He was just about explaining, when "tramp, tramp, tramp!"--the noise of feet was heard coming down the stairs. The princess jumped up, and cried: "Oh, run! Run quickly! I shall be punished if they find that I have given you a pie!" "Oh, no," said Conrad; "do not be frightened! I will protect you from them. I came to this castle on purpose to rescue you." "But I do not want to be rescued!" said she. "Do go, at once!" Tramp, tramp! Nearer and nearer came the sound,--almost to the bottom of the stairs. Conrad felt for his key. "Oh, dear!" he exclaimed, "I must have lost my key when I fell into the barrel! I never noticed that I was without it till now. All is lost! Adieu, good Princess!" "Good-bye," said she; "only go!" He jumped upon a table, and climbed out of the window. It was all that was left for him to do. After he was outside of the building, he turned, and waving his hand to the princess, begged her to remember him. "I will come back to you, if I ever get my key again," he said; "and then I'll disenchant you." At that moment the kitchen door opened, and Conrad saw a great light. It might have been a bull's-eye lantern, but Conrad was sure that it was a dragon that was pointing its fiery eye at him. "Oh, the poor princess!" said he. "If only I had my key!" Then, as the light flashed full at him, he became so frightened that he turned and ran for the gate as hard as he could. He made his way across the court-yard much faster than when he had come in, and soon he had left the castle far behind. The houses began to be farther apart and to have a more rustic appearance. He heard a cart coming along the road. "Please give me a ride!" he cried to the driver. "Yes, I will," said the man; "jump in." And Conrad clambered into the cart. "You look tired," said the driver. "Lie down on that blanket and rest yourself." Conrad gladly did as he was told and, feeling much fatigued after his adventures, he was soon fast asleep. He did not awake until he felt himself carried out of the cart, and was just enough awake to know that all the inmates of his father's house, together with a few of the neighbors, were crowding about and asking him where he had been. And that was all he noticed, for the next moment he was off to sleep again, and was carried upstairs and put to bed. He did not feel very well the next morning, so the doctor was called in, who advised that he should remain in the house for a few days, as he had a slight fever. While at home, he told his aunt what had happened to him; but she only patted his head, and told him that he must have been dreaming. But this Conrad refused to believe. When he recovered, however, he became a much better boy, more quiet and attentive to his studies; and it may be mentioned that, whenever any one told a fairy-tale, he wore a very solemn face, took a back seat, and said nothing.