The Devil with the Three Golden Hairs (5)

The Devil with the Three Golden Hairs (5)

" Do not kill him, " said the old lady, who was the mother of that wicked crew.
" He called me madam and he has such a pretty face. "

The she told them about the letter for the queen.

They opened the letter at once, and saw what the king had written immediately they felt pity for the boy, for wasn't he as much an outlaw as they ?

" Tear up the letter, " said the chief of the robbers, " and I will write a new one. "

And he wrote, " As soon as the boy arrives with this letter, you are to marry him to our daughter, and all must be done before I return. "


The robbers laughed at this, for they thought it a great prank to play on the king, who had outlawed them all.

Then they ate quickly and were gone again.

When the boy awoke, he was grateful to be alive.
" What good fortune I have, " he said.

Then he kissed the old lady's hand, called her dear madam one more time, grabbed up his letter, and was away.

(5/18)