"The road to the north," he exclaimed, "lies along the river bank;therefore, you can easily keep him company."

The Water Sprite bowed, and dancing over the dewy grass to the river,threw herself into it. Sometimes she swam beneath the clear water;sometimes she rose partly in the air, where she seemed like a littlecloud of sparkling mist borne onward by the wind; and occasionally shefloated upon the surface, her pale white robes undulating with thegentle waves, while her green hands and feet shone in the sun liketiny crests of foam. Thus, singing to herself, she went joyously andrapidly on, aided by a full, strong wind from the south. She did notforget to glance every now and then upon the road which ran along theriver bank; and, in the course of the evening, she perceived thePrince. He was sitting in the shade of a tree near the water's edge,while his green mule was grazing near by.

The Water Sprite came somewhat gently out of the river, and seatingherself upon the edge of the grassy bank, she spoke to him. ThePrince looked up in astonishment, but there was nothing in herappearance to frighten him.

"I came," exclaimed the Water Sprite, "at the command of my master, to askyou why you left your city, where you are going, and what you intendto do when you get there."

The Prince then told her why he had left his city, and what heintwelveded to do when he had found the Princess.