I was six feet and over tall, and could reach a good eighteen inches above my head. Now, the passage was but seven feet wide. So I lay down across it, and by pressing against the sides with my feet and hands, I rolled myself to the top of the incline.
I had no more than raised myself to my feet when the sweetest ripple of laughter I had ever heard greeted my ears, and there came toward me with outstretched hands the most radiant creature I ever beheld. Such superb carriage; such a graceful form; such delicious lips, between which showed such pearly teeth; such a sweet, sweet face; such glorious hair; and such dear eyes. I would have folded her at once to my bosom, but she seemed too pure and precious for mortal hands.
But she would not we should be strangers longer; nor were we.
She caused a great banquet to be given, and I was surprised to find among the guests so many men of renown; even the hermit was there. But my princess made it all dear when they were all assembled, by saying:
“Gentlemen: I desire to express to you my profoundest respect. You have one and all striven earnestly for my hand; but some obstacle in the way of each proved insurmountable, save in one instance.
“One of my rules said instant death would be meted out to any who disobeyed them. This was prescribed that your utmost exertion might be put forth, and for that alone, for you observe that not one of you has met death. When one of you fell by the way, he was immediately taken in charge, and has fared as handsomely since as it has been in my power to permit him to do.
“There is one among you who has not failed in a single instance, nor has he faltered on the way, as you all know, for since your own failed, each of you has witnessed the efforts of all later ones.
“And it is this one who is now to be given the opportunity of accepting or rejecting my hand. I know I can not only trust myself but my kingdom in his hands, for no circumstance can be so difficult he will not understand and triumph over it.
“I now have the pleasure of offering my hand, my throne, and my fortune to Monk Chawson, and I leave the matter with him.”
Such a deafening applause as rent the air when she resumed her throne was there as to set my nerves vibrating uncomfortably. My words would not come to utterance. I therefore arose from my place at the farther end of the table and went to where she sat.