and walk a little way. The town is not far off and we can easily get
another carriage there, for the wheels of this one are bad and will
not hold out much longer.'

The prince looked well at the carriage. He did not think it looked so
unsafe as his servant said; but he had given his word and he held to
it.

They got down and loaded the horses with the luggage. The prince
and his bride walked over the bridge, but the servant said he would
ride the horses through the stream so as to water and bathe them.

They reached the other side without harm, and bought a new
carriage in the town, which was quite near, and set off once more
on their travels; but they had not gone far when they met a
messenger from the king who said to the prince: 'His Majesty has
sent your Royal Highness this beautiful carriage so that you may
make a fitting entry into your own country and amongst your own
people.'

The prince was so delighted that he could not speak. But the
servant said: 'My lord, let me examine this carriage first and then
you can get in if I find it is all right; otherwise we had better stay in
our own.'

The prince made no objections, and after looking the carriage well
over the servant said: 'It is as bad as it is smart'; and with that he
knocked it all to pieces, and they went on in the one that they had
bought.