ned that the old mother was absent
from home, and the maiden invited the prince into the house. As soon as
the two girls heard his story, they knew that the misfortune must have
been caused by their mother's witch's coil, and that their sister was
not dead, but only enchanted. The eldest sister inquired, "Did you see
nothing on the surface of the water from whence the song might have
proceeded?" "Nothing," replied the prince. "As far as my eyes could
reach, nothing could be perceived on the surface of the water but a
yellow water-lily surrounded by its broad leaves; but leaves and flowers
cannot sing." The maidens immediately suspected that the water-lily
could be nothing but their sister, who had fallen into the water, and
had been changed into a flower by enchantment. They knew that their old
mother had let fly the witch's coil after the maiden, with her curse,
and that if it had not killed her, it might have transformed her into
any shape. But they would not tell the prince of their suspicions until
they could devise some means for their sister's release, lest they might
inspire him with fruitless hopes. As they did not expect their mother to
return home for some days, there was plenty of time to consider the best
course to adopt.

In the evening the eldest sister gathered a sufficient quantity of
various magic herbs, which she rubbed with flour into a dough; and baked
a pie which she gave to the young man to eat before he retired to rest
at night. During the night the prince had a wonderful dream. He thought
that he was in the wood among the birds, and that he could understand
the language of them all. In the morning he related his dream to the
maidens, and the eldest sister observed, "You have come to us at a
fortunate hour, and you have had your dream at a fortunate hour, for it
will be fulfilled on your way home. The pork pie which I baked for your
welfare yesterday, and gave you to eat, was mixed with magic herbs which
will enable you to understand everything which the knowing birds say to
one another. These little feathered people are gifted with much wisdom
which is unknown to mankind. Turn a sharp ear to whatever their beaks
may utter. And when your own time of trouble is over, do not forget us
poor children, who sit here at the spinning-wheel as if in an eternal
prison."

The prince thanked the maidens for their kindness, and promised to do
his best to release them, either by ransom or by force. He then too