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Once out of the gate； leave the forest by the opposite side。
‘Now； attend to this： whatever happens； do not open your oranges
till you reach the bank of a river； or a fountain。 Out of each orange
will come a princess； and you can choose which you like for your
wife。 Your choice once made； be very careful never to leave your
bride for an instant； and remember that the danger which is most
to be feared is never the danger we are most afraid of。'
V
Desire thanked his host warmly； and took the road he pointed
out。 In less than an hour he arrived at the wall； which was very
high indeed。 He sprang to the ground； fastened his horse to a tree；
and soon found the iron gate。 Then he took out his bottle and oiled
the hinges； when the gate opened of itself； and he saw an old castle
standing inside。 The Prince entered boldly into the courtyard。
Suddenly he heard fierce howls； and a dog as tall as a donkey；
with eyes like billiard balls； came towards him； showing his teeth；
which were like the prongs of a fork。 Desire flung him the oat
cake； which the great dog instantly snapped up； and the young
Prince passed quietly on。
A few yards further he saw a huge oven； with a wide；
red…hot gaping mouth。 A woman as tall as a giant was leaning
over the oven。 Desire gave her the brush； which she took in
silence。
Then he went on to the well； drew up the cord； which was half
rotten； and stretched it out in the sun。
Lastly he went round the castle； and plunged into the orange
grove。 There he gathered the three most beautiful oranges he could
find； and turned to go back to the gate。
But just at this moment the sun was darkened； the earth trembled；
and Desire heard a voice crying：
‘Baker； baker； take him by his feet； and throw him into the oven！'
‘No；' replied the baker； ‘a long time has passed since I first
began to scour this oven with my own flesh。 YOU never cared to
give me a brush； but he has given me one； and he shall go in peace。'
‘Rope； O rope！' cried the voice again； ‘twine yourself round
his neck and strangle him。'
‘No；' replied the rope； ‘you have left me for many years past
to fall to pieces with the damp。 He has stretched me out in the
sun。 Let him go in peace。'
‘Dog； my good dog；' cried the voice； more and more angry；
‘jump at his throat and eat him up。'
‘No；' replied the dog； ‘though I have served you long； you never
gave me any bread。 He has given me as much as I want。 Let
him go in peace。'
‘Iron gate； iron gate；' cried the voice； growling like thunder；
‘fall on him and grind him to powder。'
‘No；' replied the gate； ‘it is a hundred years since you left me
to rust； and he has oiled me。 Let him go in peace。'
VI
Once outside； the young adventurer put his oranges into a bag
that hung from his saddle； mounted his horse； and rode quickly out
of the forest。
Now； as he was longing to see the princesses； he was very anxious
to come to a river or a fountain； but； though he rode for hours； a
river or fountain was nowhere to be seen。 Still his heart was light；
for he felt that he had got through the most difficult part of his task；
and the rest was easy。
About mid…day he reached a sandy plain； scorching in the sun。
Here he was seized with dreadful thirst； he took his gourd and
raised it to his lips。
But the gourd was empty； in the excitement of his joy he had
forgotten to fill it。 He rode on； struggling with his sufferings； but
at last he could bear it no longer。
He let himself slide to the earth； and lay down beside his horse；
his throat burning； his chest heaving； and his head going round。
Already he felt that death was near him； when his eyes fell on the
bag where the oranges peeped out。
Poor Desire； who had braved so many dangers to win the lady
of his dreams； would have given at this moment all the princesses
in the world； were they pink or golden； for a single drop of water。
‘Ah！' he said to himself。 ‘If only these oranges were real fruit
fruit as refreshing as what I ate in Flanders！ And； after all； who
knows？'
This idea put some life into him。 He had the strength to lift
himself up and put his hand into his bag。 He drew out an orange
and opened it with his knife。
Out of it flew the prettiest little female canary that ever was
seen。
‘Give me something to drink； I am dying of thirst；' said the
golden bird。
‘Wait a minute；' replied Desire； so much astonished that he
forgot his own sufferings； and to satisfy the bird he took a second
orange； and opened it without thinking what he was doing。 Out
of it flew another canary； and she too began to cry：
‘I am dying of thirst； give me something to drink。'
Then Tubby's son saw his folly； and while the two canaries
flew away he sank on the ground； where； exhausted by his last
effort； he lay unconscious。
VII
When he came to himself； he had a pleasant feeling of freshness
all about him。 It was night； the sky was sparkling with stars； and
the earth was covered with a heavy dew。
The traveller having recovered； mounted his horse； and at the
first streak of dawn he saw a stream dancing in front of him； and
stooped down and drank his fill。
He hardly had courage to open his last orange。 Then he
remembered that the night before he had disobeyed the orders of the
old man。 Perhaps his terrible thirst was a trick of the cunning
witch； and suppose； even though he opened the orange on the
banks of the stream； that he did not find in it the princess that he
sought？
He took his knife and cut it open。 Alas！ out of it flew a little
canary； just like the others； who cried：
‘I am thirsty； give me something to drink。'
Great was the disappointment of Desire。 However； he was
determined not to let this bird fly away； so he took up some water
in the palm of his hand and held it to its beak。
Scarcely had the canary drunk when she became a beautiful
girl； tall and straight as a poplar tree； with black eyes and a golden
skin。 Desire had never seen anyone half so lovely； and he stood
gazing at her in delight。
On her side she seemed quite bewildered； but she looked about
her with happy eyes； and was not at all afraid of her deliverer。
He asked her name。 She answered that she was called the
Princess Zizi； she was about sixteen years old； and for ten years of
that time the witch had kept her shut up in an orange； in the
shape of a canary。
‘Well； then； my charming Zizi；' said the young Prince； who
was longing to marry her； ‘let us ride away quickly so as to
escape from the wicked witch。'
But Zizi wished to know where he meant to take her。
‘To my father's castle；' he said。
He mounted his horse and took her in front of him； and； holding
her carefully in his arms； they began their journey。
VIII
Everything the Princess saw was new to her； and in passing
throug