her crutch in a malicious mariner, saying, ‘Oh, oh,
this is the way you perform the promise you made
to my friend the Yellow Dwarf. I am the Fairy
of the Desert, and I will not allow such unfaithful-
ness to my friend to go unpunished; therefore
decide whether you will marry him or die.’
This unexpected appearance of the fairy filled the
queen and princess with the greatest alarm. But
the King of the Golden Mines drew his sword,
and going up to the fairy, he said, ‘Fly, wretch!
or I will strike off thy head.’
The king had no sooner uttered these words than
the box flew open, and out started the Yellow
Dwarf, seated on a huge wild cat; who, placing
himself before the fairy, said, ‘Hold, rash youth!
your rage must be vented against me; I am your
rival and enemy. I claim the princess, who is
pledged to me by the ring of hair on her finger.’
‘Hideous monster!’ exclaimed the prince, ‘you
are too contemptible to be noticed by me.’
The dwarf, enraged at this scornful speech, drew
his sword and challenged the king to fight. Im-
mediately the air was darkened; and amidst
lightnings and thunder the two peacocks were
transformed into giants of enormous size, who
stood on each side of the Yellow Dwarf, vomiting
fire. All the spectators were terrified at this
fearful sight, excepting the King of the Gold
Mines, who with undaunted courage attacked his
terrible enemy; but his brave heart sank within
him when he saw the Fairy of the Desert, mounted
on a fiery dragon, advance towards his beloved
All-fair and strike her to the ground. The king
hastened to the assistance of his lady; but the
dwarf flying before him on his cat, seized All-fair
and carried her off.
The fairy, having fallen in love with the king,
carried him aloft in the air, and conveyed him to a
frightful cavern, and chained him up; hoping thus
103

THE
YELLOW
DWARF