Then the old woman called to a very thin dog , and said to him : ` Conduct this pig of a child to the castle of Come-and-never-go , and take care that you warn my friend of his arrival . ' And the dog arose and shook itself , and set out . At the end of two hours they stopped in front of a large castle , big and black and gloomy , whose doors stood wide open , although neither sound nor light gave sign of any presence within . The dog , however , seemed to know what to expect , and , after a wild howl , went on ; but the boy , who was uncertain whether this was the quarter of an hour when the giant was asleep , hesitated to follow him , and paused for a moment under a wild olive that grew near by , the only tree which he had beheld since he had parted from the dove . ` Oh , heaven , help me ! ' cried he . ` Cross ! cross ! ' answered a voice . The boy leapt for joy as he recognised the note of the owl of which the swallow had spoken , and he said softly in the bird 's language : ` Oh , wise owl , I pray you to protect and guide me , for I have come in search of the Bird of Truth . And first I must fill this far with the many-coloured water in the courtyard of the castle . ' ` Do not do that , ' answered the owl , ` but fill the jar from the spring which bubbles close by the fountain with the many-coloured water . Afterwards , go into the aviary opposite the great door , but be careful not to touch any of the bright-plumaged birds contained in it , which will cry to you , each one , that he is the Bird of Truth . Choose only a small white bird that is hidden in a corner , which the others try incessantly to kill , not knowing that it can not die . And , be quick ! -- for at this very moment the giant has fallen asleep , and you have only a quarter of an hour to do everything . ' The boy ran as fast as he could and entered the courtyard , where he saw the two spring close together . He passed by the many-coloured water without casting a glance at it , and filled the jar from the fountain whose water was clear and pure . He next hastened to the aviary , and was almost deafened by the clamour that rose as he shut the door behind him . Voices of peacocks , voices of ravens , voices of magpies , each claiming to be the Bird of Truth .
With steadfast face the boy walked XXXXX them all , to the corner , where , hemmed in by a hand of fierce crows , was the small white bird he sought .
At as behind by in into of on whether within