asked the prince. 'And why are your eyes bandaged? You
can never see your way!'

'It is just the contrary, my lord! It is because I see only too well
that I am forced to bandage my eyes. Even so I see as well as people who
have no bandage. When I take it off my eyes pierce through everything.
Everything I look at catches fire, or, if it cannot catch fire, it falls
into a thousand pieces. They call me Quickeye.'

And so saying he took off his bandage and turned towards the rock. As
he fixed his eyes upon it a crack was heard, and in a few moments it
was nothing but a heap of sand. In the sand something might be detected
glittering brightly. Quickeye picked it up and brought it to the prince.
It turned out to be a lump of pure gold.

'You are a wonderful creature,' said the prince, 'and I should be a fool
not to take you into my service. But since your eyes are so good, tell
me if I am very far from the Iron Castle, and what is happening there
just now.'

'If you were travelling alone,' replied Quickeye, 'it would take you at
least a year to get to it; but as we are with you, we shall arrive there
to-night. Just now they are preparing supper.'

'There is a princess in the castle. Do you see her?'

'A wizard keeps her in a high tower, guarded by iron bars.'

'Ah, help me to deliver her!' cried the prince.

And they promised they would.

Then they all set out through the grey rocks, by the breach made by
the eyes of Quickeye, and passed over great mountains and through deep
woods. And every time they met with any obstacle the three friends
contrived somehow to put it aside. As the sun was setting, the prince
beheld the towers of the Iron Castle, and before it sank beneath the
horizon he was crossing the iron bridge which led to the gates. He was
only just in time, for no sooner had the sun disappeared altogether,
than the bridge drew itself up and the gates shut themselves.

There was no turning back now!

The prince put up his horse in the stable, where everything looked as
if a guest was expected, and then the whole party marched straight up to
the castle. In the court, in the stables, and all over the great halls,
they saw a number of men richly dressed, but every one turned into
stone. They crossed an endless set of rooms, all opening into each
other, till they reached the dining-hall. It was brilliantly lighted;
the table was covered with wine and fruit, and was laid for four. They
waited a few minutes ex