"With more obedience than pleasure," said the prince, gallantly;
and away they swam, very gently.

"Will you be in the lake to-morrow night?" the prince ventured to
ask.

"To be sure I will. I don't think so. Perhaps," was the princess's
somewhat strange answer.

But the prince was intelligent enough not to press her further; and
merely whispered, as he gave her the parting lift, "Don't tell."

The only answer the princess returned was a roguish look. She was
already a yard above his head. The look seemed to say, "Never fear.
It is too good fun to spoil that way."

So perfectly like other people had she been in the water, that even
yet the prince could scarcely believe his eyes when he saw her
ascend slowly, grasp the balcony, and disappear through the window.
He turned, almost expecting to see her still by his side. But he
was alone in the water. So he swam away quietly, and watched the
lights roving about the shore for hours after the princess was safe
in her chamber. As soon as they disappeared, he landed in search of
his tunic and sword, and, after some trouble, found them again.
Then he made the best of his way round the lake to the other side.
There the wood was wilder, and the shore steeper-rising more
immediately towards the mountains which surrounded the lake on all
sides, and kept sending it messages of silvery streams from morning
to night, and all night long. He soon found a spot whence he could