she said . ` The ball moves in my hand , and I 'm sure we are being followed ! ' and behind them they saw a black cloud flying before the wind . Then the maiden turned the ball thrice in her hand , and cried , ` Listen to me , my ball , my ball . Be quick and change me into a brook , And my lover into a little fish . ' And in an instant there was a brook with a fish swimming in it . The goblins arrived just after , but , seeing nobody , waited for a little , then hurried home , leaving the brook and the fish undisturbed . When they were quite out of sight , the brook and the fish returned to their usual shapes and proceeded on their journey . When the goblins , tired and with empty hands , returned , their master inquired what they had seen , and if nothing strange had befallen them . ` Nothing , ' said they ; ` the plain was quite empty , save for a brook and a fish swimming in it . ' ` Idiots ! ' roared the master ; ` of course it was they ! ' And dashing open the door of the fifth stall , he told the goblins inside that they must go and drink up the brook , and catch the fish . And the goblins jumped up , and flew like the wind . The young pair had almost reached the edge of the wood , when the maiden stopped again . ` Something has happened , ' said she . ` The ball is moving in my hand , ' and looking round she beheld a cloud flying towards them , large and blacker than the first , and striped with red . ` Those are our pursuers , ' cried she , and turning the ball three times in her hand she spoke to it thus : ` Listen to me , my ball , my ball . Be quick and change us both . Me into a wild rose bush , And him into a rose on my stem . '
And in the twinkling XXXXX an eye it was done .
before behind for if into like of on than towards