The game the children loved the best was a match at archery , for the king had given them two bows exactly alike , and they would spend whole days in trying to see which could shoot the highest . This is always very dangerous , and it was a great wonder they did not put their eyes out ; but somehow or other they managed to escape . One morning , when the prince had done his lessons , he ran out to call his friend , and they both hurried off to the lawn which was their usual playground . They took their bows out of the little hut where their toys were kept , and began to see which could shoot the highest . At last they happened to let fly their arrows both together , and when they fell to earth again the tail feather of a golden hen was found sticking in one . Now the question began to arise whose was the lucky arrow , for they were both alike , and look as closely as you would you could see no difference between them . The prince declared that the arrow was his , and the gardener 's boy was quite sure it was HIS -- and on this occasion he was perfectly right ; but , as they could not decide the matter , they went straight to the king . When the king had heard the story , he decided that the feather belonged to his son ; but the other boy would not listen to this and claimed the feather for himself . At length the king 's patience gave way , and he said angrily : ` Very well ; if you are so sure that the feather is yours , yours it shall be ; only you will have to seek till you find a golden hen with a feather missing from her tail . And if you fail to find her your head will be the forfeit . ' The boy had need of all his courage to listen silently to the king 's words . He had no idea where the golden hen might be , or even , if he discovered that , how he was to get to her . But there was nothing for it but to do the king 's bidding , and he felt that the sooner he left the palace the better . So he went home and put some food into a bag , and then set forth , hoping that some accident might show him which path to take . After walking for several hours he met a fox , who seemed inclined to be friendly , and the boy was so glad to have anyone to talk to that he sat down and entered into conversation . ` Where are you going ? ' asked the fox . ' I have got to find a golden hen who has lost a feather out of her tail , ' answered the boy ; ` but I do n't know where she lives or how I shall catch her ! ' ` Oh , I can show you the way ! ' said the fox , who was really very good-natured .
` Far towards the east , XXXXX that direction , lives a beautiful maiden who is called `` The Sister of the Sun . ''
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