But the princess was still a witch， and she could not love John. His fellow-traveller hadthought of that， so he gave John three feathers out of the swan's wings， and a little bottlewith a few drops in it. He told him to place a large bath full of water by the princess's bed， andput the feathers and the drops into it. Then， at the moment she was about to get into bed，he must give her a little push， so that she might fall into the water， and then dip her threetimes. This would destroy the power of the magician， and she would love him very much. Johndid all that his companion told him to do. The princess shrieked aloud when he dipped herunder the water the first time， and struggled under his hands in the form of a GREat blackswan with fiery eyes. As she rose the second time from the water， the swan had becomewhite， with a black ring round its neck. John allowed the water to close once more over thebird， and at the same time it changed into a most beautiful princess. She was more lovely eventhan before， and thanked him， while her eyes sparkled with tears， for having broken thespell of the magician. The next day， the king came with the whole court to offer theircongratulations， and stayed till quite late. Last of all came the travelling companion; he hadhis staff in his hand and his knapsack on his back. John kissed him many times and told him hemust not go， he must remain with him， for he was the cause of all his good fortune. But thetraveller shook his head， and said gently and kindly， “No： my time is up now; I have onlypaid my debt to you. Do you remember the dead man whom the bad people wished to throwout of his coffin? You gave all you possessed that he might rest in his grave; I am that man.”As he said this， he vanished.
the wedding festivities lasted a whole month. John and his princess loved each otherdearly， and the old king lived to see many a happy day， when he took their little children onhis knees and let them play with his sceptre. And John became king over the whole country.