Tell Me a Story (21 traditional stories from the British Isles dramatised by J.D.Graham), страница 10

So the three little men moved the castle across the sea and when the King and Sam and the princess came back from their picnic, the castle had disappeared. Sam soon realised that his little golden jewel box had gone as well.   The King was very annoyed.   “You’ve deceived me and you’ve deceived my daughter,” he said.   “I’ll give you a year to find the castle and if you’re not back within a year - with that castle - then you can’t marry my daughter.   And you’ll be in serious trouble.”

So Sam had to say goodbye to the princess and go off and look for the castle.  He travelled a long way and everywhere he went he told people he was looking for a castle - a castle standing on twelve golden pillars.   But nobody had seen the castle.   At last Sam came to the Kingdom of the Mice.   He went to see the King of the Mice.   “Your Majesty - I’m looking for a castle.   Is there a castle near here?” he asked.   But the King of the Mice replied, “I’m sorry, I’m afraid I can’t help you.   But I’ll call a meeting.”   And he did.   He asked all the mice if they had seen a castle - but they hadn’t.   As Sam left the Palace one of the mice asked if he could go with him.   “I might be useful.”   Sam said.   “Yes, you can come if you want to.   Get into my pocket.”

He and the mouse travelled on until they came to the Kingdom of the Birds.   Sam went to see the King of the Birds and once again asked if there was a castle near there.   The King of the Birds hadn’t seen a castle but he promised to call a meeting.   At the meeting, none of the birds had seen a castle until the eagle arrived.   “I’m sorry I’m late, your Majesty,” he said, “but I’ve come a long way.”   And he had seen the castle - in fact he had just come from there.   The King of the Birds ordered the eagle to take Sam there at once.

So Sam climbed on to the eagle’s back and the eagle flew to the castle.   When they got there, they knocked on the door but everyone had gone out for the day.   There was no-one there and all the doors were locked.   “I can help”, said the mouse.   So it got into the castle through a little mouse hole - and found the little golden box.   Sam carefully put the golden box in his pocket.   Then they all flew back to the Kingdom of the Birds.   When they arrived, the King of the Birds said “Where’s the castle?   Why didn’t you bring it with you?”   Sam replied that he had left it behind but when he got home he would arrange for it to be moved.   “You’ve deceived me,” cried the King of the Birds.   “I want to see the castle.   Bring it here at once.   If you don’t bring it here at once, you’ll be in serious trouble - your head will come off.”

But Sam knew exactly what to do.   When he was alone, he took the little golden box out of his pocket and opened it.   The three little men jumped out and Sam told them he wanted them to bring the castle on its twelve golden pillars there immediately.   “You haven’t given us much time, have you?” grumbled the three little men.  “Why don’t you give us more time?”   But when they heard that it was an emergency, they flew out of the window and came back with the castle.

When he saw the castle, the King of the Birds was very pleased.   “You can go now”, he said to Sam, “but leave the castle here.”   So Sam left the castle behind and went back to the King’s Palace.   The princess was very pleased to see him.   “At last you’re back,” she said.   But the King was annoyed because Sam had not brought the castle with him.   “Bring the castle here at once and if you don’t, you’ll be in serious trouble - very serious trouble,” he warned.   “Your head will come off!”

Sam said that he would arrange it and when he was alone, took the little golden box out of his pocket and opened it.