In an instant the place was filled with light , as the red ball fell from the brain of the calf . The prince picked it up , and , wrapping it round with a thick cloth , hid it in his bosom . Mercifully , the cow slept through it all , or by her cries she would have awakened the master . He looked round , and at the door stood the maiden , holding a little bundle in her arms . ` Where is the ball ? ' she asked . ` Here , ' answered he . ` We must lose no time in escaping , ' she went on , and uncovered a tiny bit of the shining ball , to light them on their way . As the prince had expected the peas had taken root , and grown into a little hedge , so that they were sure they would not lose the path . As they fled , the girl told him that she had overheard a conversation between the old man and his grandmother , saying that she was a king 's daughter , whom the old fellow had obtained by cunning from her parents . The prince , who knew all about the affair , was silent , though he was glad from his heart that it had fallen to his lot to set her free . So they went on till the day began to dawn . The old man slept very late that morning , and rubbed his eyes till he was properly awake . Then he remembered that very soon the couple were to present themselves before him . After waiting and waiting till quite a long time had passed , he said to himself , with a grin , ` Well , they are not in much hurry to be married , ' and waited again . At last he grew a little uneasy , and cried loudly , ` Man and maid ! what has become of you ? ' After repeating this many times , he became quite frightened , but , call as he would , neither man nor maid appeared . At last he jumped angrily out of bed to go in search of the culprits , but only found an empty house , and beds that had never been slept in . Then he went straight to the stable , where the sight of the dead calf told him all .
Swearing loudly , he opened the door XXXXX the third stall quickly , and cried to his goblin servants to go and chase the fugitives .
At So as by in of on that though through