said he . For the rest of the day he remained a bear and continued his journey , but as evening came on the bear-skin , which had been so useful when plunging through brambles in the forest , felt rather heavy , and he wished himself a boy again . He was too much exhausted to take the trouble of cutting any fern or seeking for moss , but just threw himself down under a tree , when exactly above his head he heard a great buzzing as a bumble-bee alighted on a honeysuckle branch . ` What are you doing here ? ' asked the bee in a cross voice ; ` at your age you ought to be safe at home . ' ' I am running away from the mermaid , ' replied the boy ; but the bee , like the lion and the bear , was one of those people who never listen to the answers to their questions , and only said : ' I am hungry . Give me something to eat . ' The boy took his last loaf and flask out of his knapsack and laid them on the ground , and they had supper together . ` Well , now I am going to sleep , ' observed the bee when the last crumb was gone , ` but as you are not very big I can make room for you beside me , ' and he curled up his wings , and tucked in his legs , and he and the prince both slept soundly till morning . Then the bee got up and carefully brushed every scrap of dust off his velvet coat and buzzed loudly in the boy 's ear to waken him . ` Take a single hair from one of my wings , ' said he , ` and if you are in danger just wish yourself a bee and you will become one . One good turn deserves another , so farewell , and thank you for your supper . ' And the bee departed after the boy had pulled out the hair and wrapped it carefully in a leaf . ` It must feel quite different to be a bee from what it does to be a lion or bear , ' thought the boy to himself when he had walked for an hour or two . ' I dare say I should get on a great deal faster , ' so he pulled out his hair and wished himself a bee . In a moment the strangest thing happened to him . All his limbs seemed to draw together , and his body to become very short and round ; his head grew quite tiny , and instead of his white skin he was covered with the richest , softest velvet . Better than all , he had two lovely gauze wings which carried him the whole day without getting tired . Late in the afternoon the boy fancied he saw a vast heap of stones a long way off , and he flew straight towards it . But when he reached the gates he saw that it was really a great town , so he wished himself back in his own shape and entered the city .
He found the palace doors wide open and went boldly into a sort XXXXX hall which was full of people , and where men and maids were gossiping together .
For above beside if in like of till to with