When they were upon the lake-shore he seized a favorable opportunity and blew upon his master's neck with the bellows, whereupon the poor Prince fell into a deathlike slumber. He had barely fallen asleep when the nine Peahens arrived; eight alighted in the lake, but the ninth flew to the Prince upon his steed, and began to embrace and try to waken him. "Awake, my life! Awake, my heart! Awake, my soul!" But he moved no more than the dead. When the Peahens had bathed they all flew away, and he immediately awoke and asked the servant, "What is the matter? Have they been here?" The servant answered that nine Peahens had flown down to the lake; eight had gone into the water, but the ninth had come to him, the Prince, upon his horse, had caressed and tried to awaken him. At these words the poor imperial Prince had nearly laid violent hands upon himself. The next day he again mounted his steed and rode slowly along the lake-shore, his servant behind him. The servant again found an opportunity to blow upon his neck with the bellows, whereupon the Prince fell into a deathlike slumber. Scarcely was he asleep when the nine Peahens arrived; eight went down into the lake, but the ninth flew to him upon his steed, and began to embrace him and try to awaken him, saying, "Awake, my life! Awake, my heart! Awake, my soul!" But all in vain; he slept sounder than the dead. Then she said to the servant, "Tell your master to wait for me here again to-morrow, for he will never see us here again after that," and she again flew away. She was scarcely gone when the imperial Prince awoke and asked the servant, "Have they been here?" The servant replied, "To be sure, and they left word for you to expect them here again to-morrow; but after that they will never again come to this place." When the unhappy Prince heard this he was beside himself, and tore his hair for grief and pain. At dawn of the third day he again went down to the lake and rode along the shore, but at the fleetest pace possible, in order not to be overtaken by sleep. But even this time the servant found an opportunity to blow upon his neck with the bellows, whereupon the Prince immediately stretched himself out upon the horse's back and fell asleep. He was hardly asleep when the nine Peahens came flying to the spot. Eight of them went down into the lake, but the ninth flew to him upon the horse and began to embrace him and to call, "Awake, my life! Awake, my heart! Awake, my soul!" But all in vain, for he slept like the dead. Then the Peahen said to the servant, "When your master awakes, say to him, he must drive the upper wedge after the lower before he will be able to find me." With these words the Peahens flew away.