But Golden Snow is fairer than all.”
The flush of pride in the cheek of the consul’s daughter gave place to the deeper red of anger. Her eyes shot flames of fire, and her brow darkened with heavy clouds. “What does this insult mean?” she said sharply to the prince.
The young man gave a start, as though he were awaking from a dream. “It is strange,” he answered, “but it shall be looked to, lady. What it means I can not tell.”
He called his servants, telling them to bring in the people who were crying without. When the men returned, they were trembling, and seemed quite afraid.
“There are a hundred voices, but no person is without, only the snow-flakes flying about like living things.”
Then the prince went out himself, and a great search was made all over the grounds of the castle, but not a human being could be found. Still, everywhere the voices could be heard, and the snow-flakes thickened, till at last the search was given up.
“It is the work of magic and evil,” said the consul and all his friends; but the prince offered a great reward to any one who would find the beautiful Golden Snow, and all the guests were invited to return in one week’s time.
All the week the young prince could think of nothing but the mysterious voices that pursued him, and everywhere his messengers were seeking for the beautiful Golden Snow.
The consul’s daughter was nearly wild with rage and disappointment. One evening, in the dusky twilight, she went down into the shadows of a dark cañon, and consulted a wicked old witch, who lived in a dismal cavern.
“Am I not the fairest of all the maidens in the new world?” she asked, “but what means this cry of ‘Golden Snow?’”