Then he bade farewell to his parents and went his way . All through the day he walked , watching with interest the strange birds and animals that darted across his path in the forest or peeped at him from behind a bush . But as evening drew on he became tired , and looked about as he walked for some place where he could sleep . At length he reached a soft mossy bank under a tree , and was just about to stretch himself out on it , when a fearful roar made him start and tremble all over . In another moment something passed swiftly through the air and a lion stood before him . ` What are you doing here ? ' asked the lion , his eyes glaring fiercely at the boy . ' I am flying from the mermaid , ' the prince answered , in a quaking voice . ` Give me some food then , ' said the lion , ` it is past my supper time , and I am very hungry . ' The boy was so thankful that the lion did not want to eat him , that he gladly picked up his knapsack which lay on the ground , and held out some bread and a flask of wine . ' I feel better now , ' said the lion when he had done , ` so now I shall go to sleep on this nice soft moss , and if you like you can lie down beside me . ' So the boy and the lion slept soundly side by side , till the sun rose . ' I must be off now , ' remarked the lion , shaking the boy as he spoke ; ` but cut off the tip of my ear , and keep it carefully , and if you are in any danger just wish yourself a lion and you will become one on the spot . One good turn deserves another , you know . ' The prince thanked him for his kindness , and did as he was bid , and the two then bade each other farewell . ' I wonder how it feels to be a lion , ' thought the boy , after he had gone a little way ; and he took out the tip of the ear from the breast of his jacket and wished with all his might . In an instant his head had swollen to several times its usual size , and his neck seemed very hot and heavy ; and , somehow , his hands became paws , and his skin grew hairy and yellow . But what pleased him most was his long tail with a tuft at the end , which he lashed and switched proudly . ' I like being a lion very much , ' he said to himself , and trotted gaily along the road . After a while , however , he got tired of walking in this unaccustomed way -- it made his back ache and his front paws felt sore .
So he wished himself a boy again , and in the twinkling of an eye his XXXXX disappeared and his head shrank , and the long thick mane became short and curly .
animals birds boy ground might moss paws size spot tail