And it was so. When the maiden had entered, and after she had answered, modestly, his greeting, the king was so pleased with her that he no longer wondered at the desire of his son. He yielded to importunity and gave his consent to the marriage.
Immediately the wedding was arranged. During forty days and forty nights the celebrations continued. Upon the forty-first day the prince was married to the beautiful princess.
They were very happy together. Near the end of the first year a little daughter was born to them. Then did their happiness seem complete.
Some time elapsed. The child grew and had perfect health. One night, when the prince, the princess, and all of their attendants were asleep, the bird, which had bided its time patiently, came into the chamber where lay the child and its mother. He smeared the mouth of the princess with blood, took the child under his wing, and wakened her roughly.
“See!” he cried. “I am carrying off your child. [[142]]Wait a little! You will learn what other afflictions are in store for you!”
As he uttered these cruel words he flew away; leaving the princess speechless with grief, and unconscious of the blood-stains upon her lips.
Morning came. The prince arose to find his child gone and the mouth of his wife smeared with blood! He was amazed at the sight, but did not permit himself to speak until he had gone into the presence of his father, to whom, with great effort to control his grief, he confided the state of affairs.
The king’s surprise knew no bounds. “My son,” he asked, “whence came this girl? Where did you tell me that you had found her?”
“Upon a mountain, my father.”
“Then, although she has conducted herself becomingly and has seemed most gentle and sweet, undoubtedly there is savage blood in her veins. One can never tell when this may manifest itself. If she will eat her own child, whom she loved, she may, at any time, become possessed with the desire to eat other people.”