A yawning abyss , with certain and terrible death at the bottom , reeking with half-decayed bodies of horses and riders ! And this had been the end of all the other brave men who like himself had attempted the ascent . It was almost pitch dark now , and only the stars lit up the Glass Mountain . The poor boy still clung on as if glued to the glass by his blood-stained hands . He made no struggle to get higher , for all his strength had left him , and seeing no hope he calmly awaited death . Then all of a sudden he fell into a deep sleep , and forgetful of his dangerous position , he slumbered sweetly . But all the same , although he slept , he had stuck his sharp claws so firmly into the glass that he was quite safe not to fall . Now the golden apple-tree was guarded by the eagle which had overthrown the golden knight and his horse . Every night it flew round the Glass Mountain keeping a careful look-out , and no sooner had the moon emerged from the clouds than the bird rose up from the apple-tree , and circling round in the air , caught sight of the sleeping youth . Greedy for carrion , and sure that this must be a fresh corpse , the bird swooped down upon the boy . But he was awake now , and perceiving the eagle , he determined by its help to save himself . The eagle dug its sharp claws into the tender flesh of the youth , but he bore the pain without a sound , and seized the bird 's two feet with his hands . The creature in terror lifted him high up into the air and began to circle round the tower of the castle . The youth held on bravely . He saw the glittering palace , which by the pale rays of the moon looked like a dim lamp ; and he saw the high windows , and round one of them a balcony in which the beautiful Princess sat lost in sad thoughts . Then the boy saw that he was close to the apple-tree , and drawing a small knife from his belt , he cut off both the eagle 's feet . The bird rose up in the air in its agony and vanished into the clouds , and the youth fell on to the broad branches of the apple-tree . Then he drew out the claws of the eagle 's feet that had remained in his flesh , and put the peel of one of the golden apples on the wound , and in one moment it was healed and well again . He pulled several of the beautiful apples and put them in his pocket ; then he entered the castle . The door was guarded by a great dragon , but as soon as he threw an apple at it , the beast vanished .
At the same moment a gate opened , and the youth perceived a courtyard full of flowers and beautiful trees , and on a balcony sat the lovely enchanted Princess XXXXX her retinue .
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