And at last they came home again , and the queen was waiting and watching in the palace , as she had never ceased to do since her son had rode away . She almost died of joy at seeing him again , but after a little she remembered his sick friend , and ordered a bed to be made ready and the best doctors in all the country to be sent for . When they heard of the queen 's summons they flocked from all parts , but none could cure him . After everyone had tried and failed a servant entered and informed the queen that a strange old man had just knocked at the palace gate and declared that he was able to heal the dying youth . Now this was a holy man , who had heard of the trouble the king 's son was in , and had come to help . It happened that at this very time a little daughter was born to the king 's son , but in his distress for his friend he had hardly a thought to spare for the baby . He could not be prevailed on to leave the sick bed , and he was bending over it when the holy man entered the room . ` Do you wish your friend to be cured ? ' asked the new comer of the king 's son . ` And what price would you pay ? ' ` What price ? ' answered the king 's son ; ` only tell me what I can do to heal him . ' ` Listen to me , then , ' said the old man . ` This evening you must take your child , and open her veins , and smear the wounds of your friend with her blood . And you will see , he will get well in an instant . ' At these words the king 's son shrieked with horror , for he loved the baby dearly , but he answered , ' I have sworn that I would treat my friend as if he were my brother , and if there is no other way my child must be sacrificed . ' As by this time evening had already fallen he took the child and opened its veins , and smeared the blood over the wounds of the sick man , and the look of death departed from him , and he grew strong and rosy once more . But the little child lay as white and still as if she had been dead . They laid her in the cradle and wept bitterly , for they thought that by the next morning she would be lost to them . At sunrise the old man returned and asked after the sick man .
` He is as well as ever , ' XXXXX the king 's son .
answered ceased departed heal informed lay open pay returned smear