"But the Grand Vizier was so frightened that he disguised himself as a common soldier, and hid himself, not daring to lead on his army. So the whole army, becoming demoralized, were ready to lay down their arms to the enemy, when suddenly there appeared at their head an unknown general in a uniform they had never yet seen. His sword was like a flaming fire or a serpent. He encouraged the men, and led them against the Tartars; and scarce had the trumpet sounded for the attack before the King of Tartary advanced towards the prince, sword in hand, barefoot, in a raiment of goat's hair, and humbly offered him costly presents, beseeching peace. 'For,' he said, 'I cannot fight. My soldiers are dying off by thousands; they fall as they stand, their hands and feet writhing and convulsed.' "And once more the prince recognized _the man with the green eyes_ in the unknown general. This grieved him greatly. He began to see that, without his help, never could he find that land where his father and mother were. Thus he made up his mind to seek out _the man with the green eyes_ in his hiding-place, and to tell him he loved him. He went and called him out of the hollow tree. _The man with the green eyes_ had a garment of tinder, a hat of tinder bound with green mildew; his face was yellow as wax, his lips blue as mulberries. "'Well, dear child, do you love me at last?' he asked the little king's son. "'Yes, yes; I love you. Only show me, at last, the road to the better land.' "'Never fear! I will show it you. But first you must eat one of the plums from my basket and kiss me.' "I must tell you he had a basket in his hand, filled with plums, as waxen yellow as was his face. The little king's son took a plum and ate it. "'Now, just one kiss!' and he kissed him. "'Huh! how cold your lips were!' said the little prince, with a shudder. "And by means of that one plum and that kiss the king's son found, what he had long sought so yearningly, the way to that better land where his father and mother were awaiting him. He is still there, and sends you his greetings." While she told her story the king's daughter had been busily combing the fair locks of a little girl, who, with eyes and mouth wide open, took in every word of the fable. When it came to an end she asked: "And what is that other world?" "Where good people live; where the sun ever shines and it is perpetual spring-time; where man labors and every day is the Feast of St. Michael; where all people are glad and love one another; where none are hungry or thirsty; and where the children play with the baby angels." "Oh, I say," quoth the little fair-haired maid, "if people must not eat or drink in the better land, I am sure papa and baba won't go there!" This set Bethsaba off laughing, as she covered the little speaker with kisses. Upon which there was a loud clapping of hands from the next room. CHAPTER XXIV "THEN YOU ARE NOT--?" The pretty story-teller had had listeners.