From that moment the happiness of both their lives was ruined . Every night they went to bed wondering if they should find his room empty in the morning , and every day they kept him by their sides , expecting him to be snatched away before their very eyes . At last the king felt that this state of things could not continue , and he said to his wife : ` After all , the most foolish thing in the world one can do is to keep the boy here in exactly the place in which the mermaid will seek him . Let us give him food and send him on his travels , and perhaps , if the mermaid ever blocs come to seek him , she may be content with some other child . ' And the queen agreed that his plan seemed the wisest . So the boy was called , and his father told him the story of the voyage , as he had told his mother before him . The prince listened eagerly , and was delighted to think that he was to go away all by himself to see the world , and was not in the least frightened ; for though he was now sixteen , he had scarcely been allowed to walk alone beyond the palace gardens . He began busily to make his preparations , and took off his smart velvet coat , putting on instead one of green cloth , while he refused a beautiful bag which the queen offered him to hold his food , and slung a leather knapsack over his shoulders instead , just as he had seen other travellers do . Then he bade farewell to his parents and went his way . All through the day he walked , watching with interest the strange birds and animals that darted across his path in the forest or peeped at him from behind a bush . But as evening drew on he became tired , and looked about as he walked for some place where he could sleep . At length he reached a soft mossy bank under a tree , and was just about to stretch himself out on it , when a fearful roar made him start and tremble all over . In another moment something passed swiftly through the air and a lion stood before him . ` What are you doing here ? ' asked the lion , his eyes glaring fiercely at the boy . ' I am flying from the mermaid , ' the prince answered , in a quaking voice . ` Give me some food then , ' said the lion , ` it is past my supper time , and I am very hungry . ' The boy was so thankful that the lion did not want to eat him , that he gladly picked up his knapsack which lay on the ground , and held out some bread and a flask of wine . ' I feel better now , ' said the lion when he had done , ` so now I shall go to sleep on this nice soft moss , and if you like you can lie down beside me . ' So the boy and the lion slept soundly side by side , till the sun rose . '
I must be off now , ' remarked the lion , shaking the boy as he spoke ; ` but cut off the tip XXXXX my ear , and keep it carefully , and if you are in any danger just wish yourself a lion and you will become one on the spot .
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