Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 6 1888.djvu/211

Rh ogre, already in the doorway, and thumped upon the ground with a silver club, so that the whole castle quaked. "Ah! not so, my son, not so; but a handsome youth has come, and has brought you a greeting from your brother in the leaden castle." "Well, if he's been at my brother's, and if he has done nothing to him, let him have no fear of me either; let him come out." The prince sprang out from under the bed, went up to him—looking beside him as if he had placed himself under a very tall pine. "Well, beetle! have you been at my brother's?" "Indeed I have; and here I've still the dumplings which he gave me for the journey." "Well, I believe you; now tell me what it is you want?" "What I want? I am come to ask you whether you can't give me information about the glass hill and the three lemons?" "Hem! I've heard formerly about it, but I don't know how to direct you. Meanwhile, do you know what? Go to my brother in the golden castle, he will direct you. But stay! I won't let you go away hungry. Mother! here with the dumplings!" Jezibaba brought the dumplings on a large silver dish, and set them on the table. "Eat!" shouted her son. The prince, seeing that they were silver dumplings, said that he didn't want to eat just then, but would take some for his journey, if he would give him them. "Take as many as you like, and greet my brother and aunt." The prince took the dumplings, thanked him courteously, and proceeded further.

Three days had already passed since he quitted the silver castle, wandering continuously through densely wooded mountains, not knowing which way to go, whether to the right hand or to the left. All wearied out, he threw himself down under a wide-spreading beach, to take a little breath. His silver-mounted sword clanged on the ground, and the sound spread far and wide. "Krr, krr, krr!" croaked a flock of ravens, over the traveller, scared by the clash of his sword, and flew into the air. "Praise be to God! the golden castle won't be far off now," cried the prince, and proceeded, encouraged, onwards, in the direction in which the ravens showed him the road. Scarcely had he come out of the valley on to a small hill when he saw a beautiful and wide meadow, and in the midst of the meadow stood a golden castle, just as if he were gazing at the sun, and before the gate of the castle stood an old, bent Jezibaba, leaning on a golden staff. "Ah!