woke to find the glass axe whole
and unbroken at his side, and all the trees of the wood lying felled
around him!

He made all haste across the bridge of clouds, and told the Fairy that
her commands were obeyed. She was much amazed when she heard that all
the wood was cut down, and saw the axe unbroken in his hand, and since
she could not believe that he had done all this by himself, she
questioned him narrowly if he had seen or spoken to the black girl.
But the Prince lied manfully, and swore he had never looked up from
his work for a moment. Seeing she could get nothing more out of him,
she gave him a little bread and water, and showing him to a small dark
cupboard she told him he might sleep there.

Morning had hardly dawned when the Fairy awoke the Prince, and giving
him the glass axe again she told him to cut up all the wood he had
felled the day before, and to put it in bundles ready for firewood; at
the same time she warned him once more against approaching or speaking
a word to the black girl if he met her in the wood.

Although his task was no easier than that of the day before, the youth
set out much more cheerfully, because he knew he could count on the
help of the black girl. With quicker and lighter step he crossed the
bridge of clouds, and hardly had he reached the other side than his
friend stood before him and greeted him cheerfully. When she heard
what the Fairy demanded this time, she answered smilingly, 'Never
fear,' and handed him another draught, which very soon caused the
Prince to sink into a deep sleep.

When he awoke everything was done. All the trees of the wood were cut
up into firewood and arranged in bundles ready for use.

He returned to the castle as quickly as he could, and told the Fairy
that her commands were obeyed. She was even more amazed than she had
been before, and asked him again if he had either seen or spoken to
the black girl; but the Prince knew better than to betray his word,
and once more lied freely.

On the following day the Fairy set him a third task to do, even harder
than the other two. She told him he must build a castle on the other
side of the lake, made of nothing but gold, silver, and precious
stones, and unless he could accomplish this within an hour, the most
frightful doom awaited him.

The Prince heard her words without anxiety, so entirely did he rely on
the help of his black friend. Full of hope he hurried across the
bridge, and recognised at once t