“Let us send wine to all the servants and to the jailers and even to the guards without, that they may all drink to the health of the lovely Queen.”
“Good! Good!” cried the King, as he raised his cup on high. “Every one in the whole city shall have food and drink to-night. Let it be given freely to all.”
But the eyes of many were already so heavy that they forgot to cheer his words, and soon one by one they fell over as they sat eating and rolled upon the floor. At last even the King was overcome, and went fast asleep in his great carved chair with his crown awry. And all of the servants, having had much wine, lay at their posts like dead men.
When all was still the Queen-Mother ran to the prison, and taking the keys from the waist of the sleeping jailer, unlocked the wizard’s cell. He was expecting her, and he cried impatiently:
“You were long in coming. The people everywhere will soon be astir, and they will capture me and bring me again to the King if they meet me on my way to the cave.” (For he did not want her to know that he was going straight to the haunted forest.) While he talked she had unfastened his chains with trembling hands.
“Go! Go!” she entreated. “There is not a moment to be lost. Even now the fireflies are putting out their lights and waiting for the dawn. See, here is gold to pay for your journey and food to last you for a week. Hurry back to me with the wonderful pearl, and when I am the most beautiful woman in the land you shall be the greatest man.”
“When I return you shall be in truth the fairest woman men ever looked upon,” he promised solemnly. Then he wrapped his cloak about him and bowed himself from her presence.
When he was out of sight of the old lady he laughed to himself, and ran like a shadow through the sleeping town. On and on he went, over the Fertile Plain of Sweet Flags and through the long fields of waving rice, never once stopping to get his breath until he stood on the bank of the river. There he found a boat fastened to the shore, and soon he was rowing up the stream with all his might.
But not yet was he safe. Because so many people throughout the country knew the Cave Man and hated him, he was in constant fear of being seen. In the daytime he hid in the tall rushes on the river bank and slept, and all the night he plied his oars with feverish zeal, until his hands were blistered and his back about to break. Once a party of fishermen came so close to the reedy shore where he lay trembling that he could hear every word they said. And what he heard did not make him any more comfortable.
“The King has offered a great price for the head of the Cave Man,” said one, “and men are hunting all over the island for him. Even if he were a needle they would find him. On the night of the great banquet he cast a spell on the court and caused every one to fall asleep. Then he opened his prison door and ran away. Now the King will know no peace until he is dead. And whoever brings his head to the city will be a rich man for life.”