n triumph to the palace, where he found it
easy to accept all the caresses and congratulations bestowed upon him
by the king and the princess. They were eager to learn about his
adventures, and what he had seen at the castle; but to the princess's
inquiries he answered:

"I am not permitted to say a word about that until after I have been
there once more."

"Are you thinking of revisiting that accursed castle? You are the only
one who has yet returned from it."

"It is unavoidable; I am obliged to go there."

When they retired to rest, the knight placed his sword in the bed.

"Why do you do that?" inquired the princess.

"Because I have sworn not to sleep in a bed until after I have
revisited Albastretch."

And on the following day he mounted his steed and took his way to the
enchanted castle, much fearing that some misfortune had happened to
his brother there. He arrived at the castle, and quickly saw the old
woman's fiery nose appear at the portcullis.

No sooner did she see the knight than she became livid with fright,
for she thought he was the dead knight come to life again. She began
to invoke the object of her devotions, Beelzebub, most devoutly, and
promised him all kinds of gifts if he would take from her view that
vision of flesh and blood, drawn up from the abode of the dead.

"Ancient lady!" cried the recent arrival, "I have come to ask where a
knight is who has been here?"

"Here! here! here!" responded the echoes.

"And what have you done with this knight, so accomplished in all
things, and so skilled?"

"Killed! killed!" groaned the echoes.

On hearing this, and seeing the old hag running off, the Knight of the
Fish, beside himself with rage, ran after her, and pierced her through
with his sword, which remained fast in her body, so that she jumped
about at the point of it like a parched pea in a frying-pan.

"Where is my brother, ugly old traitress?" demanded the knight.

"I can tell you," responded the witch, "but as I am at death's door, I
will not let you know until you have resuscitated me."

"But how can I do this, perfidious witch?"

"Go to the garden," responded the old woman, "cut some evergreens,
everlastings, and dragon's blood; with these plants make a decoction
in a caldron, and then sprinkle some of it over me."

After saying this the old woman died, without uttering a prayer. The
knight did all that the witch instructed him to do, and effectually
resuscitated her, but