In order to prevent this , he would make a little cut in the bark , just large enough for them to put their fingers in , and with this help he could manage to tear the tree in two , so that the heart should run no risk of damage . The elves did as he told them without a thought ; then he quickly drew out the axe , which had been sticking into the cleft , and behold ! all their fingers were imprisoned tight in the tree . It was in vain that they shrieked with pain and tried to free themselves . They could do nothing , and the young man remained cold as marble to all their entreaties . Then he demanded of them Mogarzea 's soul . ` Oh , well , if you must have it , it is in a bottle on the window sill , ' said they , hoping that they might obtain their freedom at once . But they were mistaken . ` You have made so many men suffer , ' answered he sternly , ` that it is but just you should suffer yourselves , but to-morrow I will let you go . ' And he turned towards home , taking his sheep and the soul of Mogarzea with him . Mogarzea was waiting at the door , and as the boy drew near he began scolding him for being so late . But at the first word of explanation the man became beside himself with joy , and he sprang so high into the air that the false soul which the elves had given him flew out of his mouth , and his own , which had been shut tightly into the flask of water , took its place . When his excitement had somewhat calmed down , he cried to the boy , ` Whether you are really my son matters nothing to me ; tell me , how can I repay you for what you have done for me ? ' ` By showing me where the Milk Lake is , and how I can get one of the three fairies who lives there to wife , and by letting me remain your son for ever . ' The night was passed by Mogarzea and his son in songs and feasting , for both were too happy to sleep , and when day dawned they set out together to free the elves from the tree . When they reached the place of their imprisonment , Mogarzea took the cherry tree and all the elves with it on his back , and carried them off to his father 's kingdom , where everyone rejoiced to see him home again . But all he did was to point to the boy who had saved him , and had followed him with his flock . For three days the boy stayed in the palace , receiving the thanks and praises of the whole court . Then he said to Mogarzea : ` The time has come for me to go hence , but tell me , I pray you , how to find the Sweet Milk Lake , and I will return , and will bring my wife back with me . ' Mogarzea tried in vain to make him stay , but , finding it was useless , he told him all he knew , for he himself had never seen the lake .
XXXXX three summer days the boy and his flute journeyed on , till one evening he reached the lake , which lay in the kingdom of a powerful fairy .
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