The princess promised obedience , and no pains were spared to make the time pass pleasantly for her . The six months were nearly at an end , and on the very last day a splendid fête was to take place in a lovely meadow quite near the palace . The princess , who had been able to watch all the preparations from her window , implored her mother to let her go as far as the meadow ; and the queen , thinking all risks must be over , consented , and promised to take her there herself . The whole court was delighted to see their much-loved princess at liberty , and everyone set off in high glee to join in the fête . The princess , overjoyed at being once more in the open air , was walking a little in advance of her party when suddenly the earth opened under her feet and closed again after swallowing her up ! -LSB- Illustration : The Princess is swallowed up by the Earth . -RSB- The queen fainted away with terror , and the younger princess burst into floods of tears and could hardly be dragged away from the fatal spot , whilst the court was overwhelmed with horror at so great a calamity . Orders were given to bore the earth to a great depth , but in vain ; not a trace of the vanished princess was to be found . She sank right through the earth and found herself in a desert place with nothing but rocks and trees and no sign of any human being . The only living creature she saw was a very pretty little dog , who ran up to her and at once began to caress her . She took him in her arms , and after playing with him for a little put him down again , when he started off in front of her , looking round from time to time as though begging her to follow . She let him lead her on , and presently reached a little hill , from which she saw a valley full of lovely fruit trees , bearing flowers and fruit together . The ground was also covered with fruit and flowers , and in the middle of the valley rose a fountain surrounded by a velvety lawn . The princess hastened to this charming spot , and sitting down on the grass began to think over the misfortune which had befallen her , and burst into tears as she reflected on her sad condition . The fruit and clear fresh water would , she knew , prevent her from dying of hunger or thirst , but how could she escape if any wild beast appeared and tried to devour her ? At length , having thought over every possible evil which could happen , the princess tried to distract her mind by playing with the little dog . She spent the whole day near the fountain , but as night drew on she wondered what she should do , when she noticed that the little dog was pulling at her dress . -LSB- Illustration : SHE · SPENT · THE · WHOLE · DAY · NEAR · THE · FOUNTAIN · -RSB- She paid no heed to him at first , but as he continued to pull her dress and then run a few steps in one particular direction , she at last decided to follow him ; he stopped before a rock with a large opening in the centre , which he evidently wished her to enter . The princess did so and discovered a large and beautiful cave lit up by the brilliancy of the stones with which it was lined , with a little couch covered with soft moss in one corner . She lay down on it and the dog at once nestled at her feet .
Tired out with all she had gone XXXXX she soon fell asleep .
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