Then it came to the turn of the third and youngest son . Iwanich was not the least discouraged by the failure of his elder brothers , though they were both much older and stronger than he was , and when night came climbed up the tree as they had done , The moon had risen , and with her soft light lit up the whole neighbourhood , so that the observant Prince could distinguish the smallest object distinctly . At midnight a gentle west wind shook the tree , and at the same moment a snow-white swan-like bird sank down gently on his breast . The Prince hastily seized the bird 's wings in his hands , when , lo ! to his astonishment he found he was holding in his arms not a bird but the most beautiful girl he had ever seen . ` You need not fear Militza , ' said the beautiful girl , looking at the Prince with friendly eyes . ` An evil magician has not robbed you of your fruit , but he stole the seed from my mother , and thereby caused her death . When she was dying she bade me take the fruit , which you have no right to possess , from the trees every year as soon as it was ripe . This I would have done to-night too , if you had not seized me with such force , and so broken the spell I was under . ' Iwanich , who had been prepared to meet a terrible magician and not a lovely girl , fell desperately in love with her . They spent the rest of the night in pleasant conversation , and when Militza wished to go away he begged her not to leave him . ' I would gladly stay with you longer , ' said Militza , ` but a wicked witch once cut off a lock of my hair when I was asleep , which has put me in her power , and if morning were still to find me here she would do me some harm , and you , too , perhaps . ' Having said these words , she drew a sparkling diamond ring from her finger , which she handed to the Prince , saying : ` Keep this ring in memory of Militza , and think of her sometimes if you never see her again . But if your love is really true , come and find me in my own kingdom . I may not show you the way there , but this ring will guide you . ` If you have love and courage enough to undertake this journey , whenever you come to a cross-road always look at this diamond before you settle which way you are going to take . If it sparkles as brightly as ever go straight on , but if its lustre is dimmed choose another path . ' Then Militza bent over the Prince and kissed him on his forehead , and before he had time to say a word she vanished through the branches of the tree in a little white cloud . Morning broke , and the Prince , still full of the wonderful apparition , left his perch and returned to the palace like one in a dream , without even knowing if the fruit had been taken or not ; for his whole mind was absorbed by thoughts of Militza and how he was to find her . As soon as the head-gardener saw the Prince going towards the palace he ran to the trees , and when he saw them laden with ripe fruit he hastened to tell the King the joyful news .
The King was beside himself for joy , and hurried at once XXXXX the garden and made the gardener pick him some of the fruit .
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