Atondido Stories
“No, no, old mother, he won’t eat me, for I bring him greet-
ings from his brother of the Silver Castle!”
“Well, if you bring greetings from the Silver Castle you are
safe enough. Come in, my boy, and tell me your business.”
“My business, old mother? For a long time I’ve been wander-
ing over these wild mountains in search of the Glass Hill and the
Three Citrons. At the Silver Castle they sent me to you because
they thought you might know something about them.”
“The Glass Hill? No, I don’t know where it is. But wait until
my son comes. He will advise you where to go and what to do.
Hide under the table and stay there till I call you.”
The mountains rumbled and the castle trembled and Yeziba-
ba’s son came home.
“Phew! Phew! I smell human meat! I’ll eat it!” he roared. He
stood in the doorway and pounded the ground with his golden
club until the whole castle shook.
“No, no, my son,” said Yezibaba, “don’t talk that way! A
pretty little fellow has come bringing you greetings from your
brother of the Silver Castle. If you won’t harm him, I’ll call him
out.”
“Well, if my brother didn’t do anything to him, I won’t ei-
ther.”
So the prince crawled out from under the table and stood be-
fore the giant. It was like standing beneath a high tower. He
showed the ogre the silver dumplings as proof that he had been
at the Silver Castle.
“Well, well, well, my little June bug,” shouted the monstrous
fellow, “tell me what it is you want! I’ll advise you if I can! Don’t
be afraid!”
So the prince told him the purpose of his journey and asked
him how to get to the Glass Hill and pluck the Three Citrons.
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