Accordingly  he  offered  the  captain  a  large  sum  of  money
for  the  woman,  and  she  was  handed  over  to  him.  Most
earnestly  and  perseveringly  the  merchant  tried  to  please
her  and  make  her  love  him,  and  eventually  he  so  far  suc-
ceeded, that  when  he  told  her  that  he  had  bought  her  for  a
large  sum  of  money,  and  therefore  she  ought  to  consent  to
marry  him,  she  said,  "  Although  the  bargain  between  you
and  the  captain  is  void,  because  the  captain  had  no  right
to  dispose  of  me,  I  not  being  his,  yet  I  like  you,  and  will
marry  you,  if  you  will  agree  to  wait  for  two  years,  and  if
during  this  period  I  do  not  meet  my  husband  and  sons
again."  The  merchant  complied,  and  looked  forward  in  blest
anticipation  to  the  completion  of  the  period  of  probation.
As  soon  as  the  vessel  was  out  of  sight  the  hired  men
released  the  king  and  his  two  boys.  It  was  useless  to
seek  revenge,  even  if  His  Majesty  had  any  desire  for  it ;
and  so  he  turned  his  back  on  the  sea,  and  walked  fast  and
far  with  the  two  boys,  who  wept  and  lamented  as  they  ran
along  by  his  side,  till  he  reached  a  river,  somewhat  shallow
but  flowing  swiftly.
PRIDE  ABASED.  157

The  king  wished  to  cross  this  river,  but  there  was  not
any  boat  or  bridge,  and  so  he  was  obliged  to  wade  it.
