"It is not true," shouted the Fiddler. Then turning to the weeping Goosegirl, he cried: "Believe her not. Look at your hands, girl, your white, white hands, and your hair, your golden hair. There's nobility in your face. Believe in yourself, and you will sit beside the King's Son on a throne. Be not afraid. Pray, girl, pray!" The Goosegirl fell upon her knees and lifted her eyes to heaven. Her voice rose from the depths of her being and cried out to the mother and father whom she had never seen. Her golden hair covered her like a mantle, her face was radiant. Still kneeling, she held her crown of gold toward heaven and prayed to God for help, for guidance, for strength. And as she prayed, a shining star shot from heaven, downward, downward, straight into the lone lily by the door of the hut. The Goosegirl uttered a cry of joy. Putting the crown upon her head, she arose, exclaiming: "I'm free! I'm free! I'm free!" Then, followed by her geese and the Fiddler, she rushed into the grim wood toward the World of Men. III When morning dawned and the grim wood with all its terrors lay behind the King's Son, he came at last to the town of Hellabrun in the World of Men. Weary and footsore, faint from hunger and thirst, yet dauntless still, he stopped before an inn near the town gate and begged for work. "I would earn an honest penny," he said, "to buy my daily bread. Have you any work for me?" The innkeeper, who was a rough, ill-natured fellow, smiled with contempt as he looked upon the white hands and noble face of the youth before him. So he declared gruffly: "All I need is a swineherd!" "A swineherd!" The voice of the King's Son echoed the loathsome word, while a look of disgust overspread his face. But only for a moment; then, quick as thought, came the vision of the Goosegirl, so sweet and fair despite her humble calling. "All work is noble to those that are of noble mind," thought he. His hand stole to his heart and touched the wreath of white daisies there. "I will be your swineherd," he answered sturdily. Then he seated himself beneath a tree to await the orders of the innkeeper. Now it happened to be a day of great excitement in Hellabrun, and as the morning wore away, a chattering, restless crowd of people--men, women, and even little children--assembled in the market place. With eager eyes they scanned the two soldiers who, armed with long spears, stood on guard before the closed and barred town gate. There were lean men and fat men; men in rich clothes and men in rags. There were tinkers and tailors, soldiers and sailors, and their wives and their sweethearts. Here were wise doctors in black gowns, there gray-bearded counselors leaning upon canes. Wee babes in arms crowed and laughed, boys romped, girls danced. And all awaited the noontide hour and the coming of their King. "Will he ride upon a snow-white charger?" asked one. "Nay, he will be carried aloft, seated upon a golden throne," replied another.