ere the prince lay, and instantly was
changed into a beautiful maiden, more beautiful far than any lady in
the emperor's court. The prince at once fell in love with her, and they
talked together for some time, till the maiden said her sisters had
finished plucking the apples, and now they must all go home again. The
prince, however, begged her so hard to leave him a little of the fruit
that the maiden gave him two apples, one for himself and one for his
father. Then she changed herself back into a pea-hen, and the whole nine
flew away.

As soon as the sun rose the prince entered the palace, and held out
the apple to his father, who was rejoiced to see it, and praised his
youngest son heartily for his cleverness. That evening the prince
returned to the apple tree, and everything passed as before, and so it
happened for several nights. At length the other brothers grew angry at
seeing that he never came back without bringing two golden apples with
him, and they went to consult an old witch, who promised to spy after
him, and discover how he managed to get the apples. So, when the evening
came, the old woman hid herself under the tree and waited for the
prince. Before long he arrived and laid down on his bed, and was soon
fast asleep. Towards midnight there was a rush of wings, and the eight
pea-hens settled on the tree, while the ninth became a maiden, and ran
to greet the prince. Then the witch stretched out her hand, and cut off
a lock of the maiden's hair, and in an instant the girl sprang up, a
pea-hen once more, spread her wings and flew away, while her sisters,
who were busily stripping the boughs, flew after her.

When he had recovered from his surprise at the unexpected disappearance
of the maiden, the prince exclaimed, 'What can be the matter?' and,
looking about him, discovered the old witch hidden under the bed. He
dragged her out, and in his fury called his guards, and ordered them to
put her to death as fast as possible. But that did no good as far as the
pea-hens went. They never came back any more, though the prince returned
to the tree every night, and wept his heart out for his lost love. This
went on for some time, till the prince could bear it no longer, and
made up his mind he would search the world through for her. In vain his
father tried to persuade him that his task was hopeless, and that other
girls were to be found as beautiful as this one. The prince would listen
to nothing, and, accompanied by