her tongue, no power
on earth can stay it.

Towards evening the voice of the raven was heard croaking on the summit
of the pine-tree, and the tortured girl hurried out to inquire what news
he brought. The raven had had the good fortune to meet with the son of a
magician in the garden of the king, who perfectly understood the
language of birds. To him the bird delivered the message of the maiden,
and besought him to convey it to the prince. "Tell the raven," said the
prince to the magician's son, "that he must return, and say to the
maiden, 'Sleep not on the ninth night, for a deliverer will then appear
to rescue the chick from the claws of the hawk.'" They gave the raven a
piece of meat as a reward for his message and to strengthen his wings,
and then sent him back again. The maiden thanked the bird for his news,
but concealed his message carefully in her own bosom, so that the others
heard nothing of it. But as the ninth day approached her heart grew ever
heavier, for she dreaded lest some unexpected mischance might yet ruin
all.

When the ninth night came, and the mother and daughters had retired to
rest, the youngest sister stole from the house on tip-toe, and sat down
on the grass under a tree to wait for her lover. Her heart was full of
mingled hope and fear. The cock had already crowed twice, but there was
not a step nor a voice to be heard in the wood. But between the second
and third cockcrow she heard the distant sound of horses' hoofs. Guided
by the sound, she made her way in their direction, lest the noise of
their approach should rouse the sleeping household. She soon caught
sight of the troop of soldiers, at whose head rode the prince himself,
guiding them by the secret marks he had made on the trees when he
departed. As soon as he perceived the maiden, he sprang from his horse,
lifted her into the saddle, seated himself before her, so that she could
cling to him, and then hastened homewards. The moon shone so brightly
between the trees that the soldiers could not miss the track. Presently
the birds roused up, and began to chirp and twitter in the dawning
light. And if the maiden had had time to listen to their warnings, they
would have profited her more than the honeyed words of her lover, which
were all that reached her ear. But she saw and heard nothing but the
voice of her lover, who bade her dismiss all idle fears, and to trust in
the protection of the soldiers. The sun was already high in the heavens