The maiden thanked the bird heartily and went home , telling no one what she had heard . As the ninth night drew near she became very unhappy , for she feared lest some terrible mischance should arise and ruin all . On this night she crept quietly out of the house and waited trembling at some little distance from the hut . Presently she heard the muffled tramp of horses , and soon the armed troop appeared , led by the Prince , who had prudently marked all the trees beforehand , in order to know the way . When he saw the maiden he sprang from his horse , lifted her into the saddle , and then , mounting behind , rode homeward . The moon shone so brightly that they had no difficulty in seeing the marked trees . By and by the coming of dawn loosened the tongues of all the birds , and , had the Prince only known what they were saying , or the maiden been listening , they might have been spared much sorrow , but they were thinking only of each other , and when they came out of the forest the sun was high in the heavens . Next morning , when the youngest girl did not come to her work , the old woman asked where she was . The sisters pretended not to know , but the old woman easily guessed what had happened , and , as she was in reality a wicked witch , determined to punish the fugitives . Accordingly , she collected nine different kinds of enchanters ' nightshade , added some salt , which she first bewitched , and , doing all up in a cloth into the shape of a fluffy ball , sent it after them on the wings of the wind , saying : `` Whirlwind ! -- mother of the wind ! Lend thy aid ` gainst her who sinned ! Carry with thee this magic ball . Cast her from his arms for ever , Bury her in the rippling river . '' At midday the Prince and his men came to a deep river , spanned by so narrow a bridge that only one rider could cross at a time . The horse on which the Prince and the maiden were riding had just reached the middle when the magic ball flew by . The horse in its fright suddenly reared , and before anyone could stop it flung the maiden into the swift current below . The Prince tried to jump in after her , but his men held him back , and in spite of his struggles led him home , where for six weeks he shut himself up in a secret chamber , and would neither eat nor drink , so great was his grief . At last he became so ill his life was despaired of , and in great alarm the King caused all the wizards of his country to be summoned . But none could cure him .
At last the wind wizard 's son said to the XXXXX : `` Send for the old wizard from Finland he knows more than all the wizards of your kingdom put together . ''
King Prince enchanters first midday mischance night nightshade weeks wizards