East of the Sun and West of the Moon (11)

East of the Sun and West of the Moon (11)

When she awoke in the morning both the Prince and the castle were gone, and she was lying on a small green patch in the midst of a dark, thick wood.

By her side lay the self-same bundle of rags which she had brought with her from her own home.

So when she ahd rubbed the sleep out of her eyes, and wept till she was weary, she set out on her way, and thus she walked for many and many a long day, until at last she came to a great mountain.

Outside it an aged woman was ssitting, playing with a gilden apple.

The girl asked her if she knew the way to the Prince who lived with his stepmother in the castle which lay east of the sun and west of the moon, and who was to marry a princess with a nose which was three ells long.

" How do you happen to know about him ? " enquired the old woman ; " maybe you are she who ought to have had him. "

" Yes, indeed, I am, " she said.

" So it is you, then, " said the old woman ; " I know nothing about him but that he dwells in a castle which is east of the sun and west of the moon. You will be long time in getting to it, if ever you get to it at all ; but you shall have the loan of my horse, and then you can ride on it to an old woman who is a neighbour of mine ; perhaps she can tell you about him. 
When you have got there you must just strike the horse beneath the left ear and bid it go home again ; but you may take the golden apple with you. "

(11/23)