The Queen of the Immortals was watching from her window , and cried to Death that he had no power in her kingdom , and that he must seek his prey elsewhere . ` Quite true , ' answered Death ; ` but his foot is in my kingdom , and that belongs to me ! ' ` At any rate half of him is mine , ' replied the Queen , ` and what good can the other half do you ? Half a man is no use , either to you or to me ! But this once I will allow you to cross into my kingdom , and we will decide by a wager whose he is . ' And so it was settled . Death stepped across the narrow line that surrounds the Land of Immortality , and the queen proposed the wager which was to decide the prince 's fate . ' I will throw him up into the sky , ' she said , ` right to the back of the morning star , and if he falls down into this city , then he is mine . But if he should fall outside the walls , he shall belong to you . ' In the middle of the city was a great open square , and here the queen wished the wager to take place . When all was ready , she put her foot under the foot of the prince and swung him into the air . Up , up , he went , high amongst the stars , and no man 's eyes could follow him . Had she thrown him up straight ? the queen wondered anxiously , for , if not , he would fall outside the walls , and she would lose him for ever . The moments seemed long while she and Death stood gazing up into the air , waiting to know whose prize the prince would be . Suddenly they both caught sight of a tiny speck no bigger than a wasp , right up in the blue . Was he coming straight ? No ! Yes ! But as he was nearing the city , a light wind sprang up , and swayed him in the direction of the wall .
Another second and he would have fallen half over it , when the queen XXXXX forward , seized him in her arms , and flung him into the castle .
Had Was cried proposed said seek sprang stepped watching wished