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might succeed where the others had failed； and at once prepared
himself for a more distant search。 In spite of the opposition he
met with； he rode away； followed by his household； trusting to
chance to help him。 He had formed no plan； and there was no
reason that he should choose one path more than another。 His
only idea was to make straight for those spots which were the
favourite haunts of birds。 But in vain he examined all the
hedges and all the thickets； in vain he questioned everyone he
met along the road。 The more he sought the less he found。
At last he came to one of the largest forests in all the world；
composed entirely of cedars。 But in spite of the deep shadows
cast by the wide…spreading branches of the trees； the grass
underneath was soft and green； and covered with the rarest
flowers。 It seemed to Saphir that this was exactly the place
where the birds would choose to live； and he determined not to
quit the wood until he had examined it from end to end。 And he
did more。 He ordered some nets to be prepared and painted of the
same colours as the bird's plumage； thinking that we are all
easily caught by what is like ourselves。 In this he had to help
him not only the fowlers by profession； but also his attendants；
who excelled in this art。 For a man is not a courtier unless he
can do everything。
After searching as usual for nearly a whole day Prince Saphir
began to feel overcome with thirst。 He was too tired to go any
farther； when happily he discovered a little way off a bubbling
fountain of the clearest water。 Being an experienced traveller；
he drew from his pocket a little cup （without which no one should
ever take a journey）； and was just about to dip it in the water；
when a lovely little green frog； much prettier than frogs
generally are； jumped into the cup。 Far from admiring its
beauty； Saphir shook it impatiently off； but it was no good； for
quick as lightning the frog jumped back again。 Saphir； who was
raging with thirst； was just about to shake it off anew； when the
little creature fixed upon him the most beautiful eyes in the
world； and said； 'I am a friend of the bird you are seeking； and
when you have quenched your thirst listen to me。'
So the Prince drank his fill； and then； by the command of the
Little Green Frog； he lay down on the grass to rest himself。
'Now；' she began； 'be sure you do exactly in every respect what I
tell you。 First you must call together your attendants； and
order them to remain in a little hamlet close by until you want
them。 Then go； quite alone； down a road that you will find on
your right hand； looking southwards。 This road is planted all
the way with cedars of Lebanon； and after going down it a long
way you will come at last to a magnificent castle。 And now；' she
went on； 'attend carefully to what I am going to say。 Take this
tiny grain of sand； and put it into the ground as close as you
can to the gate of the castle。 It has the virtue both of opening
the gate and also of sending to sleep all the inhabitants。 Then
go at once to the stable； and pay no heed to anything except what
I tell you。 Choose the handsomest of all the horses； leap
quickly on its back； and come to me as fast as you can。
Farewell； Prince； I wish you good luck；' and with these words the
Little Frog plunged into the water and disappeared。
The Prince； who felt more hopeful than he had done since he left
home； did precisely as he had been ordered。 He left his
attendants in the hamlet； found the road the frog had described
to him； and followed it all alone； and at last he arrived at the
gate of the castle； which was even more splendid than he had
expected； for it was built of crystal； and all its ornaments were
of massive gold。 However； he had no thoughts to spare for its
beauty； and quickly buried his grain of sand in the earth。 In
one instant the gates flew open； and all the dwellers inside fell
sound asleep。 Saphir flew straight to the stable； and already
had his hand on the finest horse it contained； when his eye was
caught by a suit of magnificent harness hanging up close by。 It
occurred to him directly that the harness belonged to the horse；
and without ever thinking of harm （for indeed he who steals a
horse can hardly be blamed for taking his saddle）； he hastily
placed it on the animal's back。 Suddenly the people in the
castle became broad awake； and rushed to the stable。 They flung
themselves on the Prince； seized him； and dragged him before
their lord； but； luckily for the Prince； who could only find very
lame excuses for his conduct； the lord of the castle took a fancy
to his face； and let him depart without further questions。
Very sad； and very much ashamed of himself poor Saphir crept back
to the fountain； where the Frog was awaiting him with a good
scolding。
'Whom do you take me for？' she exclaimed angrily。 'Do you really
believe that it was just for the pleasure of talking that I gave
you the advice you have neglected so abominably？'
But the Prince was so deeply grieved； and apologised so very
humbly； that after some time the heart of the good little Frog
was softened； and she gave him another tiny little grain； but
instead of being sand it was now a grain of gold。 She directed
him to do just as he had done before； with only this difference；
that instead of going to the stable which had been the ruin of
his hopes； he was to enter right into the castle itself； and to
glide as fast as he could down the passages till he came to a
room filled with perfume； where he would find a beautiful maiden
asleep on a bed。 He was to wake the maiden instantly and carry
her off； and to be sure not to pay any heed to whatever
resistance she might make。
The Prince obeyed the Frog's orders one by one； and all went well
for this second time also。 The gate opened； the inhabitants fell
sound asleep； and he walked down the passage till he found the
girl on her bed； exactly as he had been told he would。 He woke
her； and begged her firmly； but politely； to follow him quickly。
After a little persuasion the maiden consented； but only on
condition that she was allowed first to put on her dress。 This
sounded so reasonable and natural that it did not enter the
Prince's head to refuse her request。
But the maiden's hand had hardly touched the dress when the
palace suddenly awoke from its sleep； and the Prince was seized
and bound。 He was so vexed with his own folly； and so taken
aback at the disaster； that he did not attempt to explain his
conduct； and things would have gone badly with him if his friends
the fairies had not softened the hearts of his captors； so that
they once more allowed him to leave quietly。 However； what
troubled him most was the idea of having to meet the Frog who had
been his benefactress。 How was he ever to appear before her with
this tale？ Still； after a long struggle with himself； he made up
his mind