But no sooner had he lain himself down than his eyes grew heavy , and when the sunbeams roused him from his slumbers there was not an apple left on the tree . Next came the turn of the youngest son , who made himself a comfortable bed under the apple tree , and prepared himself to sleep . Towards midnight he awoke , and sat up to look at the tree . And behold ! the apples were beginning to ripen , and lit up the whole palace with their brightness . At the same moment nine golden pea-hens flew swiftly through the air , and while eight alighted upon the boughs laden with fruit , the ninth fluttered to the ground where the prince lay , and instantly was changed into a beautiful maiden , more beautiful far than any lady in the emperor 's court . The prince at once fell in love with her , and they talked together for some time , till the maiden said her sisters had finished plucking the apples , and now they must all go home again . The prince , however , begged her so hard to leave him a little of the fruit that the maiden gave him two apples , one for himself and one for his father . Then she changed herself back into a pea-hen , and the whole nine flew away . As soon as the sun rose the prince entered the palace , and held out the apple to his father , who was rejoiced to see it , and praised his youngest son heartily for his cleverness . That evening the prince returned to the apple tree , and everything passed as before , and so it happened for several nights . At length the other brothers grew angry at seeing that he never came back without bringing two golden apples with him , and they went to consult an old witch , who promised to spy after him , and discover how he managed to get the apples . So , when the evening came , the old woman hid herself under the tree and waited for the prince . Before long he arrived and laid down on his bed , and was soon fast asleep . Towards midnight there was a rush of wings , and the eight pea-hens settled on the tree , while the ninth became a maiden , and ran to greet the prince . Then the witch stretched out her hand , and cut off a lock of the maiden 's hair , and in an instant the girl sprang up , a pea-hen once more , spread her wings and flew away , while her sisters , who were busily stripping the boughs , flew after her . When he had recovered from his surprise at the unexpected disappearance of the maiden , the prince exclaimed , ` What can be the matter ? ' and , looking about him , discovered the old witch hidden under the bed . He dragged her out , and in his fury called his guards , and ordered them to put her to death as fast as possible . But that did no good as far as the pea-hens went .
They never came back any more , though the prince returned XXXXX the tree every night , and wept his heart out for his lost love .
Towards as from into of than through to upon with