` The children were alive at that very moment in the gardener 's cottage ; but at night the chamberlain came down and put them in a cradle of crystal , which he carried to the river . ` For a whole day they floated safely , for though the stream was deep it was very still , and the children took no harm . In the morning -- so I am told by my friend the kingfisher -- they were rescued by a fisherman who lived near the river bank . ' The children had been lying on the bench , listening lazily to the chatter up to this point ; but when they heard the story of the crystal cradle which their foster-mother had always been fond of telling them , they sat upright and looked at each other . ` Oh , how glad I am I learnt the birds ' language ! ' said the eyes of one to the eyes of the other . Meanwhile the swallows had spoken again . ` That was indeed good fortune ! ' cried they . ` And when the children are grown up they can return to their father and set their mother free . ' ` It will not be so easy as you think , ' answered the city swallow , shaking her head ; ` for they will have to prove that they are the king 's children , and also that their mother never went mad at all . In fact , it is so difficult that there is only one way of proving it to the king . ' ` And what is that ? ' cried all the swallows at once . ` And how do you know it ? ' ' I know it , ' answered the city swallow , ` because , one day , when I was passing through the palace garden , I met a cuckoo , who , as I need not tell you , always pretends to be able to see into the future . We began to talk about certain things which were happening in the palace , and of the events of past years . `` Ah , '' said he , `` the only person who can expose the wickedness of the ministers and show the king how wrong he has been , is the Bird of Truth , who can speak the language of men . '' ' `` And where can this bird be found ? '' I asked . '
`` It is shut up XXXXX a castle guarded by a fierce giant , who only sleeps one quarter of an hour out of the whole twenty-four , '' replied the cuckoo .
For at by in near of on so that up