what else could they do but lament and complain? meanwhile the time passed, and by the diminution of the food and drink they knew that the seven years were coming to an end. they thought the moment of their deliverance was come; but no stroke of the hammer was heard, no stone fell out of the wall, and it seemed to maid maleen that her father had forgotten her. as they only had food for a short time longer, and saw a miserable death awaiting them, maid maleen said, "we must try our last chance, and see if we can break through the wall." she took the bread-knife, and picked and bored at the mortar of a stone, and when she was tired, the waiting-maid took her turn. with great labour they succeeded in getting out one stone, and then a second, and a third, and when three days were over the first ray of light fell on their darkness, and at last the opening was so large that they could look out. the sky was blue, and a fresh breeze played on their faces; but how melancholy everything looked all around! her father’s castle lay in ruins, the town and the villages were, so far as could be seen, destroyed by fire, the fields far and wide laid to waste, and no human being was visible. when the opening in the wall was large enough for them to slip through, the waiting-maid sprang down first, and then maid maleen followed. but where were they to go? the enemy had ravaged the whole kingdom, driven away the king, and slain all the inhabitants.