The prince bade him farewell and set out . He wandered so far that he crossed seven kingdoms , and at last , one evening , he came to a little house in which was an old woman . ` Good evening , dear mother , ' said he politely . ` Good evening to you , my dear son , ' answered the old woman . ` It is lucky for you that you spoke to me or you would have met with a horrible death . But may I ask where are you going ? ' ' I am seeking the three bulrushes . Do you know anything about them ? ' ' I do n't know anything myself , but wait till to-morrow . Perhaps I can tell you then . ' So the next morning she blew on her pipe , and lo ! and behold every magpie in the world flew up . That is to say , all the magpies except one who had broken a leg and a wing . The old woman sent after it at once , and when she questioned the magpies the crippled one was the only one who knew where the three bulrushes were . Then the prince started off with the lame magpie . They went on and on till they reached a great stone wall , many , many feet high . ` Now , prince , ' said the magpie , ` the three bulrushes are behind that wall . ' The prince wasted no time . He set his horse at the wall and leaped over it . Then he looked about for the three bulrushes , pulled them up and set off with them on his way home .
As he rode along one of the XXXXX happened to knock against something .
bulrushes death evening farewell horse house lo prince to-morrow wall