Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 6 1888.djvu/209

 Rh son comes he will devour you." "Ah! not so, old mother! not so!" entreated the prince. "I have come to you for counsel as to whether you cannot let me have some information about the glass hill and the three lemons." "I have never heard of the glass hill; but stay! when my son comes home, maybe he will be able to let you have the information. But I will now conceal you somewhat; you will hide yourself under the besom, and wait there concealed till I call you."

The mountains echoed, the castle quaked, and Jezibaba whispered to the prince that her son was coming. "Foh! foh! there's a smell of human flesh. I am going to eat it!" shouted Jezibaba's son, while still in the doorway, and thumped on the ground with a huge leaden club, so that the whole castle quaked. "Ah! not so, my son! not so!" said Jezibaba, soothing him. "There has come a handsome youth, who wants to consult you about something." "Well, if he wants to consult me, let him come here." "Yes, indeed, my son, he shall come, but only on condition that you promise to do nothing to him." "Well, I'll do nothing to him, only let him come."

The prince was trembling like an aspen under the besom, for he saw before him through the twigs an ogre, up to whose knees he did not reach. Happily his life was safeguarded when Jezibaba bade him come out from under the besom. "Well, you beetle, why are you afraid?" shouted the giant. "Whence are you? what do you want?" "What do I want?" replied the prince. "I've long been wandering in these mountains, and can't find that which I am seeking; now I've come to ask you whether you can't give me information about the glass hill and the three lemons." Jezibaba's son wrinkled his brow, but after a while said in a somewhat gentler voice, "There's nothing to be seen here of the glass hill; but go to my brother in the silver castle, maybe he'll be able to tell you something. But stay! I won't let you go away hungry. Mother! here with the dumplings." Old Jezibaba set a large dish upon the table, and her gigantic son sat down to it. "Come and eat!" shouted he to the prince. The prince took the first dumpling, and began to bite, but two of his teeth broke, for they were dumplings of lead. "Well, why don't you eat? Maybe you don't like them?" inquired Jezibaba's son. "Yes, they are good; but I don't want any just now."