FAIRY TALES 201 gan to laugh. As soon as she had done this the belt was loosened and all were free. No sooner were the suitors on their feet again than they all drew their weapons and rushed at Jack to kill him. But before they could reach him, he had whipped out his flute and begun to play. They stopped and commenced dancing; princess, suitors, umpires, guards,—all were whirling in a merry maze—all charmed by the music of the magical flute. They danced and they danced until they thought they could dance no longer; and then they tried to stop. But they could not; they must dance all the faster. "Stop your playing!" they shouted. "I will," said Jack, "when the princess laughs." But the princess was determined not to laugh this time, come what might, come what may. She danced and danced, faster and faster, all the time trying to stop, until at last she could stand no longer, and fell, striking her head upon the floor. Then she was ready to yield to her fate. She began to laugh heartily; the music ceased and all stopped dancing. The umpires withdrew to decide the case—and Jack walked away. When the king heard that a stranger had come to the court, and that he had made the princess