This was done and the aspen beds were burnt in a large fire , till only a little heap of ashes was left . Yet while they were burning the empress seemed to hear the same words , which she alone could understand . Then she stooped and gathered up the ashes , and scattered them to the four winds , so that they might blow over fresh lands and fresh seas , and nothing remain of them . But she had not seen that where the fire burnt brightest two sparks flew up , and , after floating in the air for a few moments , fell down into the great river that flows through the heart of the country . Here the sparks had turned into two little fishes with golden scales , and one was so exactly like the other that everyone could tell at the first glance that they must be twins . Early one morning the emperor 's fishermen went down to the river to get some fish for their master 's breakfast , and cast their nets into the stream . As the last star twinkled out of the sky they drew them in , and among the multitude of fishes lay two with scales of gold , such as no man had ever looked on . They all gathered round and wondered , and after some talk they decided that they would take the little fishes alive as they were , and give them as a present to the emperor . ` Do not take us there , for that is whence we came , and yonder lies our destruction , ' said one of the fishes . ` But what are we to do with you ? ' asked the fisherman . ` Go and collect all the dew that lies on the leaves , and let us swim in it . Then lay us in the sun , and do not come near us till the sun 's rays shall have dried off the dew , ' answered the other fish . The fisherman did as they told him -- gathered the dew from the leaves and let them swim in it , then put them to lie in the sun till the dew should be all dried up . And when he came back , what do you think he saw ? Why , two boys , two beautiful young princes , with hair as golden as the stars on their foreheads , and each so like the other , that at the first glance every one would have known them for twins . The boys grew fast . In every day they grew a year 's growth , and in every night another year 's growth , but at dawn , when the stars were fading , they grew three years ' growth in the twinkling of an eye . And they grew in other things besides height , too . Thrice in age , and thrice in wisdom , and thrice in knowledge .
And when three days and three nights had passed they were twelve years in age , twenty-four XXXXX strength , and thirty-six in wisdom .
As besides for in into on over that till to