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 to the tree every night , and wept his heart out for his lost love . This went on for some time , till the prince could bear it no longer , and made up his mind he would search the world through for her . In vain his father tried to persuade him that his task was hopeless , and that other girls were to be found as beautiful as this one . The prince would listen to nothing , and , accompanied by only one servant , set out on his quest . After travelling for many days , he arrived at length before a large gate , and through the bars he could see the streets of a town , and even the palace . The prince tried to pass in , but the way was barred by the keeper of the gate , who wanted to know who he was , why he was there , and how he had learnt the way , and he was not allowed to enter unless the empress herself came and gave him leave . A message was sent to her , and when she stood at the gate the prince thought he had lost his wits , for there was the maiden he had left his home to seek . And she hastened to him , and took his hand , and drew him into the palace . In a few days they were married , and the prince forgot his father and his brothers , and made up his mind that he would live and die in the castle . One morning the empress told him that she was going to take a walk by herself , and that she would leave the keys of twelve cellars to his care . ` If you wish to enter the first eleven cellars , ' said she , ` you can ; but beware of even unlocking the door of the twelfth , or it will be the worse for you . ' The prince , who was left alone in the castle , soon got tired of being by himself , and began to look about for something to amuse him . ` What CAN there be in that twelfth cellar , ' he thought to himself , ` which I must not see ? ' And he went downstairs and unlocked the doors , one after the other .
When he got to the twelfth he paused , but his curiosity was too much for him , and XXXXX another instant the key was turned and the cellar lay open before him .
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