He sat down by her, and determined not to sleep all
night long lest she should vanish from him, and, to make surer, Long
extended himself like a strap, and wound himself round the whole room
along the wall; Broad posted himself in the doorway, swelled himself up,
and stopped it up so tight that not even a mouse could have slipped
through; while Sharpsight placed himself against a pillar in the midst
of the room on the look-out. But after a time they all began to nod,
fell asleep, and slept the whole night, just as if the wizard had thrown
them into the water.
In the morning, when it began to dawn, the prince was the first to wake,
but--as if a knife had been thrust into his heart--the princess was
gone! He forthwith awoke his servants, and asked what was to be done.
"Never mind, sir," said Sharpsight, and looked sharply out through the
window, "I see her already. A hundred miles hence is a forest, in the
midst of the forest an old oak, and on the top of the oak an acorn, and
she is that acorn." Long immediately took him on his shoulders, extended
himself, and went ten miles at a step, while Sharpsight showed him the
way.
No more time elapsed than would have been wanted to move once round a
cottage before they were back again, and Long delivered the acorn to the
prince. "Sir, let it fall on the ground." The prince let it fall and
that moment the princess stood beside him.
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