the king’s son thanked god for his great mercy, and travelled with his lion onwards through the world. and it came to pass that he arrived before a castle which was enchanted. in the gateway stood a maiden of beautiful form and fine face, but she was quite black. she spoke to him and said, "ah, if thou couldst but deliver me from the evil spell which is thrown over me." "what shall i do?" said the king’s son. the maiden answered, "thou must pass three nights in the great hall of this enchanted castle, but thou must let no fear enter thy heart. when they are doing their worst to torment thee, if thou bearest it without letting a sound escape thee, i shall be free. thy life they dare not take." then said the king’s son, "i have no fear; with god’s help i will try it." so he went gaily into the castle, and when it grew dark he seated himself in the large hall and waited. everything was quiet, however, till midnight, when all at once a great tumult began, and out of every hole and corner came little devils. they behaved as if they did not see him, seated themselves in the middle of the room, lighted a fire, and began to gamble. when one of them lost, he said, "it is not right; some one is here who does not belong to us; it is his fault that i am losing." "wait, you fellow behind the stove, i am coming," said another. the screaming became still louder, so that no one could have heard it without terror. the king’s son stayed sitting quite quietly, and was not afraid; but at last the devils jumped up from the ground, and fell on him, and there were so many of them that he could not defend himself from them. they dragged him about on the floor, pinched him, pricked him, beat him, and tormented him, but no sound escaped from him. towards morning they disappeared, and he was so exhausted that he could scarcely move his limbs, but when day dawned the black maiden came to him. she bore in her hand a little bottle wherein was the water of life wherewith she washed him, and he at once felt all pain depart and new strength flow through his veins. she said, "thou hast held out successfully for one night, but two more lie before thee." then she went away again, and as she was going, he observed that her feet had become white. the next night the devils came and began their gambols anew. they fell on the king’s son, and beat him much more severely than the night before, until his body was covered with wounds.