NextmorningwhentheKingawoke，andlookedoutofhiswindow，tohisamazementhebeheldamagnificentcastle，justoppositehisownpalace，andjoinedtoitabridgeofpurecrystal。
Ateachsideofthebridgetreesweregrowing，fromwhosebrancheshunggoldenandsilverapples，amongwhichbirdsofParadiseperched。Attheright，gleaminginthesun，werethefivegoldencupolasofasplendidchurch，whosebellsrangout，asiftheywouldsummonpeoplefromallcornersoftheearthtocomeandbeholdthewonder。Now，thoughtheKingwouldmuchratherhaveseenhisfutureson-in-lawtarred，feathered，andburntatthestake，herememberedhisroyaloath，andhadtomakethebestofabadbusiness。Sohetookheartofgrace，andmadeMartinaDuke，andgavehisdaughterarichdowry，andpreparedthegrandestwedding-feastthathadeverbeenseen，sothattothisdaytheoldpeopleinthecountrystilltalkofit。
AftertheweddingMartinandhisroyalbridewenttodwellinthemagnificentnewpalace，andhereMartinlivedinthegreatestcomfortandluxury，suchluxuryashehadneverimagined。Butthoughhewasashappyasthedaywaslong，andasmerryasagrig，theKing’sdaughterfrettedallday，thinkingoftheindignitythathadbeendoneherinmakinghermarryMartin，thepoorwidow’sson，insteadofarichyoungPrincefromaforeigncountry。Sounhappywasshethatshespentallhertimewonderinghowsheshouldgetridofherundesirablehusband。Andfirstshedeterminedtolearnthesecretofhispower，and，withflattering，caressingwords，shetriedtocoaxhimtotellherhowhewassocleverthattherewasnothingintheworldthathecouldnotdo。Atfirsthewouldtellhernothing；butonce，whenhewasinayieldingmood，sheapproachedhimwithawinningsmileonherlovelyface，and，speakingflatteringwordstohim，shegavehimapotiontodrink，withasweet，strongtaste。AndwhenhehaddrunkitMartin’slipswereunsealed，andhetoldherthatallhispowerlayinthemagicringthatheworeonhisfinger，andhedescribedtoherhowtouseit，and，stillspeaking，hefellintoadeepsleep。Andwhenshesawthatthepotionhadworked，andthathewassoundasleep，thePrincesstookthemagicringfromhisfinger，and，goingintothecourtyard，shethrewitfromthepalmofonehandintotheother。
Ontheinstantthetwelveyouthsappeared，andaskedherwhatshecommandedthemtodo。Thenshetoldthemthatbythenextmorningtheyweretodoawaywiththecastle，andthebridge，andthechurch，andputintheirsteadthehumblehutinwhichMartinusedtolivewithhismother，andthatwhilehesleptherhusbandwastobecarriedtohisoldlowlyroom；andthattheyweretobearherawaytotheutmostendsoftheearth，whereanoldKinglivedwhowouldmakeherwelcomeinhispalace，andsurroundherwiththestatethatbefittedaroyalPrincess。
’Youshallbeobeyed，’answeredthetwelveyouthsatthesamemoment。Andloandbehold！thefollowingmorning，whentheKingawokeandlookedoutofhiswindowhebeheldtohisamazementthatthepalace，bridge，church，andtreeshadallvanished，andtherewasnothingintheirplacebutabare，miserable-lookinghut。
ImmediatelytheKingsentforhisson-in-law，andcommandedhimtoexplainwhathadhappened。ButMartinlookedathisroyalfather-in-law，andansweredneveraword。ThentheKingwasveryangry，and，callingacounciltogether，hechargedMartinwithhavingbeenguiltyofwitchcraft，andofhavingdeceivedtheKing，andhavingmadeawaywiththePrincess；andhewascondemnedtoimprisonmentinahighstonetower，withneithermeatnordrink，tillheshoulddieofstarvation。
Then，inthehourofhisdirenecessity，hisoldfriendsSchurka(thedog)andWaska(thecat)rememberedhowMartinhadoncesavedthemfromacrueldeath；andtheytookcounseltogetherastohowtheyshouldhelphim。AndSchurkagrowled，andwasofopinionthathewouldliketoteareveryoneinpieces；butWaskapurredmeditatively，andscratchedthebackofherearwithavelvetpaw，andremainedlostinthought。Attheendofafewminutesshehadmadeuphermind，and，turningtoSchurka，said:
’Letusgotogetherintothetown，andthemomentwemeetabakeryoumustmakearushbetweenhislegsandupsetthetrayfromoffhishead；Iwilllayholdoftherolls，andwillcarrythemofftoourmaster。’Nosoonersaidthandone。Togetherthetwofaithfulcreaturestrottedoffintothetown，andverysoontheymetabakerbearingatrayonhishead，andlookingroundonallsides，whilehecried:
’Freshrolls，sweetcake，Fancybreadofeverykind。
Comeandbuy，comeandtake，Sureyou’llfindittoyourmind，’
AtthatmomentSchurkamadearushbetweenhislegs——thebakerstumbled，thetraywasupset，therollsfelltotheground，and，whilethemanangrilypursuedSchurka，Waskamanagedtodragtherollsoutofsightbehindabush。AndwhenamomentlaterSchurkajoinedher，theysetoffatfulltilttothestonetowerwhereMartinwasaprisoner，takingtherollswiththem。Waska，beingveryagile，climbedupbytheoutsidetothegratedwindow，andcalledinananxiousvoice:
’Areyoualive，master？’
’Scarcelyalive——almoststarvedtodeath，’answeredMartininaweakvoice。’Ilittlethoughtitwouldcometothis，thatI
shoulddieofhunger。’
’Neverfear，dearmaster。SchurkaandIwilllookafteryou，’
saidWaska。Andinanothermomentshehadclimbeddownandbroughthimbackaroll，andthenanother，andanother，tillshehadbroughthimthewholetray-load。Uponwhichshesaid:’Dearmaster，SchurkaandIaregoingofftoadistantkingdomattheutmostendsoftheearthtofetchyoubackyourmagicring。Youmustbecarefulthattherollslasttillourreturn。’
AndWaskatookleaveofherbelovedmaster，andsetoffwithSchurkaontheirjourney。Onandontheytravelled，lookingalwaystorightandleftfortracesofthePrincess，followingupeverytrack，makinginquiriesofeverycatanddogtheymet，listeningtothetalkofeverywayfarertheypassed；andatlasttheyheardthatthekingdomattheutmostendsoftheearthwherethetwelveyouthshadbornethePrincesswasnotveryfaroff。
Andatlastonedaytheyreachedthatdistantkingdom，and，goingatoncetothepalace，theybegantomakefriendswithallthedogsandcatsintheplace，andtoquestionthemaboutthePrincessandthemagicring；butnoonecouldtellthemmuchabouteither。NowonedayitchancedthatWaskahadgonedowntothepalacecellartohuntformiceandrats，andseeinganespeciallyfat，well-fedmouse，shepounceduponit，buriedherclawsinitssoftfur，andwasjustgoingtogobbleitup，whenshewasstoppedbythepleadingtonesofthelittlecreature，saying，’IfyouwillonlysparemylifeImaybeofgreatservicetoyou。Iwilldoeverythinginmypowerforyou；forIamtheKingoftheMice，andifIperishthewholeracewilldieout。’
’Sobeit，’saidWaska。’Iwillspareyourlife；butinreturnyoumustdosomethingforme。InthiscastletherelivesaPrincess，thewickedwifeofmydearmaster。Shehasstolenawayhismagicring。Youmustgetitawayfromheratwhatevercost；
doyouhear？TillyouhavedonethisIwon’ttakemyclawsoutofyourfur。’
’Good！’repliedthemouse；’Iwilldowhatyouask。’And，sosaying，hesummonedallthemiceinhiskingdomtogether。A
countlessnumberofmice，smallandbig，brownandgrey，assembled，andformedacircleroundtheirking，whowasaprisonerunderWaska’sclaws。Turningtothemhesaid:’Dearandfaithfulsubjects，whoeveramongyouwillstealthemagicringfromthestrangePrincesswillreleasemefromacrueldeath；andIshallhonourhimabovealltheothermiceinthekingdom。’
Instantlyatinymousesteppedforwardandsaid:’IoftencreepaboutthePrincess’sbedroomatnight，andIhavenoticedthatshehasaringwhichshetreasuresastheappleofhereye。Alldayshewearsitonherfinger，andatnightshekeepsitinhermouth。Iwillundertake，sire，tostealawaytheringforyou。’
AndthetinymousetrippedawayintothebedroomofthePrincess，andwaitedfornightfall；then，whenthePrincesshadfallenasleep，itcreptupontoherbed，andgnawedaholeinthepillow，throughwhichitdraggedonebyonelittledownfeathers，andthrewthemunderthePrincess’snose。AndthefluffflewintothePrincess’snose，andintohermouth，andstartingupshesneezedandcoughed，andtheringfelloutofhermouthontothecoverlet。Inaflashthetinymousehadseizedit，andbroughtittoWaskaasaransomfortheKingoftheMice。ThereuponWaskaandSchurkastartedoff，andtravellednightanddaytilltheyreachedthestonetowerwhereMartinwasimprisoned；andthecatclimbedupthewindow，andcalledouttohim:
’Martin，dearmaster，areyoustillalive？’
’Ah！Waska，myfaithfullittlecat，isthatyou？’repliedaweakvoice。’Iamdyingofhunger。ForthreedaysIhavenottastedfood。’
’Beofgoodheart，dearmaster，’repliedWaska；’fromthisdayforthyouwillknownothingbuthappinessandprosperity。Ifthiswereamomenttotroubleyouwithriddles，IwouldmakeyouguesswhatSchurkaandIhavebroughtyouback。Onlythink，wehavegotyouyourring！’
AtthesewordsMartin’sjoyknewnobounds，andhestrokedherfondly，andsherubbedupagainsthimandpurredhappily，whilebelowSchurkaboundedintheair，andbarkedjoyfully。ThenMartintookthering，andthrewitfromonehandintotheother，andinstantlythetwelveyouthsappearedandaskedwhattheyweretodo。
’Fetchmefirstsomethingtoeatanddrink，asquicklyaspossible；andafterthatbringmusicianshither，andletushavemusicalldaylong。’
Nowwhenthepeopleinthetownandpalaceheardmusiccomingfromthetowertheywerefilledwithamazement，andcametotheKingwiththenewsthatwitchcraftmustbegoingoninMartin’sTower，for，insteadofdyingofstarvation，hewasseeminglymakingmerrytothesoundofmusic，andtotheclatterofplates，andglass，andknivesandforks；andthemusicwassoenchantinglysweetthatallthepassers-bystoodstilltolistentoit。OnthistheKingsentatonceamessengertotheStarvationTower，andhewassoastonishedwithwhathesawthatheremainedrootedtothespot。ThentheKingsenthischiefcounsellors，andtheytooweretransfixedwithwonder。AtlasttheKingcamehimself，andhelikewisewasspellboundbythebeautyofthemusic。
ThenMartinsummonedthetwelveyouths，spoketothem，saying，’Buildupmycastleagain，andjoinittotheKing’sPalacewithacrystalbridge；donotforgetthetreeswiththegoldenandsilverapples，andwiththebirdsofParadiseinthebranches；
andputbackthechurchwiththefivecupolas，andletthebellsringout，summoningthepeoplefromthefourcornersofthekingdom。Andonethingmore:bringbackmyfaithlesswife，andleadherintothewomen’schamber。’
