without seeing or even hearing anything of the Glass Hill and
the Three Citrons. One day, worn out with his long journey, he threw
himself down in the shade of a wide-spreading linden tree. As his
father's sword, which he wore at his side, clanked on the ground,
twelve ravens began cawing from the top of the tree. Frightened by the
clanking of the sword, they raised their wings and flew off.

The prince jumped to his feet. "Those are the first living creatures I
have seen for many a day. I'll go in the direction they have taken,"
he said to himself, "and perhaps I'll have better luck."

So he traveled on and after three days and three nights a high castle
came in view.

"Thank God!" he exclaimed, pushing joyfully ahead. "I shall soon have
human companionship once more."

The castle was built entirely of lead. The twelve ravens circled above
it and in front of it stood an old woman leaning on a long leaden
staff. She was a Yezibaba. Now you must know that a Yezibaba is an
ugly old witch with a hooked nose, a bristly face, and long scrawny
hands. She's a bad old thing usually, but sometimes, if you take her
fancy, she's kind.

This time when she looked the prince over she shook her head at him in
a friendly way.

"Yi, yi, my boy, how did you get here? Why, not even a little bird or
a tiny butterfly comes here, much less a human being! You'd better
escape if life is dear to you, or my son, when he comes home, will eat
you!"

"No, no, old mother, don't make me go," begged the prince. "I have
come to you for advice to know whether you can tell me anything about
the Glass Hill and the Three Citrons."

"No, I have never heard a word about the Glass Hill," Yezibaba said.
"But wait until my son comes. He may be able to tell you something.
Yes, yes, I'll manage to save you somehow. Go hide under the besom and
stay there until I call you."

The mountains rumbled and the castle trembled and Yezibaba whispered
to the prince that her son was coming.

"Phew! Phew! I smell human meat! I'll eat it!" shouted Yezibaba's son
while he was still in the doorway. He struck the ground with his
leaden club and the whole castle shook.

"No, no, my son, don't talk that way. It's true there is a pretty
youth here, but he's come to ask you about something."

"Well, if he wants to ask me something, let him come out and ask."

"Yes, my son, he will, but only when you promise me that you will do
nothing to him."

"Well, I won't do a