Lucky Luck Once upon a time there was a king who had an only son . When the lad was about eighteen years old his father had to go to fight in a war against a neighbouring country , and the king led his troops in person . He bade his son act as Regent in his absence , but ordered him on no account to marry till his return . Time went by . The prince ruled the country and never even thought of marrying . But when he reached his twenty-fifth birthday he began to think that it might be rather nice to have a wife , and he thought so much that at last he got quite eager about it . He remembered , however , what his father had said , and waited some time longer , till at last it was ten years since the king went out to war . Then the prince called his courtiers about him and set off with a great retinue to seek a bride . He hardly knew which way to go , so he wandered about for twenty days , when , suddenly , he found himself in his father 's camp . The king was delighted to see his son , and had a great many questions to ask and answer ; but when he heard that instead of quietly waiting for him at home the prince was starting off to seek a wife he was very angry , and said : ` You may go where you please but I will not leave any of my people with you . ' Only one faithful servant stayed with the prince and refused to part from him . They journeyed over hill and dale till they came to a place called Goldtown . The King of Goldtown had a lovely daughter , and the prince , who soon heard about her beauty , could not rest till he saw her . He was very kindly received , for he was extremely good-looking and had charming manners , so he lost no time in asking for her hand and her parents gave her to him with joy . The wedding took place at once , and the feasting and rejoicings went on for a whole month . At the end of the month they set off for home , but as the journey was a long one they spent the first evening at an inn . Everyone in the house slept , and only the faithful servant kept watch . About midnight he heard three crows , who had flown to the roof , talking together . ` That 's a handsome couple which arrived here tonight . It seems quite a pity they should lose their lives so soon . '
` Truly , ' said the second crow ; ` for to-morrow , when midday strikes , the bridge XXXXX the Gold Stream will break just as they are driving over it .
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