the torches of the bridal procession fell like a hair upon the Prince, and he was instantly changed in form; and when his wife came to tell him that all danger was over, she found only a White Dove, who said very sadly to her-- "For seven years I must fly about in the world, but at every seventh mile I will let fall a white feather and a drop of red blood, which will show you the way, and if you follow it, you may save me." Then the White Dove flew out of the door, and the Princess followed it, and at every seventh mile the Dove let fall a white feather and a drop of red blood; and so, guided by the feathers and the drops of blood, she followed the Dove, until the seven years had almost passed, and she began to hope that the Prince's enchantment would be at an end. But one day there was no white feather to be seen, nor any drop of red blood, and the Dove had flown quite away. Then the poor Princess thought, "No man can help me now;" and so she mounted up to the Sun, and said, "Thou shinest into every chasm and over every peak; hast thou seen a White Dove on the wing?" "No," answered the Sun. "I have not seen one; but take this casket, and open it when you are in need of help." She took the casket, and thanked the Sun. When evening came, she asked the Moon-- "Hast thou seen a White Dove? for thou shinest all night long over every field and through every wood." "No," said the Moon, "I have not seen a White Dove; but here is an egg--break it when you are in great trouble." She thanked the Moon, and took the egg; and then the North Wind came by; and she said to the North Wind: "Hast thou not seen a White Dove? for thou passest through all the boughs, and shakest every leaf under heaven." "No," said the North Wind, "I have not seen one; but I will ask my brothers, the East Wind, and the West Wind, and the South Wind." So he asked them all three; and the East Wind and the West Wind said, "No, they had not seen the White Dove;" but the South Wind said-- "I have seen the White Dove; he has flown to the Red Sea, and has again been changed into a Lion, for the seven years are up; and the Lion stands there in combat with an Enchanted Princess, who is in the form of a great Caterpillar." Then the North Wind knew what to do; and he said to the Princess-- "Go to the Red Sea; on the right-hand shore there are great reeds, count them, and cut off the eleventh reed, and beat the Caterpillar with it. Then the Caterpillar and the Lion will take their human forms. Then look for the Griffin which sits on the Red Sea, and leap upon its back with the Prince, and the Griffin will carry you safely home. Here is a nut; let it fall when you are in the midst of the sea, and a large nut-tree will grow out of the water, and the Griffin will rest upon it."