ack at once, so as to reach the
road from which I started before day dawns.'

'If I tell you, will you promise me that you will bring me this jar
full of the many-coloured water from the spring in the court-yard of
the castle?' asked she. 'If you fail to keep your word I will change you
into a lizard for ever.'

'I promise,' answered the boy.

Then the old woman called to a very thin dog, and said to him:

'Conduct this pig of a child to the castle of Come-and-never-go, and
take care that you warn my friend of his arrival.' And the dog arose and
shook itself, and set out.

At the end of two hours they stopped in front of a large castle, big and
black and gloomy, whose doors stood wide open, although neither sound
nor light gave sign of any presence within. The dog, however, seemed to
know what to expect, and, after a wild howl, went on; but the boy, who
was uncertain whether this was the quarter of an hour when the giant was
asleep, hesitated to follow him, and paused for a moment under a wild
olive that grew near by, the only tree which he had beheld since he had
parted from the dove. 'Oh, heaven, help me!' cried he.

'Cross! cross!' answered a voice.

The boy leapt for joy as he recognised the note of the owl of which the
swallow had spoken, and he said softly in the bird's language:

'Oh, wise owl, I pray you to protect and guide me, for I have come in
search of the Bird of Truth. And first I must fill this far with the
many-coloured water in the courtyard of the castle.'

'Do not do that,' answered the owl, 'but fill the jar from the spring
which bubbles close by the fountain with the many-coloured water.
Afterwards, go into the aviary opposite the great door, but be careful
not to touch any of the bright-plumaged birds contained in it, which
will cry to you, each one, that he is the Bird of Truth. Choose only
a small white bird that is hidden in a corner, which the others try
incessantly to kill, not knowing that it cannot die. And, be quick!--for
at this very moment the giant has fallen asleep, and you have only a
quarter of an hour to do everything.'

The boy ran as fast as he could and entered the courtyard, where he
saw the two spring close together. He passed by the many-coloured water
without casting a glance at it, and filled the jar from the fountain
whose water was clear and pure. He next hastened to the aviary, and was
almost deafened by the clamour that rose as he shut the door behind him.
Vo