` Why did I not give her a kiss ? ' he said to himself ; ' I shall never kiss any woman so beautiful . ' And he wrung his hands with regret , so that the hen fell to the ground and ran away . ` But I can do it still ! ' he cried with delight , and he rushed back to the chamber and kissed the sleeping maiden on the forehead . But , alas ! when he came out again he found that the hen had grown so shy that she would not let him come near her . And , worse than that , her sisters began to cluck so loud that the Sister of the Sun was awakened by the noise . She jumped up in haste from her bed , and going to the door she said to the boy : ` You shall never , never , have my hen till you bring me back my sister who was carried off by a giant to his castle , which is a long way off . ' Slowly and sadly the youth left the palace and told his story to his friends , who were waiting outside the gate , how he had actually held the hen three times in his arms and had lost her . ' I knew that we should not get off so easily , ' said the fox , shaking his head ; ` but there is no more time to waste . Let us set off at once in search of the sister . Luckily , I know the way . ' They walked on for many days , till at length the fox , who , as usual , was going first , stopped suddenly . ` The giant 's castle is not far now , ' he said , ` but when we reach it you two must remain outside while I go and fetch the princess . Directly I bring her out you must both catch hold of her tight , and get away as fast as you can ; while I return to the castle and talk to the giants -- for there are many of them -- so that they may not notice the escape of the princess . ' A few minutes later they arrived at the castle , and the fox , who had often been there before , slipped in without difficulty . There were several giants , both young and old , in the hall , and they were all dancing round the princess . As soon as they saw the fox they cried out : ` Come and dance too , old fox ; it is a long time since we have seen you . ' So the fox stood up , and did his steps with the best of them ; but after a while he stopped and said : ' I know a charming new dance that I should like to show you ; but it can only be done by two people .
If the princess will honour me XXXXX a few minutes , you will soon see how it is done . '
as at by for on out outside since than while