The Crimson Fairy Book | Page 8

prince's nurse. To her he
confided all his plans, and left his wife, the princess, in her care. 'You have a long way
before you, my son,' said the old woman; 'you must never return till you have met with
Lucky Luck. If he cannot help you no one on earth can.'
So the prince set off to try to find Lucky Luck. He walked and walked till he got beyond
his own country, and he wandered through a wood for three days but did not meet a
living being in it. At the end of the third day he came to a river near which stood a large
mill. Here he spent the night. When he was leaving next morning the miller asked him:
'My gracious lord, where are you going all alone?'
And the prince told him.
'Then I beg your Highness to ask Lucky Luck this question: Why is it that though I have
an excellent mill, with all its machinery complete, and get plenty of grain to grind, I am
so poor that I hardly know how to live from one day to another?'
The prince promised to inquire, and went on his way. He wandered about for three days
more, and at the end of the third day saw a little town. It was quite late when he reached it,
but he could discover no light anywhere, and walked almost right through it without
finding a house where he could turn in. But far away at the end of the town he saw a light
in a window. He went straight to it and in the house were three girls playing a game
together. The prince asked for a night's lodging and they took him in, gave him some
supper and got a room ready for him, where he slept.
Next morning when he was leaving they asked where he was going and he told them his
story. 'Gracious prince,' said the maidens, 'do ask Lucky Luck how it happens that here
we are over thirty years old and no lover has come to woo us, though we are good, pretty,
and very industrious.'
The prince promised to inquire, and went on his way.
Then he came to a great forest and wandered about in it from morning to night and from
night to morning before he got near the other end. Here he found a pretty stream which
was different from other streams as, instead of flowing, it stood still and began to talk:
'Sir prince, tell me what brings you into these wilds? I must have been flowing here a
hundred years and more and no one has ever yet come by.'
'I will tell you,' answered the prince, 'if you will divide yourself so that I may walk
through.'

The stream parted at once, and the prince walked through without wetting his feet; and
directly he got to the other side he told his story as he had promised.
'Oh, do ask Lucky Luck,' cried the brook, 'why, though I am such a clear, bright, rapid
stream I never have a fish or any other living creature in my waters.'
The prince said he would do so, and continued his journey.
When he got quite clear of the forest he walked on through a lovely valley till he reached
a little house thatched with rushes, and he went in to rest for he was very tired.
Everything in the house was beautifully clean and tidy, and a cheerful honest-looking old
woman was sitting by the fire.
'Good-morning, mother,' said the prince.
'May Luck be with you, my son. What brings you into these parts?'
'I am looking for Lucky Luck,' replied the prince.
'Then you have come to the right place, my son, for I am his mother. He is not at home
just now, he is out digging in the vineyard. Do you go too. Here are two spades. When
you find him begin to dig, but don't speak a word to him. It is now eleven o'clock. When
he sits down to eat his dinner sit beside him and eat with him. After dinner he will
question you, and then tell him all your troubles freely. He will answer whatever you may
ask.'
With that she showed him the way, and the prince went and did just as she had told him.
After dinner they lay down to rest.
All of a sudden Lucky Luck began to speak and said: 'Tell me, what sort of man are you,
for since you came here you have not spoken a word?'
'I am not dumb,' replied the young man, 'but I am that unhappy prince whose faithful
servant has been turned to stone, and I want to know how to help him.'
'And