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fall into the hands of an enemy and be killed。'
With these words he loosened the lion from his beard and bade the
beast guard the youth carefully。
With this new protector Iwanich wandered on through the forest；
and though he came upon a great many more wolves； hyenas；
leopards； and other wild beasts； they always kept at a respectful
distance when they saw what sort of an escort the Prince had with
him。
Iwanich hurried through the wood as quickly as his legs would
carry him； but； nevertheless； hour after hour went by and not a
trace of a green field or a human habitation met his eyes。 At
length； towards evening； the mass of trees grew more transparent；
and through the interlaced branches a wide plain was visible。
At the exit of the wood the lion stood still； and the Prince took
leave of him； having first thanked him warmly for his kind
protection。 It had become quite dark； and Iwanich was forced to
wait for daylight before continuing his journey。
He made himself a bed of grass and leaves； lit a fire of dry
branches； and slept soundly till the next morning。
Then he got up and walked towards a beautiful white palace which
he saw gleaming in the distance。 In about an hour he reached the
building； and opening the door he walked in。
After wandering through many marble halls； he came to a huge
staircase made of porphyry； leading down to a lovely garden。
The Prince burst into a shout of joy when he suddenly perceived
Militza in the centre of a group of girls who were weaving
wreaths of flowers with which to deck their mistress。
As soon as Militza saw the Prince she ran up to him and embraced
him tenderly； and after he had told her all his adventures； they
went into the palace； where a sumptuous meal awaited them。 Then
the Princess called her court together； and introduced Iwanich to
them as her future husband。
Preparations were at once made for the wedding； which was held
soon after with great pomp and magnificence。
Three months of great happiness followed； when Militza received
one day an invitation to visit her mother's sister。
Although the Princess was very unhappy at leaving her husband；
she did not like to refuse the invitation； and； promising to
return in seven days at the latest； she took a tender farewell of
the Prince； and said： 'Before I go I will hand you over all the
keys of the castle。 Go everywhere and do anything you like； only
one thing I beg and beseech you； do not open the little iron door
in the north tower； which is closed with seven locks and seven
bolts； for if you do； we shall both suffer for it。'
Iwanich promised what she asked； and Militza departed； repeating
her promise to return in seven days。
When the Prince found himself alone he began to be tormented by
pangs of curiosity as to what the room in the tower contained。
For two days he resisted the temptation to go and look； but on
the third he could stand it no longer； and taking a torch in his
hand he hurried to the tower； and unfastened one lock after the
other of the little iron door until it burst open。
What an unexpected sight met his gaze！ The Prince perceived a
small room black with smoke； lit up feebly by a fire from which
issued long blue flames。 Over the fire hung a huge cauldron full
of boiling pitch； and fastened into the cauldron by iron chains
stood a wretched man screaming with agony。
Iwanich was much horrified at the sight before him； and asked the
man what terrible crime he had committed to be punished in this
dreadful fashion。
'I will tell you everything；' said the man in the cauldron； 'but
first relieve my torments a little； I implore you。'
'And how can I do that？' asked the Prince。
'With a little water；' replied the man； 'only sprinkle a few
drops over me and I shall feel better。'
The Prince； moved by pity； without thinking what he was doing；
ran to the courtyard of the castle； and filled a jug with water；
which he poured over the man in the cauldron。
In a moment a most fearful crash was heard； as if all the pillars
of the palace were giving way； and the palace itself； with towers
and doors； windows and the cauldron； whirled round the bewildered
Prince's head。 This continued for a few minutes； and then
everything vanished into thin air； and Iwanich found himself
suddenly alone upon a desolate heath covered with rocks and
stones。
The Prince； who now realised what his heedlessness had done；
cursed too late his spirit of curiosity。 In his despair he
wandered on over the heath； never looking where he put his feet；
and full of sorrowful thoughts。 At last he saw a light in the
distance； which came from a miserable…looking little hut。
The owner of it was none other than the kind…hearted gaunt grey
beggar who had given the Prince the bag of bread…crumbs and the
hare。 Without recognising Iwanich； he opened the door when he
knocked and gave him shelter for the night。
On the following morning the Prince asked his host if he could
get him any work to do； as he was quite unknown in the
neighbourhood； and had not enough money to take him home。
'My son；' replied the old man； 'all this country round here is
uninhabited； I myself have to wander to distant villages for my
living； and even then I do not very often find enough to satisfy
my hunger。 But if you would like to take service with the old
witch Corva； go straight up the little stream which flows below
my hut for about three hours； and you will come to a sand…hill on
the left…hand side； that is where she lives。'
Iwanich thanked the gaunt grey beggar for his information； and
went on his way。
After walking for about three hours the Prince came upon a
dreary…looking grey stone wall； this was the back of the building
and did not attract him； but when he came upon the front of the
house he found it even less inviting； for the old witch had
surrounded her dwelling with a fence of spikes； on every one of
which a man's skull was stuck。 In this horrible enclosure stood
a small black house； which had only two grated windows； all
covered with cobwebs； and a battered iron door。
The Prince knocked； and a rasping woman's voice told him to
enter。
Iwanich opened the door； and found himself in a smoke…begrimed
kitchen； in the presence of a hideous old woman who was warming
her skinny hands at a fire。 The Prince offered to become her
servant； and the old hag told him she was badly in want of one；
and he seemed to be just the person to suit her。
When Iwanich asked what his work； and how much his wages would
be； the witch bade him follow her； and led the way through a
narrow damp passage into a vault； which served as a stable。 Here
he perceived two pitch…black horses in a stall。
'You see before you；' said the old woman； 'a mare and her foal；
you have nothing to do but to lead them out to the fields every
day； and to see that neither of the