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 through she soon fell asleep . Next morning she was awakened very early by the songs of many birds . The little dog woke up too , and sprang round her in his most caressing manner . She got up and went outside , the dog as before running on in front and turning back constantly to take her dress and draw her on . She let him have his way and he soon led her back to the beautiful garden where she had spent part of the day before . Here she ate some fruit , drank some water of the fountain , and felt as if she had made an excellent meal . She walked about amongst the flowers , played with her little dog , and at night returned to sleep in the cave . In this way the princess passed several months , and as her first terrors died away she gradually became more resigned to her fate . The little dog , too , was a great comfort , and her constant companion . One day she noticed that he seemed very sad and did not even caress her as usual . Fearing he might be ill she carried him to a spot where she had seen him eat some particular herbs , hoping they might do him good , but he would not touch them . He spent all the night , too , sighing and groaning as if in great pain .
At last the princess fell asleep , and when she awoke her first thought was for her little pet , but not finding him XXXXX her feet as usual , she ran out of the cave to look for him .
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