climbed a little tree and wished that the
night would not come, because she was afraid of the wild beasts. When
midnight came she saw afar off a little light, and thought, 'Ah! if
only I could reach that!' Then she got down from the tree and went
towards the light. She came to a little old house with a great deal of
grass growing round, and stood in front of a little heap of wood. She
thought, 'Alas! what am I coming to?' and peeped through the window;
but she saw nothing inside except big and little toads, and a table
beautifully spread with roast meats and wine, and all the dishes and
drinking-cups were of silver. Then she took heart and knocked. Then a
fat toad called out:

'Little green toad with leg like crook,
Open wide the door, and look
Who it was the latch that shook.'

And a little toad came forward and let her in. When she entered they
all bid her welcome, and made her sit down. They asked her how she
came there and what she wanted. Then she told everything that had
happened to her, and how, because she had exceeded her permission only
to speak three words, the stove had disappeared with the Prince; and
how she had searched a very long time, and must wander over mountain
and valley till she found him.

Then the old toad said:

'Little green toad whose leg doth twist,
Go to the corner of which you wist,
And bring to me the large old kist.'

And the little toad went and brought out a great chest. Then they gave
her food and drink, and led her to a beautifully made bed of silk and
samite, on which she lay down and slept soundly. When the day dawned
she arose, and the old toad gave her three things out of the huge
chest to take with her. She would have need of them, for she had to
cross a high glass mountain, three cutting swords, and a great lake.
When she had passed these she would find her lover again. So she was
given three large needles, a plough-wheel, and three nuts, which she
was to take great care of. She set out with these things, and when she
came to the glass mountain which was so slippery she stuck the three
needles behind her feet and then in front, and so got over it, and
when she was on the other side put them carefully away.

Then she reached the three cutting swords, and got on her plough-wheel
and rolled over them. At last she came to a great lake, and, when she
had crossed that, arrived at a beautiful castle. She went in and gave
herself out as a ser