“That is true,” agreed the other.

Very soon after they flew away, and Fairyfoot was left alone.  He had been so excited while they were talking that he had been hardly able to lie still.  He was so sorry for the Princess Goldenhair, and so glad for himself.  Now he could find his way to the pool with the red berries, and he could bathe his feet in it until they were large enough to satisfy Stumpinghame; and he could go back to his father’s court, and his parents would perhaps; be fond of him.  But he had so good a heart that he could not think of being happy himself and letting others remain unhappy, when he could help them.  So the first thing was to find the Princess Goldenhair and tell her about the nightingales’ fountain.  But how was he to find her?  The nightingales had not told him.  He was very much troubled, indeed.  How was he to find her?

Suddenly, quite suddenly, he thought of the ring Gauzita had given him.  When she had given it to him she had made an odd remark.

“When you wish to go anywhere,” she had said, “hold it in your hand, turn around twice with closed eyes, and something queer will happen.”

He had thought it was one of her little jokes, but now it occurred to him that at least he might try what would happen.  So he rose up, held the ring in his hand, closed his eyes, and turned around twice.

What did happen was that he began to walk, not very fast, but still passing along as if he were moving rapidly.  He did not know where he was going, but he guessed that the ring did, and that if he obeyed it, he should find the Princess Goldenhair.  He went on and on, not getting in the least tired, until about daylight he found himself under a great tree, and on the ground beneath it was spread a delightful breakfast, which he knew was for him.  He sat down and ate it, and then got up again and went on his way once more.  Before noon he had left the forest behind him, and was in a strange country.  He knew it was not Stumpinghame, because the people had not large feet.  But they all had sad faces, and once or twice, when he passed groups of them who were talking, he heard them speak of the Princess Goldenhair, as if they were sorry for her and could not enjoy themselves while such a misfortune rested upon her.

“So sweet and lovely and kind a princess!” they said; “and it really seems as if she would never be any better.”

The sun was just setting when Fairyfoot came in sight of the palace.  It was built of white marble, and had beautiful pleasure-grounds about it, but somehow there seemed to be a settled gloom in the air.  Fairyfoot had entered the great pleasure-garden, and was wondering where it would be best to go first, when he saw a lovely white fawn, with a golden collar about its neck, come bounding over the flower-beds, and he heard, at a little distance, a sweet voice, saying, sorrowfully, “Come back, my fawn; I cannot run and play with you as I once used to.  Do not leave me, my little friend.”