what has happened ? The palace is disappearing under our eyes ! ' ` My husband will be home very soon , ' answered the princess -- who , though nearly as much frightened as her ladies , felt that she must set them a good example . ` Wait till then , and he will tell us what to do . ' So they waited , seated on the highest chairs they could find , wrapped in their warmest garments , and with piles of cushions under their feet , while the poor birds flew with numbed wings hither and thither , till they were so lucky as to discover an open window in some forgotten corner . Through this they vanished , and were seen no more . At last , when the princess and her ladies had been forced to leave the upper rooms , where the walls and floors had melted away , and to take refuge in the hall , the young man came home . He had ridden back along a winding road from which he did not see the palace till he was close upon it , and stood horrified at the spectacle before him . He knew in an instant that his wife must have betrayed his trust , but he would not reproach her , as she must be suffering enough already . Hurrying on he sprang over all that was left of the palace walls , and the princess gave a cry of relief at the sight of him . ` Come quickly , ' he said , ` or you will be frozen to death ! ' And a dreary little procession set out for the king 's palace , the greyhound and the cat bringing up the rear . At the gates he left them , though his wife besought him to allow her to enter . ` You have betrayed me and ruined me , ' he said sternly ; ' I go to seek my fortune alone . ' And without another word he turned and left her . With his falcon on his wrist , and his greyhound and cat behind him , the young man walked a long way , inquiring of everyone he met whether they had seen his enemy the ogre . But nobody had . Then he bade his falcon fly up into the sky -- up , up , and up -- and try if his sharp eyes could discover the old thief . The bird had to go so high that he did not return for some hours ; but he told his master that the ogre was lying asleep in a splendid palace in a far country on the shores of the sea . This was delightful news to the young man , who instantly bought some meat for the falcon , bidding him make a good meal .
` To-morrow , ' said he , ` you will fly to the palace where the ogre lies , and while he is asleep you will search all about him for a stone XXXXX which is engraved strange signs ; this you will bring to me .
Through With at before behind from in on upon without