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'Pardon me； your Majesty； if I offer my advice。 You wish to go to the Island of Busan？ What can be easier？ In my ship you will get there in a week instead of in ten years。 But ask your council to advise you what to do when you arrivein one word； whether you will win the princess peacefully or by war？'
But the wise men were as silent as ever。
The king frowned； and was about to say something sharp； when the Court Fool pushed his way to the front and said： 'Dear me； what are all you clever people so puzzled about？ The matter is quite clear。 As it seems it will not take long to reach the island why not send the seventh Simon？ He will steal the fair maiden fast enough； and then the king； her father； may consider how he is going to bring his army over hereit will take him ten years to do it！…no less！ What do you think of my plan？'
'What do I think？ Why； that your idea is capital； and you shall be rewarded for it。 Come； guards； hurry as fast as you can and bring the seventh Simon before me。'
Not many minutes later； Simon the seventh stood before the king； who explained to him what he wished done； and also that to steal for the benefit of his king and country was by no means a wrong thing； though it was very wrong to steal for his own advantage。
The youngest Simon； who looked very pale and hungry； only nodded his head。
'Come；' said the king； 'tell me truly。 Do you think you could steal the Princess Helena？'
'Why should I not steal her； sire？ The thing is easy enough。 Let my brother's ship be laden with rich stuffs； brocades； Persian carpets； pearls and jewels。 Send me in the ship。 Give me my four middle brothers as companions； and keep the two others as hostages。'
When the king heard these words his heart became filled with longing； and he ordered all to be done as Simon wished。 Every one ran about to do his bidding； and in next to no time the wonder…ship was laden and ready to start。
The five Simons took leave of the king； went on board； and had no sooner set sail than they were almost out of sight。 The ship cut through the waters like a falcon through the air； and just a week after starting sighted the Island of Busan。 The coast appeared to be strongly guarded； and from afar the watchman on a high tower called out： 'Halt and anchor！ Who are you？ Where do you come from； and what do you want？'
The seventh Simon answered from the ship： 'We are peaceful people。 We come from the country of the great and good King Archidej； and we bring foreign waresrich brocades； carpets； and costly jewels； which we wish to show to your king and the princess。 We desire to tradeto sell； to buy； and to exchange。'
The brothers launched a small boat； took some of their valuable goods with them； rowed to shore and went up to the palace。 The princess sat in a rose…red room； and when she saw the brothers coming near she called her nurse and other women； and told them to inquire who and what these people were； and what they wanted。
The seventh Simon answered the nurse： 'We come from the country of the wise and good King Archidej；' said he； 'and we have brought all sorts of goods for sale。 We trust the king of this country may condescend to welcome us； and to let his servants take charge of our wares。 If he considers them worthy to adorn his followers we shall be content。'
This speech was repeated to the princess； who ordered the brothers to be brought to the red…room at once。 They bowed respectfully to her and displayed some splendid velvets and brocades； and opened cases of pearls and precious stones。 Such beautiful things had never been seen in the island； and the nurse and waiting women stood bewildered by all the magnificence。 They whispered together that they had never beheld anything like it。 The princess too saw and wondered； and her eyes could not weary of looking at the lovely things； or her fingers of stroking the rich soft stuffs； and of holding up the sparkling jewels to the light。
'Fairest of princesses；' said Simon。 'Be pleased to order your waiting…maids to accept the silks and velvets； and let your women trim their head…dresses with the jewels； these are no special treasures。 But permit me to say that they are as nothing to the many coloured tapestries； the gorgeous stones and ropes of pearls in our ship。 We did not like to bring more with us； not knowing what your royal taste might be； but if it seems good to you to honour our ship with a visit； you might condescend to choose such things as were pleasing in your eyes。'
This polite speech pleased the princess very much。 She went to the king and said： 'Dear father； some merchants have arrived with the most splendid wares。 Pray allow me to go to their ship and choose out what I like。'
The king thought and thought； frowned hard and rubbed his ear。 At last he gave consent； and ordered out his royal yacht； with 100 cross…bows； 100 knights； and 1；000 soldiers； to escort the Princess Helena。
Off sailed the yacht with the princess and her escort。 The brothers Simon came on board to conduct the princess to their ship； and； led by the brothers and followed by her nurse and other women； she crossed the crystal plank from one vessel to another。
The seventh Simon spread out his goods； and had so many curious and interesting tales to tell about them； that the princess forgot everything else in looking and listening； so that she did not know that the fourth Simon had seized the prow of the ship； and that all of a sudden it had vanished from sight； and was racing along in the depths of the sea。
The crew of the royal yacht shouted aloud； the knights stood still with terror； the soldiers were struck dumb and hung their heads。 There was nothing to be done but to sail back and tell the king of his loss。
How he wept and stormed！ 'Oh； light of my eyes；' he sobbed； 'I am indeed punished for my pride。 I thought no one good enough to be your husband； and now you are lost in the depths of the sea； and have left me alone！ As for all of you who saw this thingaway with you！ Let them be put in irons and lock them up in prison； whilst I think how I can best put them to death！'
Whilst the King of Busan was raging and lamenting in this fashion； Simon's ship was swimming like any fish under the sea； and when the island was well out of sight he brought it up to the surface again。 At that moment the princess recollected herself。 'Nurse；' said she； 'we have been gazing at these wonders only too long。 I hope my father won't be vexed at our delay。'
She tore herself away and stepped on deck。 Neither the yacht nor the island was in sight！ Helena wrung her hands and beat her breast。 Then she changed herself into a white swan and flew off。 But the fifth Simon seized his bow and shot the swan； and the sixth Simon did not let it fall into the water but caught it in the ship； and the swan turned into a silver fish； but Simon lost no time and caught the fish； when； quick as thought； the fish turned into a black mouse and ran about the ship。 It darted towards a hole； but before it could reach it Simon sprang upon it more swiftly than any cat； and then the little mouse turned once more into the beautiful Princess Helena。
Early one morning King Archidej sat thoughtfully at his