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The ants carried all the bread crumbs down the fore and aft moorings； and the ship cast off again。
It came to an island of rocky cliffs that dropped straight down to port。 〃What cargo do you bring？〃 cried voices from above。
〃Stinking carrion！〃
〃Excellent！ That's just what we need；〃 and huge shadows swooped down on the ship。
It was the Island of Vultures； inhabited entirely by those greedy birds。 They flew off with every ounce of carrion； promising in return to help the men whenever they called； 〃Vultures； fine vultures； help us！〃
After several more months of sailing； they landed on the island where the king of England's daughter was a prisoner。 They disembarked； walked through a long cave； and emerged before a palace in a garden。 A dwarf walked out to meet them。 〃Is the king of England's daughter here？〃 asked the youth。
〃e in and ask Fairy Sibiana；〃 replied the dwarf； showing them into the palace； which had gold floors and crystal walls。 Fairy Sibiana sat on a throne of crystal and gold。
〃Kings and princes have brought entire armies to free the princess；〃 said the fairy； 〃and every last one of them died。〃
〃All I have are my will and my courage；〃 said the youth。
〃Well； then； you must undergo three trials。 If you fail； you'll not get away from here alive。 Do you see that mountain shutting out the sun from my view？ You must level it by tomorrow morning。 When I wake up I want the sunlight streaming into my room。〃
The dwarf came out with a pickax and led the youth to the foot of the mountain。 The young man brought the pickax down once； and the blade snapped in two。 〃Now how am I going to dig？〃 he wondered； then remembered the rats on the other island。 〃Rats； fine rats； help me！〃
He'd not got the words out of his mouth before the mountain was swarming with rats from top to bottom。 They dug and gnawed and clawed； while the mountain dwindled and dwindled and dwindled。。。
Next morning Fairy Sibiana was awakened by the first rays of sun streaming into her room。 〃congratulations！〃 she said to the youth； 〃but you're not done yet。〃 She led him to the palace's underground vaults； in the center of which was a room with a ceiling as high as a church's and containing one big heap of peas and lentils that reached the ceiling。 〃You have this whole night to separate the peas from the lentils into two distinct piles。 Heaven help you if you leave one single lentil in the pea pile； or one single pea in the lentil pile。〃
The dwarf left him a candle wick and went off with the fairy。 As the wick burned down to nothing； the youth continued to stare at the huge pile； wondering how any human could ever acplish so intricate a task。 Then he remembered the ants on the other island。 〃Ants； fine ants；〃 he called； 〃help me！〃
No sooner had he said those words than the entire cellar teemed with those tiny insects。 They converged on the heap and； with order and patience； made two separate piles； one team of ants carrying peas and the other lentils。
〃I'm still not defeated；〃 said the fairy when she saw the task pleted。 〃A far more difficult trial now awaits you。 You have from now till dawn to fetch me a barrel of the water of long life。〃
The spring of long life was at the top of a steep mountain infested with savage beasts。 Scaling the mountain was out of the question； much less while carrying a barrel。 But the youth called； 〃Vultures； fine vultures； help me！〃 and the sky darkened with vultures circling down to earth。 The youth attached a phial to the neck of each； and the vultures soared in a grand formation straight to the spring on the mountaintop； filled their phials； and flew back with them to the youth； who poured the water into the barrel he had waiting。
When the barrel was full； hoofbeats were heard retreating。 Fairy Sibiana was fleeing for dear life； followed by her dwarfs； while out of the palace ran the king of England's daughter； cheering： 〃I'm safe at last！ You set me free！〃
With the king's daughter and the water of long life； the youth returned to his ship； where the old sailor was all ready to weigh anchor。
The king of England scanned the sea every day through his telescope。 Seeing a ship approach that was flying the English flag； he ran to port overjoyed。 When the mangy one beheld the youth safe and sound and escorting the king's daughter； he was fit to be tied and resolved to have him killed。
While the king was celebrating his daughter's return with a grand banquet； two grim…looking fellows came to get the youth； saying it was a matter of life and death。 Puzzled； he followed them。 When they got to the woods； the two fellows； who were assassins hired by the mangy one； drew their knives and cut the youth's throat。
Meanwhile at the banquet； the king's daughter was more and more worried； since the youth had gone off with that sinister pair and not returned。 She went out looking for him and； reaching the woods； found his body covered with wounds。 But the old sailor had brought along the barrel containing the water of long life； in which he immersed the youth's body； only to see him jump right back out as sound as ever and so handsome that the king's daughter threw her arms around his neck。
The mangy one was livid with rage。 〃What's in that barrel？〃 he asked。
〃Boiling oil；〃 replied the sailor。
So the mangy one had a barrel of oil heated to boiling and announced to the princess： 〃If you don't love me I'll kill myself。〃 He stabbed himself with his dagger and leaped into the boiling oil。 He was instantly scalded to death。 Also his black wig had flown off when he leaped； revealing his mangy head。
〃Ah； the mangy one！〃 exclaimed the king of England。 〃The cruelest of all my enemies。 He finally got what was ing to him。 So you； valiant youth； are my godson！ You shall marry my daughter and inherit my kingdom！〃 And so it was。
（Riviera ligure di ponente）
NOTES：
〃The Ship with Three Decks〃 （Il bastimento a tre piani） from Andrews； 2 and 27； Menton； told by Giuanina Piombo dite La Mova； and by Angelina Moretti。
Prosperous sea trading； with unusual cargos ing into ports where the merchandise i