` Oh , it 's no use telling you , ' said they . ` You ca n't help us , at any rate . ' ` Oh , you might at least tell me , ' said Esben ; ' I have helped you before . ' In the end they told him that the king had ordered them to bring him a lamp which could shine over seven kingdoms , but such a lamp no one had ever heard tell of . ` Give me a bushel of salt , ' said Esben , ` and we shall see how matters go . ' He got his bushel of salt , and then mounted his little white stick , and said , Fly quick , my little stick , Carry me across the stream . With that both he and his bushel of salt were over beside the witch 's courtyard . But now matters were less easy , for he could not get inside the yard , as it was evening and the gate was locked . Finally he hit upon a plan ; he got up on the roof and crept down the chimney . He searched all round for the lamp , but could find it nowhere , for the witch always had it safely guarded , as it was one of her most precious treasures . When he became tired of searching for it he crept into the baking - oven , intending to lie down there and sleep till morning ; but just at that moment he heard the witch calling from her bed to one of her daughters , and telling her to make some porridge for her . She had grown hungry , and had taken such a fancy to some porridge . The daughter got out of bed , kindled the fire , and put on a pot with water in it . ` You must n't put any salt in the porridge , though , ' cried the witch . ` No , neither will I , ' said the daughter ; but while she was away getting the meal Esben slipped out of the oven and emptied the whole bushel of salt into the pot . The daughter came back then and put in the meal , and after it had boiled a little she took it in to her mother . The witch took a spoonful and tasted it . ` Uh ! ' said she ; ` did n't I tell you not to put any salt in it , and it 's just as salt as the sea . ' So the daughter had to go and make new porridge , and her mother warned her strictly not to put any salt in it .
But now there was no water XXXXX the house , so she asked her mother to give her the lamp , so that she could go to the well for more .
With across as at in inside of that upon while