The wedding festivities lasted for eight days , and the dogs sat at table and made eyes at everyone . THE WITCH IN THE STONE BOAT -LRB- 31 -RRB- -LRB- 31 -RRB- From the Icelandic . There were once a King and a Queen , and they had a son called Sigurd , who was very strong and active , and good-looking . When the King came to be bowed down with the weight of years he spoke to his son , and said that now it was time for him to look out for a fitting match for himself , for he did not know how long he might last now , and he would like to see him married before he died . Sigurd was not averse to this , and asked his father where he thought it best to look for a wife . The King answered that in a certain country there was a King who had a beautiful daughter , and he thought it would be most desirable if Sigurd could get her . So the two parted , and Sigurd prepared for the journey , and went to where his father had directed him . He came to the King and asked his daughter 's hand , which he readily granted him , but only on the condition that he should remain there as long as he could , for the King himself was not strong and not very able to govern his kingdom . Sigurd accepted this condition , but added that he would have to get leave to go home again to his own country when he heard news of his father 's death . After that Sigurd married the Princess , and helped his father-in-law to govern the kingdom . He and the Princess loved each other dearly , and after a year a son came to them , who was two years old when word came to Sigurd that his father was dead . Sigurd now prepared to return home with his wife and child , and went on board ship to go by sea . They had sailed for several days , when the breeze suddenly fell , and there came a dead calm , at a time when they needed only one day 's voyage to reach home . Sigurd and his Queen were one day on deck , when most of the others on the ship had fallen asleep . There they sat and talked for a while , and had their little son along with them . After a time Sigurd became so heavy with sleep that he could no longer keep awake , so he went below and lay down , leaving the Queen alone on the deck , playing with her son . A good while after Sigurd had gone below the Queen saw something black on the sea , which seemed to be coming nearer . As it approached she could make out that it was a boat , and could see the figure of some one sitting in it and rowing it . At last the boat came alongside the ship , and now the Queen saw that it was a stone boat , out of which there came up on board the ship a fearfully ugly Witch . The Queen was more frightened than words can describe , and could neither speak a word nor move from the place so as to awaken the King or the sailors .
The Witch came right up XXXXX the Queen , took the child from her and laid it on the deck ; then she took the Queen , and stripped her of all her fine clothes , which she proceeded to put on herself , and looked then like a human being .
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