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 King : `` Send for the old wizard from Finland he knows more than all the wizards of your kingdom put together . '' A messenger was at once sent to Finland , and a week later the old wizard himself arrived on the wings of the wind . `` Honored King , '' said the wizard , `` the wind has blown this illness upon your son , and a magic ball has snatched away his beloved . This it is which makes him grieve so constantly . Let the wind blow upon him that it may blow away his sorrow . '' Then the King made his son go out into the wind , and he gradually recovered and told his father all . `` Forget the maiden , '' said the King , `` and take another bride '' ; but the Prince said he could never love another . A year afterward he came suddenly upon the bridge where his beloved met her death .
As he recalled the misfortune he wept bitterly , and would have given all he possessed XXXXX have her once more alive .
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