Not knowing if it was proper to receive him or not , the slaves returned to their mistress and told her all they had seen , but not before she had caught sight of the merchant from the roof of her palace . Luckily her gaoler was away , always trying to catch the stud of mares , so for the moment she was free and alone . The slaves told their tale so well that their mistress insisted on going down to the shore and seeing the beautiful slippers for herself . They were even lovelier than she expected , and when the merchant besought her to come on board , and inspect some that he thought were finer still , her curiosity was too great to refuse , and she went . Once on board ship , she was so busy turning over all the precious things stored there , that she never knew that the sails were spread , and that they were flying along with the wind behind them ; and when she did know , she rejoiced in her heart , though she pretended to weep and lament at being carried captive a second time . Thus they arrived at the court of the emperor . They were just about to land , when the mother of the genius stood before them . She had learnt that Iliane had fled from her prison in company with a merchant , and , as her son was absent , had come herself in pursuit . Striding over the blue waters , hopping from wave to wave , one foot reaching to heaven , and the other planted in the foam , she was close at their heels , breathing fire and flame , when they stepped on shore from the ship . One glance told Iliane who the horrible old woman was , and she whispered hastily to her companion . Without saying a word , the princess swung her into Sunlight 's saddle , and leaping up behind her , they were off like a flash . It was not till they drew near the town that the princess stooped and asked Sunlight what they should do . ` Put your hand into my left ear , ' said he , ` and take out a sharp stone , which you must throw behind you . ' The princess did as she was told , and a huge mountain sprang up behind them . The mother of the genius began to climb up it , and though they galloped quickly , she was quicker still . They heard her coming , faster , faster ; and again the princess stooped to ask what was to be done now . ` Put your hand into my right ear , ' said the horse , ` and throw the brush you will find there behind you . ' The princess did so , and a great forest sprang up behind them , and , so thick were its leaves , that even a wren could not get through . But the old woman seized hold of the branches and flung herself like a monkey from one to the others , and always she drew nearer -- always , always -- till their hair was singed by the flames of her mouth . Then , in despair , the princess again bent down and asked if there was nothing more to be done , and Sunlight replied ` Quick , quick , take off the betrothal ring on the finger of Iliane and throw it behind you . '
This time there sprang up a great tower of stone , smooth as ivory , hard as steel , which reached up XXXXX heaven itself .
by down in into like near than through till to