to give you a vessel which will take you back to your own
country."

And, going out, he took the bronze ring and said:

"Bronze ring, obey thy master. Prepare me a ship of
which the half-rotten timbers shall be painted black, let
the sails be in rags, and the sailors infirm and sickly. One
shall have lost a leg, another an arm, the third shall be a
hunchback, another lame or club-footed or blind, and
most of them shall be ugly and covered with scars. Go,
and let my orders be executed."

The minister's son embarked in this old vessel, and
thanks to favorable winds, at length reached his own
country. In spite of the pitiable condition in which he
returned they received him joyfully.

"I am the first to come back," said he to the King;
now fulfil your promise, and give me the princess in
marriage.

So they at once began to prepare for the wedding
festivities. As to the poor princess, she was sorrowful and
angry enough about it.

The next morning, at daybreak, a wonderful ship with
every sail set came to anchor before the town. The King
happened at that moment to be at the palace window.