They were all much excited by this time and prayed the Wood-carver’s son to tell them more.
“Why, then,” said he, “the Prince’s son shall fly in my wonder bird to the palace of the Khan—”
“And when that wicked ruler sees the beauty and the color of it,” interrupted the Painter’s son, “he will go up to the roof to receive it, with all his royal household, and then—and then——”
“You can snatch up your wife and bear her away!” they all shouted at once to the Prince’s son, who was fairly trembling with joy and hope.
The Wood-carver’s son fell to work at [[93]]once, and in no time at all had built a marvellous wooden bird, big and strong and powerful, with great broad wings that would carry it through the air at the touch of a spring. Then the Painter’s son got out his paints and adorned it with colors rich and fair, so that it shone with beauty like a true Bird of Paradise. The Prince’s son got into it as soon as it was ready, and, amid the shouts of his friends, pressed a spring and flew high up into the air. Then off he steered, straight for the Khan’s royal dwelling.
Great was the excitement at the palace when the big colored bird was seen flying overhead. Everybody rushed about, asking what it might mean, and the Khan was the most excited of them all.
“It is a Bird of Paradise!” he cried, “for see you not the gold upon its wings? It is, doubtless, bearing a messenger to me from the gods! In truth, we must meet him fittingly!” So he called together all his royal servants; choosing the wife of the [[94]]Prince’s son because she was the fairest of all, he bade her go quickly to the roof and welcome the strange messenger as he alighted.
In a flash he had caught her up and had left the palace roof far behind. Page 94.
The damsel hastened to obey and stood waiting and marvelling as the great wooden monster drew near. Imagine her joy when it came whirring to a standstill, disclosing her own dear husband seated within it! In a flash he had caught her up and before the astonished Khan and his court could realize what was happening, the “Bird of Paradise” had left the palace roof far behind and was only a vanishing speck in the distance.