Tales from the Lands of Nuts and Grapes Part 13

Scanning the vast expanse of water before him, he observed approaching him the same beautiful ship he had seen in the morning.

When the ship came alongside the quay, a sailor sprung on sh.o.r.e, and made her fast by a golden cable; then, addressing Pedro, he said-

"I am glad you have not kept us waiting, for our royal mistress is very wishful to consult you, as one of her favourite doves has broken its right wing, and if you cannot cure it, the princess will die of starvation."

Pedro made no reply, but stepped on board the ship, which soon got under way, and within a short time they were approaching the coast he knew so well.

Having landed, Pedro saw the princess seated on the sand, nursing one of her white pigeons.

"Pedro of Aragon," the princess exclaimed, "a stranger dared to enter my royal father's garden, and in a.s.sisting to water the pinks he trod on the wing of my favourite pigeon, and he has broken it."

"Senora," replied Pedro, "the intruder did probably seek you, and had no idea of hurting the lovely bird."

"That matters not," continued the princess, "for my princ.i.p.al supporter is wounded, and you must cure her. Cut out my heart, and steep this bird in my warm blood, and when I am dead throw my body into the sea."

"How can I kill one so lovely?" asked Pedro. "I would rather die myself than hurt you!"

"Then you do not care for me, or else you would do as I bid you,"

answered the princess.

"Princess, I cannot and will not kill you; but I will do anything else you bid me," said Pedro.

"Well, then, since you will not kill me, I order you to take this pigeon back with you; for I know it was you who walked in my father's garden to-day," continued the princess. "And to-morrow evening, when you see that princess whom you saw to-day, you must kill her, and let her blood fall over this pretty bird."

Pedro was now in great trouble, for he had promised the princess to do anything she told him to do, except killing her, and he could not break his word; so taking hold of the pigeon very gently, and bidding good-bye to the princess, he again stepped on board the ship, and so depressed was he that he had arrived at the marble quay without being aware of it.

On landing, he retraced his steps through the avenue of pillars, and found himself once more in the garden, where the old gardener was again watering the pinks.

"What very high balconies!" exclaimed Pedro. "Tell me, old gardener of the ancient times, if the princess comes here to-day."

"The princess loves the fresh sea-breeze," answered the old man, "and to-night she will come to the balcony, for her n.o.ble lover will be waiting for her."

"And who is the princess's lover?" inquired Pedro.

"If you will help me to water the pinks, I will tell you," said the old man.

Pedro readily acquiesced, and putting down the pigeon where he thought no harm would happen to it, he commenced a.s.sisting the gardener to water the pinks.

After a silence of a few minutes the gardener said-

"There were once seven pigeons who said, 'Seven pigeons are we, and with other seven pigeons we might all be mated; but, as it is, we must remain seven pigeons.'"

"Yes," put in Pedro; "but I want to know who the princess's lover is."

The old man took no heed of the interruption, and continued-

"There were once seven pigeons who said, 'Seven pigeons are we--'"

"Stop!" cried Pedro; "I will have no such idle talk. Tell me who this n.o.ble lover is, or I will do you an injury."

"Sir," cried the gardener, with a very serious countenance, "there were once seven pigeons who said, 'Seven pigeons are we, and--'"

"Take your watering-can," shouted Pedro in disgust; "I will not listen to your nonsense!"

"And yet there were once seven pigeons who said, 'Seven pigeons are we;'

and now the last of them is gone, for the n.o.ble lover has been false to his trust," exclaimed the old man, looking very cunningly at Pedro.

At these words Pedro looked towards the place where he had placed the pigeon, and it was no longer there.

Seized with a fit of fury, he was about to lay hands on the gardener, when, to his astonishment, he found that he was also gone.

"I am undone," cried the unhappy Pedro; "and now I shall not see the princess again." Saying which he fainted away, and might probably have remained there some time, but that he heard a voice saying, in a jocular manner-

"There were once seven pigeons who said, 'Seven pigeons are we, and--'"

Pedro started to his feet, and close to him was standing the princess whom he had previously seen in the balcony.

"Why do you thus tease me, princess?" said Pedro. "I want to hear no more about the seven horrid pigeons."

"Don Pedro de Aragon," answered the princess, "I must tell you that the old gardener to whom you spoke is a magician, and he has possessed himself of the last means I had of regaining my liberty, for I am under his power. Is it not true that you came here with the purpose of killing me?"

"I was under a vow to do so," replied Pedro; "but I cannot kill you, although I would rather slay you, fair princess, than do you a more grievous injury."

"Go back, then, to the unhappy lady whom you left on the sea-sh.o.r.e, and tell her that you have been false to your promises," said the princess.

"How sorry I am," exclaimed Pedro, "that I was ever destined to be King of Aragon! When I was a poor fisherman, I was far happier than I am now!"

"Pedro of Aragon, the moon will be at the full to-night, and you may then rescue me," said the princess, "if you have the courage to meet the wicked magician in this garden at midnight, for then is his power weakest."

"I am prepared for the worst," replied Pedro, "and I fear not your gaoler."

"Well, then," continued the princess, "when the magician sees you he will again tell you about the seven pigeons; but when he has finished, you must tell him that there were once seven wives who had only one husband, and that they are waiting outside to see him. Do as I tell you, and if you are not afraid of his anger, you may be able to free me."

Pedro promised to do as he was told, and the princess having retired into the palace, Pedro amused himself by walking under the lofty balconies, watching the fire-flies grow brighter as night came on.

Just about midnight the magician was seen watering the pinks, and as soon as he perceived Pedro he said-

"There were once seven pigeons who said, 'Seven pigeons are we, and with other seven pigeons we might all be mated; but, as it is, we must remain seven pigeons.'"

"Quite so," put in Pedro. "And once upon a time there were seven wives who had only one husband, and they are waiting outside to see him."

The magician, at these words, lost all control over his temper; but Pedro heeded him not, rather did he endeavour to increase his rage by repeating all about the seven wives.

"I am undone!" cried the magician; "but if you will induce the spirits of my seven wives to again seek the grave, I will give you what you want, and that is the princess."

"Give me the princess first," answered Pedro, "and then I will free you of your wives."

"Take her, then," said the magician; "here she is. And forget not what you have promised me, for I may tell you in confidence that a man with seven wives cannot play the magician."