` You must know , ' answered the black girl , ` that the Fairy in whose power we both are is my own mother , but you must not betray this secret , for it would cost me my life . If you will only promise to try and free me I will stand by you , and will accomplish for you all the tasks which my mother sets you . ' The Prince promised joyfully all she asked ; then having once more warned him not to betray her confidence , she handed him a draught to drink which very soon sunk his senses in a deep slumber . His astonishment was great when he awoke to find the glass axe whole and unbroken at his side , and all the trees of the wood lying felled around him ! He made all haste across the bridge of clouds , and told the Fairy that her commands were obeyed . She was much amazed when she heard that all the wood was cut down , and saw the axe unbroken in his hand , and since she could not believe that he had done all this by himself , she questioned him narrowly if he had seen or spoken to the black girl . But the Prince lied manfully , and swore he had never looked up from his work for a moment . Seeing she could get nothing more out of him , she gave him a little bread and water , and showing him to a small dark cupboard she told him he might sleep there . Morning had hardly dawned when the Fairy awoke the Prince , and giving him the glass axe again she told him to cut up all the wood he had felled the day before , and to put it in bundles ready for firewood ; at the same time she warned him once more against approaching or speaking a word to the black girl if he met her in the wood . Although his task was no easier than that of the day before , the youth set out much more cheerfully , because he knew he could count an the help of the black girl . With quicker and lighter step he crossed the bridge of clouds , and hardly had he reached the other side than his friend stood before him and greeted him cheerfully . When she heard what the Fairy demanded this time , she answered smilingly , ` Never fear , ' and handed him another draught , which very soon caused the Prince to sink into a deep sleep . When he awoke everything , was done . All the trees of the wood were cut up into firewood and arranged in bundles ready for use . He returned to the castle as quickly as he could , and told the Fairy that her commands were obeyed . She was even more amazed than she had been before , and asked him again if he had either seen or spoken to the black girl ; but the Prince knew better than to betray his word , and once more lied freely . On the following day the Fairy set him a third task to do , even harder than the other two . She told him he must build a castle on the other side of the lake , made of nothing but gold , silver , and precious stones , and unless he could accomplish this within an hour , the most frightful doom awaited him . The Prince heard her words without anxiety , so entirely did he rely on the help of his black friend . Full of hope he hurried across the bridge , and recognised at once the spot where the castle was to stand , for spades , hammers , axes , and every other building implement lay scattered on the ground ready for the workman 's hand , but of gold , silver , and precious stones there was not a sign .
But before the Prince had time to feel despondent the black girl beckoned to him XXXXX the distance from behind a rock , where she had hidden herself for fear her mother should catch sight of her .
On around as by from in into that unless within