long stretched himself to such an amazing extent that his head was above the tallest trees of the forest.

"What are you doing?" asked the astonished Prince.

"I am trying to find our way out." In a little while Long made himself short again, no taller than an ordinary man.

"Well, have you found the road?" the Prince inquired anxiously.

"Surely," replied Long. "We must take the one to the right of you, and soon we shall be out of this jungle."

So the Prince and his companion took the road to the right and soon found themselves clear of the impenetrable forest. As they came to its borders they saw a stout man sitting at the foot of a tree. He was round as any barrel, and he sat breathing heavily and wiping his face with the back of his hand.

"Good-day, my slim friend," said the Prince. "What are you doing here, and what is your name?"

"My father named me Large," replied the stout man; "and I am resting in the shade here, waiting for some one who needs my services."

"Your services? And what can you do, my man?" inquired the Prince.

Large made no reply. He simply caused his body to expand to such an extent that he filled the open field. Before Prince Erian and Long could recover from their astonishment, Large caused himself to subside, being careful however, not to collapse so suddenly as to create a great storm.

"Now, then," said he, "can I be of service to any one?"

"I think you can," the Prince answered; "and since you possess such an extraordinary talent, I will take you as my servant. Come with me."

"Gladly!" exclaimed Large, and the Prince and his two servants continued on their way.

As the travellers drew near their journey's end, they saw a man leaning against an immense oak. He had a bandage over his eyes, and he stood motionless, appearing to be very much preoccupied.

"Take this unfortunate person into your service," Long suggested to the Prince. "Who knows but he may prove to be of great assistance to you later on?"

"My friend," said Prince Erian, addressing the stranger, "what is your name?"

"My father named me Keen Eyes," said the other.

"A pretty neat name for a blind man," remarked the Prince. "What can you do?"

"My trade is to see clearly," replied Keen Eyes. "My eyes are bandaged so that my sight may do no damage to the objects I fix my gaze on."

"Really!" exclaimed Prince Erian; "if your power is so great, give us an example of it."

"Look!" cried Keen Eyes. "Do you see that immense rock yonder?"

"Yes."

"Keep your eyes on it! In an instant it shall fly to pieces."

Keen Eyes removed his bandage, looked steadily upon the imposing mass of granite, and it seemed to melt before his eyes; it crumbled and fell to pieces.

"My friend," said the Prince, "you are an extraordinary man. If you will come with me, I will take you as my servant."

Keen Eyes gladly accepted the offer.

After travelling a little farther, Prince Erian and his servants, Long, Large, and Keen Eyes, came upon a magnificent castle, the walls of which were armored with iron and brass. This castle belonged to the terrible Magor, the King of the Magicians, who held the Princess of Golconda in the spell of his enchantment.

"This is the end of our journey," said Prince Erian.

He then explained to his servants the bold scheme he had in mind, and they made an effort to enter at once into the castle, but the door was made of brass and it was barred and locked.

"What shall we do?" said the young Prince.

"Wait!" answered Keen Eyes. He raised his bandage, gave the door one glance and it crumbled into pieces. Without further ceremony, the four travellers entered the castle.

It was a wonderful place, this home of the King of the Sorcerers. On every side statues of gold and silver were to be found, luminous flowers, and amidst all the beauty, charming birds that spoke the language of human beings.

In one room of the castle the travellers found a table already set and covered with the most palatable dishes and perfumed wines. The Prince and his companions were very hungry; so they sat themselves down to the feast spread before them, and ate a great deal and drank a great deal more. After this excellent meal, Prince Erian and his three servants went out to walk in the beautiful garden. They had scarcely gone ten paces when they met Magor and his charming captive. At sight of these unknown persons, the Sorcerer stood dumb with amazement. At last, full of rage, he cried out:

"Why did you come here, miserable creatures? Dare you even pretend to take from me the pearl of pearls, the beauty without rival that I have on my arm, my pretty prisoner, the Princess of Golconda?"

"Yes," said the Prince; "and all your magic will serve to confound you, if you do not use your superhuman art."

"So be it," assented Magor. "I will not crush you like an earthworm. I will do better. I will give you the lady of your dreams, but upon one condition only."

"Name it!" cried Prince Erian.

"It is this: that during three days in succession, and precisely at twelve o'clock, you must present the Princess of Golconda to me in the large hall of the Castle."

"That is an easy thing to do," said Prince Erian.

"You are mad!" cried Magor. "Reflect before you accept the challenge, for if you permit the Princess to escape all will be over with you. That moment you and your companions shall be changed into statues."

"No matter," said the Prince. "I accept."

"If, at the appointed hour," the King of the Sorcerers explained, "you present to me the Princess of Golconda, one of the iron rings that I wear around my waist will fall off, and if all three should break, one after the other, you will be victorious over me—over Magor, the King of the Magicians."

Then Prince Erian took the arm of the lady of his dreams, the beautiful Princess of Golconda, and conducted her to the hall that Magor had pointed out to him. After the three days of the trial, the charming Princess would be his own—all his own. With what happiness, he thought, would he present her to his father! "Here," he would say, "is the wife I have chosen. Magor, the King of the Magicians, disputed my right to her, and him I have overthrown!"

But what precautions they were compelled to use! Prince Erian closed the door carefully and then ordered Long to stretch himself all around the hall. Large was told to expand himself so as to stop up the windows, and Keen Eyes was made to loosen the bandage around his eyes. When all these preparations had been made, there was only a small space left for the beautiful Princess and Prince Erian.

"Keen Eyes," said the young Prince, "we must be careful; we must not fall asleep; we must watch to-night."

"Yes, master," responded Keen Eyes, "we must drive away sleep."

Nevertheless, worn out as they were, they soon closed their eyes, and in a few moments they were sound asleep.

At dawn the next day, Prince Erian was the first to awake. But the beautiful Princess had disappeared. The young Prince, filled with mingled grief and astonishment, called out to his companions:

"Awake, my friends! Awake!"

"What is the matter, master? What is the matter?" they cried:

"An irreparable misfortune has befallen me! The Princess has disappeared! Search and see if you can find her anywhere."

Long, Large, and the young Prince searched everywhere, examining every piece of furniture, but they did not find the beautiful young Princess.

"Alas!" they cried, "what shall we do? we are lost!"

"Wait!" said Keen Eyes; "not yet!" He had also been searching for the Princess.

"What!" exclaimed the young Prince, "can you have found her?"

"Yes," replied Keen Eyes. "Four hundred leagues away there is a forest. In this forest there is a tree. On this tree there is a limb. On this limb there is an acorn."

"Well—well?" cried Prince Erian.

"And in that acorn is the Princess."

"Then all is lost!" exclaimed the young Prince. "To travel four hundred leagues and return by noon is an impossibility."

"Do not give up all hope, my master," said Long. "Wait a little while."

Keen Eyes got on Long's shoulders, and Long stretched himself out so that with a few leaps he was in the forest and then at the tree. Keen Eyes took possession of the precious acorn. Long drew his great length together, and in a moment they had returned.

Prince Erian took the acorn, broke it open, and out stepped the Princess, more beautiful and more resplendent than ever.

All this time, Magor, the King of the Sorcerers, was laughing to himself and enjoying the neat trick he had played on the young Prince and his companions. At precisely twelve o'clock he presented himself at the door of the hall, and cried out:

"Ah, well! faithful guardian! Can you show me the beautiful Princess?"

"Most certainly," replied Prince Erian. "Behold her here!"

A cry of rage broke from the Magician. A band of iron broke from his body and fell at his feet.

"But wait!" cried Magor. "Watch well to-night."

"Be not uneasy," said Prince Erian. "Meanwhile permit us to promenade in your magnificent garden."

They inspected the palace from top to bottom and went through the garden. They saw some very strange things, and much that they saw was calculated to make a very serious impression on their minds. That which most affected the friends of the young Princess was the spectacle of a wall along which were ranged the statues of many Knights.

Some stood with clubs uplifted as if for combat. Others were in an attitude of supplication, while still others, with muscles strained and eyes filled with fire, seemed to be having a hand-to-hand contest with the terrible Sorcerer; but they had all been vanquished and turned to stone by his power.

"These unfortunate men," said the Princess, "have been transformed into statues for attempting to rescue me from the King of the Magicians. I have been the innocent cause of the misfortune of these brave men, and I bring misery to all who interest themselves in my sad fate."

"Then why do you not fly from this desolate palace?" Prince Erian asked. "Are you never free from this Magician? He has such power over you?"

"Alas!" replied the Princess, "I am not the mistress of my destiny, and when the King of the Magicians commands me I must obey. His power over me is boundless. He can change me into a bird that flies, into a grain of dust blown about by the wind, or into a flower that perfumes the garden. He can send me a million leagues away, and I can neither resist his caprice nor oppose his cruel tyranny. Those who love me perish. He is so powerful, the others are so weak!"

"Ah, well!" exclaimed the Prince, "I shall not die, I will deliver you from the talons of this cruel vulture! I will take you away from this castle, a thousand times accursed since it is your prison!"

"Alas!" said the Princess, "I fear that you also will suffer defeat. Are you a magician, are you a sorcerer, that you can contend against Magor?"

"I am neither magician nor sorcerer," replied the enthusiastic young Prince; "but I have all the power of both, since I love you. Do not despair. Let me do as I wish. My friends, with their extraordinary gifts, are your friends, and they are devoted to your cause."

"We will deliver you!" "We will deliver you!" exclaimed Long, Large, and Keen Eyes.

"May you succeed!" sighed the unhappy Princess. "But my hopes have been dashed to the ground so many times that I dare not depend on anyone."

All day long the young Princess of Golconda and Prince Erian walked together and were happy, forgetting for the time the terrible contest that was to take place, the outcome of which was wrapped in so much uncertainty.

Suddenly the Princess disappeared. Magor, the King of the Magicians, had called her.

The sun was disappearing little by little below the horizon, and its golden rays were fading before the approaching night.

All disconsolate, Prince Erian turned his steps toward the castle. His anxiety for the Princess was extreme, but, with joyful surprise, he found her awaiting him at the door.

"Welcome, my Prince!" she said, and together they entered the castle.

An elegant repast was spread. The most delicate dishes, the most exquisite wines, burdened the table.

"Come, my friends!" cried the Sorcerer, "eat, drink, and be merry! This may be your last meal."

"Don't worry yourself, gentle sir," answered Long. "To-morrow you may be kept busy in the kitchen again. Rest assured you will always find us in good health and with hearty appetites."

"We shall see about that," said Magor. "You found my prisoner in an acorn; you travelled four hundred leagues to bring her back to this palace; but all that is a very simple matter. To-morrow your task will not be such an easy one. Am I not the King of the Magicians?"

"Just so," remarked Long; "but you are one and we are four."

When supper was over, the Princess was given into the care of Prince Erian.

"Good-night!" said Magor with a mocking smile. "Be sure that you watch more faithfully to-night, or the fair lady of your dreams will elude you."

"Make yourself easy," replied the Prince. "Should she escape we know how to find her."

When they arrived at the hall where the trial was to be renewed, the Princess said to her companions:

"I know that you are very powerful, but the cruel Magor is still more powerful. Redouble your precautions; remain awake and perhaps you may succeed in rescuing me."

"Trust to us," answered Prince Erian.

The most extraordinary precautions were taken, but all to no purpose. While Prince Erian and the Princess of Golconda were chatting together, sleep fell upon the small company little by little. The wicked Sorcerer had drugged their wine, and the effect was irresistible.

"Keen Eyes," said the Prince, drowsily, "are you awake?"

"Yes, my master," answered Keen Eyes with a yawn. "Fear nothing!"

But immediately his eyelids became heavy, and every effort he made to keep awake only made him sleep all the more soundly.

Magor, the King of the Magicians, found it an easy matter to carry off his lovely captive through a very small aperture that Large had left open when he fell asleep.

At sunrise Prince Erian awoke and discovered that the Princess of Golconda had disappeared. He called to his companions:

"Long! Large! Keen Eyes! where are you? Quick! the Princess has disappeared! This is our last day if we do not find her at once!"

They searched on all sides, but without success.

"Do not distress yourself," said Keen Eyes, to the young Prince, who was lamenting. "See! A thousand leagues from here—farther than the sea, farther than the mountains—there is a broad and waving field of wheat. In that field of wheat there is a ridge. On that ridge there is a stalk. On that stalk there is an ear. In that ear there is a grain. In that grain the beautiful Princess is hid."

Once more Keen Eyes mounted the shoulders of Long, who stretched himself again—stretched and took such long steps that in an hour's time he had crossed seas and mountains and reached the wheatfield. The two friends released the Princess from her floury prison, and in a short time were back at the castle.

Prince Erian had been awaiting their return, tortured by the agony of suspense. It is impossible to describe his joy in beholding once more the beautiful lady of his dreams. He laughed and sang and seemed almost beside himself. He could scarcely keep his eyes off the Princess even for a moment. Suddenly there came a knocking at the door.

Blam—blam! Blam!

"Come in!" said the Prince Erian.

It was the King of the Magicians who entered. He smiled mockingly.

"Ah, well, my heroes!" he exclaimed, "are you as joyous to-day as you were yesterday at this hour, and can you present the Princess to me?"

"It is my pleasure to do so," said Prince Erian, with mock courtesy. "Behold the Princess here!"

The Sorcerer grew pale with anger, and his eyes shot forth fire. A second band of iron fell from his waist and broke.

"One day still remains, and this time we shall see who is the conqueror," said Magor, furious with rage. Thus speaking he retired to an apartment in his palace, where he remained throughout the day, scheming to outwit Prince Erian and his companions. He now realized that he had met adversaries who were dangerous, and he knew that the contest of the next day would be final. What could he do to hide the beautiful captive? At last he thought he had found a way and a sigh of relief escaped his lips.

Meanwhile Prince Erian and his companions were taking counsel together. They were filled with anxiety. They knew that the King of the Magicians would use all his art to carry off and conceal the beautiful Princess. They knew, too, that if they failed to find her their fate was sealed. They would take their places among the unfortunate knights who had been transformed into statues.

That night they took unusual precautions, but all was in vain, for when they awoke the next morning the Princess of Golconda had again disappeared.

"Awake, friends! Arise!" cried the young Prince, when he made the discovery. "The Princess is gone? Let us search for her."

Long and willingly they searched, but all in vain. Keen Eyes himself was puzzled. He looked into the sky and on the earth, penetrated the mountains, and looked into the bottom of the precipice. He could see nothing that resembled the beautiful young Princess.

"Ah, well!" cried Prince Erian. "The Sorcerer is stronger than we. This time we are lost."

The sun was already high up in the heavens, and the time was approaching when the King of the Magicians was to make his appearance and demand the Princess.

But Keen Eyes did not despair. His keen glance searched everywhere. Suddenly he gave a cry of joy.

"Victory! victory! The Princess is ours! I have discovered her hiding-place."

"Where is it?" cried Prince Erian. "Quick! Time is precious."

"Do you see yonder—away yonder in the Black Sea," said Keen Eyes, pointing as eagerly as if all eyes were as keen as his—"do you see that wave rocked by the hurricane, ascending to the surface and descending to the depths of the abyss, pushed here and thrown there by the storm? In the centre of that tremendous wave there is a void. In that void is a ring. In that ring is your beautiful Princess."

"What shall we do, my friends? What shall we do?" cried the young Prince.

"Large," said Keen Eyes, by way of answer, "get on Long's shoulders with me. He will take us to the shore of the sea where the storm-tossed wave is swimming."

Large obeyed, and at once and swiftly they made their way to the sea—swifter than the north wind they travelled, over plains and over mountains, past rivers and hills.

"Faster, faster!" cried Keen Eyes.

They reached the sea, but their difficulty was not over. How should they get possession of the storm-tossed wave? Long stretched himself and pursued it, but when he thought he held it, it would slip from his hands and disappear.

"Wait," said Large. "I am going to get it."

Then he began to drink, drink, drink, so rapidly that the wave with the void in its centre was at last brought within reach, so that the ring could be seized.

What an extraordinary sight it was to see a man as big as the thickest mountains, casting his shadow over the entire country, his head reaching beyond the clouds that floated in the sky. Large's immense size can be imagined. He had been compelled to drink the greater part of the sea so as to get possession of the ring.

Having found the Princess at last, Long and Keen Eyes started on their return journey to the magician's castle.

But they had lost so much time trying to capture the ring that contained the Princess that the hour of noon was about to strike.

"Courage—courage!" cried Long. His immense strides carried him over hills and ravines, vast plains and dense forests. In a minute they will be at the castle. Forward! Quick! Fast and still faster.

"We are lost!" exclaimed Keen Eyes.

"No!" cried Long, "we are here!" He made a supreme effort, and, at one stride, reached the castle. As he came to the door, he saw the Magician about to enter.

"Let me pass!" demanded Keen Eyes.

"After me, if you please," said Magor.

"Infamous Sorcerer!" exclaimed Keen Eyes, "I must enter!"

"After me, I said," responded Magor.

But while they were disputing Long threw the enchanted ring through the window, and when the King of the Magicians entered the hall, the Princess of Golconda, more beautiful than ever, received him.

The clock struck the hour of noon!

At sight of the Princess, the King of the Magicians trembled and a terrible cry burst from his lips. Then, transforming himself into a raven, he disappeared in space.

The third iron band had fallen from Magor's waist and broken.

Meanwhile a marvellous change was taking place. The spell of the wicked Sorcerer was destroyed. The statues came to life. On all sides gay laughter and joyous songs could be heard, and one might have thought that these people, Knights and Princes, were the invited guests at a wedding.

And so they were, for the marriage of the beautiful Princess of Golconda took place at once, and the guests were the Knights and Princes who had been restored to life. All of them took part in the festivities, and at daybreak they were still dancing in the Sorcerer's castle.

As soon as possible Prince Erian and his charming Princess turned their steps in the direction of that distant city where the aged King was waiting with impatience for his beloved son. Large had not yet returned, but Long went after him, and, all together, they wended their way toward the palace where Prince Erian first saw the light.

The joy of the Prince's parents cannot be described. They were never tired of embracing their child. They overwhelmed him with questions, and then kissed and caressed him, and thus prevented him from talking. Nor was the beautiful Princess forgotten; each one embraced her, and received her as Prince Erian's wife should be received.

The festivities lasted many days, and when they were over, Long, Large, and Keen Eyes asked to leave the Prince.

"Why leave me?" said Prince Erian. "You know how much I owe you, and whether I love you. Remain with me always."

"No," replied Keen Eyes, "the palace stifles us, and the fine clothes we wear are uncomfortable. We are useless at this court."

"I will make you princes," said Prince Erian; "I will make you kings, if you will assist me in all my undertakings."

"Men of our kind," said Long, "give kingdoms but receive none. At odd times, dear prince, we shall visit you. May we always find you happy and contented."

Then bowing low to Prince Erian, Long, Large, and Keen Eyes sighed and disappeared.