For the third time his majesty was sent for , and for the third time he proclaimed that he could not give his consent until the bridegroom should have slain a serpent which dwelt in a broad river that flowed at the back of the castle . Everyone knew stories of this terrible serpent , though no one had actually seen it ; but from time to time a child strayed from home and never came back , and then mothers would forbid the other children to go near the river , which had juicy fruits and lovely flowers growing along its banks . So no wonder the youth trembled and turned pale when he heard what lay before him . ` You will succeed in this also , ' whispered the Sister of the Sun , pressing his hand , ` for in my ship is a magic sword which will cut through everything . Go down to the river and unfasten a boat which lies moored there , and throw the chips into the water . When the serpent rears up its body you will cut off its three heads with one blow of your sword . Then take the tip of each tongue and go with it to-morrow morning into the king 's kitchen . If the king himself should enter , just say to him : `` Here are three gifts I offer you in return for the services you demanded of me ! '' and throw the tips of the serpent 's tongues at him , and hasten to the ship as fast as your legs will carry you . But be sure you take great care never to look behind you . ' The young man did exactly what the princess had told him . The three chips which he flung into the river became a boat , and , as he steered across the stream , the serpent put up its head and hissed loudly . The youth had his sword ready , and in another second the three heads were bobbing on the water . Guiding his boat till he was beside them , he stooped down and snipped off the ends of the tongues , and then rowed back to the other bank . Next morning he carried them into the royal kitchen , and when the king entered , as was his custom , to see what he was going to have for dinner , the bridegroom flung them in his face , saying : ` Here is a gift for you in return for the services you asked of me . ' And , opening the kitchen door , he fled to the ship . Unluckily he missed the way , and in his excitement ran backwards and forwards , without knowing whither he was going . At last , in despair , he looked round , and saw to his amazement that both the city and palace had vanished completely . Then he turned his eyes in the other direction , and , far , far away , he caught sight of the ship with her sails spread , and a fair wind behind her . This dreadful spectacle seemed to take away his senses , and all day long he wandered about , without knowing where he was going , till , in the evening , he noticed some smoke from a little hut of turf near by .
He went straight up XXXXX it and cried : ' O mother , let me come in for pity 's sake ! '
If for from of that though till to with without