the boat, however, did not sink, but floated quietly away, and the boy sat safely inside it, and it floated thus for a long time, until at last it stopped by an unknown shore. then he landed and saw a beautiful castle before him, and set out to go to it. but when he entered it, he found that it was bewitched. he went through every room, but all were empty until he reached the last, where a snake lay coiled in a ring.