TEARS OF PEARLS 305

they were astonished to find a quantity of fine pearls in the
coffin. Next day they told the king that the doors had opened
of themselves towards midnight, that they had been overcome
by sleep, and that on awakening they had found a large
number of pearls in the coffin, but knew not how they got
there. The king was very much surprised, especially at the
appearance of the pearls, that ought to have been produced
by his wife’s tears. On the second night he doubled the
guard, and impressed upon them the necessity for watch-
fulness.

At midnight the doors again opened silently as before, the
soldiers went to sleep, and the same little duck entered, and,
taking out her feathers, appeared as a lovely maiden. She
could not help smiling as she looked upon the sleeping
soldiers, the number of which had been doubled on her
account ; and as she smiled a number of roses fell from her lips.
As she drew near her brother her tears fell in torrents, leaving
a profusion of fine pearls. After some time she put on her
feathers and went out a duck. When the guards awoke they
took the roses and the pearls to the king. He was still more
surprised to see roses with the pearls, for these roses should
have fallen from his wife's lips. He again increased the
number of the guard, and threatened them with the most
severe punishment if they failed to watch all night. They
did their best to obey, but in vain; they could only sleep.
When they awoke they found, not only roses and pearls, but
little gold-fish swimming in the holy water.

The amazed king could only conclude that their sleep
was caused by magic. On the fourth night he not only in-

creased the number of soldiers, but, unknown to every one, hid
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