`` Yes , '' said the King , `` it shall be granted to you . '' So Trusty John spoke : `` I am unjustly condemned , for I have always been faithful to you '' ; and he proceeded to relate how he had heard the ravens ' conversation on the sea , and how he had to do all he did in order to save his master . Then the King cried : `` Oh ! my most trusty John , pardon ! pardon ! Take him down . '' But as he uttered the last word Trusty John had fallen lifeless to the ground , and was a stone . The King and Queen were in despair , and the King spake : `` Ah ! how ill have I rewarded such great fidelity ! '' and made them lift up the stone image and place it in his bedroom near his bed . As often as he looked at it he wept and said : `` Oh ! if I could only restore you to life , my most trusty John ! '' After a time the Queen gave birth to twins , two small sons , who throve and grew , and were a constant joy to her . One day when the Queen was at church , and the two children sat and played with their father , he gazed again full of grief on the stone statue , and sighing , wailed : `` Oh , if I could only restore you to life , my most trusty John ! '' Suddenly the stone began to speak , and said : `` Yes , you can restore me to life again if you are prepared to sacrifice what you hold most dear . '' And the King cried out : `` All I have in the world will I give up for your sake . '' The stone continued : `` If you cut off with your own hand the heads of your two children , and smear me with their blood , I shall come back to life . '' The King was aghast when he heard that he had himself to put his children to death ; but when he thought of Trusty John 's fidelity , and how he had even died for him , he drew his sword , and with his own hand cut the heads off his children . And when he had smeared the stone with their blood , life came back , and Trusty John stood once more safe and sound before him . He spake to the King : `` Your loyalty shall be rewarded , '' and taking up the heads of the children , he placed them on their bodies , smeared the wounds with their blood , and in a minute they were all right again and jumping about as if nothing had happened .
Then the King was full of joy , and when he saw the Queen coming , he hid Trusty John and the two children XXXXX a big cupboard .
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