After crossing several deserts the king arrived at length in a country that seemed inhabited , but the instant he stepped over the border he was seized and flung into chains , and dragged at once to the capital . He asked his guards why he was treated like this , but the only answer he got was that he was in the territory of the Iron King , for in those days countries had no names of their own , but were called after their rulers . The young man was led into the presence of the Iron King , who was seated on a black throne in a hall also hung with black , as a token of mourning for all the relations whom he had put to death . ` What are you doing in my country ? ' he cried fiercely . ' I came here by accident , ' replied Souci , ` and if I ever escape from your clutches I will take warning by you and treat my subjects differently . ' ` Do you dare to insult me in my own court ? ' cried the king . ` Away with him to Little Ease ! ' Now Little Ease was an iron cage hung by four thick chains in the middle of a great vaulted hall , and the prisoner inside could neither sit , nor stand , nor lie ; and , besides that , he was made to suffer by turns unbearable heat and cold , while a hundred heavy bolts kept everything safe . Girouette , whose business it was to see after Souci , had forgotten his existence in the excitement of some new idea , and he would not have been alive long to trouble anybody if Aveline had not come to the rescue and whispered in his ear , ` And the skein of thread ? ' He took it up obediently , though he did not see how it would help him but he tied it round one of the iron bars of his cage , which seemed the only thing he could do , and gave a pull . To his surprise the bar gave way at once , and he found he could break it into a thousand pieces . After this it did not take him long to get out of his cage , or to treat the closely barred windows of the hall in the same manner . But even after he had done all this freedom appeared as far from him as ever , for between him and the open country was a high wall , and so smooth that not even a monkey could climb it . Then Souci 's heart died within him . He saw nothing for it but to submit to some horrible death , but he determined that the Iron King should not profit more than he could help , and flung his precious thread into the air , saying , as he did so , ' O fairy , my misfortunes are greater than your power . I am grateful for your goodwill , but take back your gift ! ' The fairy had pity on his youth and want of faith , and took care that one end of the thread remained in his hand . He suddenly felt a jerk , and saw that the thread must have caught on something , and this thought filled him with the daring that is born of despair .
` Better , ' he said to himself , ` trust to a thread than to the mercies of a king ; ' and , gliding down , he XXXXX himself safe on the other side of the wall .
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