strike thrice with the wand on the iron door of the castle and it will spring open: inside lie two lions with gaping jaws, but if thou throwest a loaf to each of them, they will be quieted. then hasten to fetch some of the water of life before the clock strikes twelve, else the door will shut again, and thou wilt be imprisoned." the prince thanked him, took the wand and the bread, and set out on his way. when he arrived, everything was as the dwarf had said. the door sprang open at the third stroke of the wand, and when he had appeased the lions with the bread, he entered the castle, and came to a large and splendid hall, wherein sat some enchanted princes whose rings he drew off their fingers. a sword and a loaf of bread were lying there, which he carried away. after this, he entered a chamber, in which was a beautiful maiden who rejoiced when she saw him, kissed him, and told him that he had delivered her, and should have the whole of her kingdom, and that if he would return in a year their wedding should be celebrated; likewise she told him where the spring of the water of life was, and that he was to hasten and draw some of it before the clock struck twelve. then he went onwards, and at last entered a room where there was a beautiful newly-made bed, and as he was very weary, he felt inclined to rest a little. so he lay down and fell asleep. when he awoke, it was striking a quarter to twelve. he sprang up in a fright, ran to the spring, drew some water in a cup which stood near, and hastened away. but just as he was passing through the iron door, the clock struck twelve, and the door fell to with such violence that it carried away a piece of his heel. he, however, rejoicing at having obtained the water of life, went homewards, and again passed the dwarf. when the latter saw the sword and the loaf, he said, "with these thou hast won great wealth; with the sword thou canst slay whole armies, and the bread will never come to an end." but the prince would not go home to his father without his brothers, and said, "dear dwarf, canst thou not tell me where my two brothers are? they went out before i did in search of the water of life, and have not returned." "they are imprisoned between two mountains," said the dwarf. "i have condemned them to stay there, because they were so haughty." then the prince begged until the dwarf released them; but he warned him, however, and said, "beware of them, for they have bad hearts." when his brothers came, he rejoiced, and told them how things had gone with him, that he had found the water of life and had brought a cupful away with him, and had rescued a beautiful princess, who was willing to wait a year for him, and then their wedding was to be celebrated and he would obtain a great kingdom.