“‘Catch,’ she said to the bull, throwing a ball at him as she spoke.  He tossed his head, and to her surprise the ball was caught on one of his horns.

“‘Catch,’ she said again, and he had caught the second.

“‘Catch,’ a third time.  The great creature caught it in his mouth like a dog, and brought it gently to the Princess and laid it at her feet.  She took it and half timidly stroked his head; and no one who had seen the soft pathetic look which crept into his large round eyes would have believed in his being the cruel monster he had been described.  He did not speak, he seemed without the power to do so now, but by signs he made the Princess understand it was time to continue their journey, and she mounted his back as before.

“All that day the bull travelled on, but the Princess was now getting accustomed to her strange steed, and felt less tired and frightened.  And when the sun grew hot the bull was sure to find a sheltered path, where the trees shaded her from the glare, and when the road was rough he went the more slowly, that she should not be shaken.

“Late in the evening the Princess heard a far-off rushing sound, that as they went seemed to grow louder and louder.

“‘What is that, brown bull?’ she asked, feeling somehow a little frightened.

“The brown bull raised his head and looked round him.  Yes, the sun had sunk, he might speak.  And in the same deep voice he answered,

“’The sea, king’s daughter, the sea that is to bear you and me to my country of Norrowa.’

“‘And how shall we cross it, brown bull?’ she said.

“‘Have no fear,’ he replied.  ’Lay down your head and shut your eyes, and no harm will come near you.’

“The Princess did as he bade her.  She heard the roar of the waves come nearer and nearer, a cold wind blew over her face, and she felt at last that her huge steed had plunged into the water, for it splashed on to her hand, which was hanging downwards, and then she heard him, with a gasp and a snort, strike out boldly.  The Princess drew herself up on the bull’s back as closely as she could; she had no wish to get wet.  But she was not frightened.  She grew accustomed to the motion of her great steed’s swimming, and as she kept her eyes fast shut she did not see how near she was to the water, and felt as if in a peaceful dream.  And after a while the feeling became reality, for she fell fast asleep and dreamt she was in her little turret chamber, listening to the wind softly blowing through the casement.

“When she awoke she was alone.  She was lying on a couch, but this time not of moss, but of the richest and softest silk.  She rubbed her eyes and looked about her.  Was she in her father’s castle?  Had her youth and her courage softened the monster’s heart, and made him carry her back again to her happy home?  For a moment she thought it must be so; but no, when she looked again, none of the rooms in her old home were so beautiful as