For seven weeks the wind blew them straight towards the west , and early one morning they caught sight of the island swamps of the sea . They cast anchor in a little bay , and the princess made haste to disembark with Sunlight , but , before leaving the ship , she tied to her belt a pair of tiny gold slippers , adorned with precious stones . Then mounting Sunlight , she rode about till she came to several palaces , built on hinges , so that they could always turn towards the sun . The most splendid of these was guarded by three slaves , whose greedy eyes were caught by the glistening gold of the slippers . They hastened up to the owner of these treasures , and inquired who he was . ' A merchant , ' replied the princess , ` who had somehow missed his road , and lost himself among the island swamps of the sea . ' Not knowing if it was proper to receive him or not , the slaves returned to their mistress and told her all they had seen , but not before she had caught sight of the merchant from the roof of her palace . Luckily her gaoler was away , always trying to catch the stud of mares , so for the moment she was free and alone . The slaves told their tale so well that their mistress insisted on going down to the shore and seeing the beautiful slippers for herself . They were even lovelier than she expected , and when the merchant besought her to come on board , and inspect some that he thought were finer still , her curiosity was too great to refuse , and she went . Once on board ship , she was so busy turning over all the precious things stored there , that she never knew that the sails were spread , and that they were flying along with the wind behind them ; and when she did know , she rejoiced in her heart , though she pretended to weep and lament at being carried captive a second time . Thus they arrived at the court of the emperor . They were just about to land , when the mother of the genius stood before them . She had learnt that Iliane had fled from her prison in company with a merchant , and , as her son was absent , had come herself in pursuit . Striding over the blue waters , hopping from wave to wave , one foot reaching to heaven , and the other planted in the foam , she was close at their heels , breathing fire and flame , when they stepped on shore from the ship . One glance told Iliane who the horrible old woman was , and she whispered hastily to her companion . Without saying a word , the princess swung her into Sunlight 's saddle , and leaping up behind her , they were off like a flash . It was not till they drew near the town that the princess stooped and asked Sunlight what they should do . ` Put your hand into my left ear , ' said he , ` and take out a sharp stone , which you must throw behind you . ' The princess did as she was told , and a huge mountain sprang up behind them .
The mother of the genius began XXXXX climb up it , and though they galloped quickly , she was quicker still .
behind by in into like on over than till to