"'Well, very well, your majesty, let it be so, then. I would tell no common fellow here where it is, he'd just break it on the road; and if I'm not, nor Boofun, to go for this instrument, things must stop as they are, and the palace will remain unfinished to the end of the world.' "The king considered for some time; at last, 'Gubbaun Seare,' says he, 'I _must_ have my palace finished, and yet I _must_ have your instrument; now my son, the prince, has nothing on earth to do--and will you be satisfied if I send him? I will be your security that he takes the greatest care of it.' "'Well, your majesty, your will must be law. O! O! my poor instrument, if any thing should happen you!' "So, sir, the prince was ordered up, and the Gubbaun gave him all kinds of directions how to carry it, and towld him where he'd get it, 'in the big chest, over the chimney-piece.' "The next day the prince set out, and took but one companion with him; and who should that be but his younger brother, a young lad that wished for some divarsion--and the two only thought it a pleasant ride. "In a few days they reached the Gubbaun's cottage, and when Boofun's wife saw them coming, she was sure something was wrong. Some of her people were in the house, but she bundled them out; 'Be ready, though,' says she, 'for fear I'd want you, but leave those lads to me.' So they came in, and the prince saluted her most kindly, towld her who he was, and begged lave to put up his horse. Then she asked him 'how her husband and the Gubbaun were?' But he gave her a full account of all I've told you, as far as he knew. 'But, ma'am,' says the prince, very gracious intirely, 'there is an instrument that the Gubbaun can't do without, that he wants to polish the stones,' says he, 'and my father's so fond of them both,' says he, 'that he wouldn't let him or Boofun home,' says he, 'and the Gubbaun wouldn't let any common fellow come, for fear he'd break it, and so I'm sent to ask you for it.' "'And plaze your highness,' says she, 'what may be the name of this instrument? for he left so many afther him here, in that terrible big chest over the chimney-piece, that raylly I don't know which it could be.' "'Ah! sure enough,' he said, 'it was in the big chest,' says the prince, 'and the name of it is--let me see, I dare say you know it ma'am--the khur enein khur, agus khaoun enein khaoun.'