Hardly had he crossed the threshold of the door ere everything in the castle awoke and all there became movement. He sprang upon the back of the whale, which was impatiently awaiting him.
"THIS IS HE WHOM YOU MUST MARRY."
On reaching the middle of the sea, the gigantic animal suddenly plunged into the depths of the waters, then, remounting, said to the Prince:—
"Did that plunge frighten you?"
"Yes; I confess it greatly frightened me."
"Well, I was quite as much alarmed when you filled your wallet with apples."
When he had gone a little further, the whale again plunged, only deeper than the first time, and then said to the Prince:—
"Were you afraid?"
"More than ever I have been before."