o
work our doom."

Presently they came to a rosebush covered with beautiful red roses
that scented all the air with their fragrance.

"What beautiful roses!" said the servant. "I have never seen any such
in all my life. I'll go pluck a few. As I can't eat or drink, I'll
comfort myself with roses."

"Don't dare to pluck them!" cried the seer. "I'll pluck them for
you."

With that he cut into the bush with his sword and red blood spurted
out as though he had cut a human vein.

"This is the youngest queen," said the seer, "whom her mother, the
witch, placed here in the hope of revenging herself on us for the
death of her sons-in-law."

After that they proceeded without further adventures.

When they crossed the boundaries of the dark kingdom, the sun in the
horse's forehead sent out its blessed rays in all directions.
Everything came to life. The earth rejoiced and covered itself with
flowers.

The king felt he could never thank the seer enough and he offered him
the half of his kingdom.

But the seer replied: "You are the king. Keep on ruling over the whole
of your kingdom and let me return to my cottage in peace."

He bade the king farewell and departed.

THE THREE CITRONS

THE STORY OF A PRINCE WHO CLIMBED THE GLASS HILL

[Illustration: {A castle on top of a hill}]

THE THREE CITRONS

Once upon a time there was an aged king who had an only son. One day
he called the prince to him and said: "My son, you see that my head is
white. Soon I shall be closing my eyes and you are not yet settled in
life. Marry, my son, marry at once so that I can bless you before I
die."

The prince made no answer but he took the king's words to heart and
pondered them. He would gladly have done as his father wished but
there was no young girl upon whom his affections were set.

One day when he was sitting in the garden, wondering what to do, an
old woman suddenly appeared before him.

"Go," she said, "to the top of the Glass Hill, pluck the Three
Citrons, and you will get a wife in whom your heart will delight."
With that she disappeared as mysteriously as she had come.

Her words went through the prince's soul like a bright dart. Instantly
he determined, come what might, to find the Glass Hill and to pluck
the Three Citrons. He told his father his intention and the old king
fitted him out for the journey and gave him his blessing.

For a long time the prince wandered over wooded mountains and desert
plains