Page 134 - Princess Belle-Etoile and Prince Cherie

then told him it was in a frozen climate,
situated upon the top of a frightful rock, and
showed him the route he must take. The
Prince, in gratitude for this information, gave
him a little bag, full of large pearls, that had
fallen from his hair; and, taking leave of him,
continued his journey.
At length, at dawn of day, he perceived the

rock, which was very high and very steep, and
upon the summit of it was the bird, speaking
like an oracle, telling wonderful things. He
thought that with a little dexterity it would be
easy to catch it, for it seemed very tame. It
went and came, hopping lightly from one
point of the rock to another. The Prince got

off his horse, and climbed up very quietly,
notwithstanding the roughness of the ascent,
promising himself the pleasure of gratifying
extremely his dear Belle-Etoile.
He was so close to the green bird, that he
thought he could lay hands on it, when
suddenly the rock opened, and he fell into a
spacious hall as motionless as a statue; he
could neither stir, nor utter a complaint of his

deplorable situation.
Three hundred knights who had made the
______
134