"We must make a new plot to destroy the royal children," said one sister to the other. "And we must be quick about it or the king or queen will see them and recognize them, too, by the golden stars."
"Are you quite sure these are the two royal babes we threw into the river?" asked the other sister doubtfully. "It is a bit difficult for me to believe that our sister's children can be so handsome."
"I'm entirely certain of it," assured her sister. "There is no one except the royal babes who could have those golden stars."
While the wicked sisters plotted, the two children had approached the royal gardens. Inside the garden there was a beautiful parrot with feathers of green and gold.
"I'm going to catch that bird," said one of the brothers. "Wait here while I go inside the gates."
He could not catch the parrot and he called his brother to come and help him. Together they succeeded; and, with the beautiful green-and-gold parrot tightly clutched, they tried to slip outside the gate of the royal gardens.
Just as they were almost out, the great gates swiftly closed and caught their garments.
"We're caught! We're caught!" cried the two children. "How can we ever get the gates unfastened!"
At the sound of their cries, the royal gardeners, the courtiers and the listening king himself came to the rescue.
When the king saw the golden stars upon their foreheads he leaned against the nearest tree for support.