He advanced to the wall and struck it, saying the words he had heard her use.
It flew open before him and the fresh air rushed against his face. With one backward glance at the sleeper he climbed the incline, and, in a moment, had wished himself visible again and was standing on the rock by the Princess.
Her eyes were fixed on his ship, but she turned on hearing a step. Her face was almost fierce, for she expected nothing better than to meet the witch. Then she saw the Ugly Prince and rose, with a cry, stretching out her hand to him. Her great sorrow seemed to be looking out of her eyes, and the beauty of her face was so far beyond anything he had imagined that he stood before her dumbfounded, more like a culprit than the man who had fought his way to her through peril and fatigue. He took her hand and pressed his lips upon it. As he did so there was a rushing in the air, and the old cormorant, who had just returned from his fishing, began raining the blows of his heavy wings upon his shoulders. He fought it off as well as he could with his left arm while he drew his sword, and, as the savage bird swung back to make a fresh swoop, the steel blade flashed and it fell dead on the rock at his feet.
The Princess covered her eyes; she almost sank upon the ground, but the Ugly Prince caught her in his arms.
“How can we escape? How are we to reach the ship?” she cried.
He drew out the Golden Heart. The same tremor ran through it as it said: “Cut off the cormorant’s wings and strike them with the witch’s shoe. They will fasten themselves upon your shoulders and you will be able to fly as well as the bird.”
The Prince obeyed, then he stood ready to leave for ever the scene of his conflict. “Come,” he said to the Princess.
We must now return to the little boy, who had never left the deck all the hours his friend had been away. As he saw him rise into the air with his living burden he clasped his hands, standing breathless until the cormorant’s wings had borne him over the strip of water. His joy knew no bounds as he saw him land safely beside him, and he looked with admiration and awe upon the lovely Princess who had suffered so much.
“Who is this?” she asked, pointing to the child.
“That is more than I can tell you,” said the Prince, smiling, “for I picked him out of the water. But he is very dear to me all the same.”