Thentheswallowflewaway,andthechildren,whohadforgottenbothhungerandwearinessinthejoyofthisstrangenews,roseupandfollowedinthedirectionofherflight。Aftertwohours\'walking,theyarrivedatalargecity,whichtheyfeltsuremustbethecapitaloftheirfather\'skingdom。Seeingagood—naturedlookingwomanstandingatthedoorofahouse,theyaskedherifshewouldgivethemanight\'slodging,andshewassopleasedwiththeirprettyfacesandnicemannersthatshewelcomedthemwarmly。
Itwasscarcelylightthenextmorningbeforethegirlwassweepingouttherooms,andtheboywateringthegarden,sothatbythetimethegoodwomancamedownstairstherewasnothingleftforhertodo。Thissodelightedherthatshebeggedthechildrentostaywithheraltogether,andtheboyansweredthathewouldleavehissisterswithhergladly,butthathehimselfhadseriousbusinessonhandandmustnotlingerinpursuitofit。Sohebadethemfarewellandsetout。
Forthreedayshewanderedbythemostout—of—the—waypaths,butnosignsofatowerweretobeseenanywhere。Onthefourthmorningitwasjustthesame,and,filledwithdespair,heflunghimselfonthegroundunderatreeandhidhisfaceinhishands。Inalittlewhileheheardarustlingoverhishead,andlookingup,hesawaturtledovewatchinghimwithherbrighteyes。
\'Ohdove！\'criedtheboy,addressingthebirdinherownlanguage,\'Ohdove！tellme,Iprayyou,whereisthecastleofCome—and—never—go？\'
\'Poorchild,\'answeredthedove,\'whohassentyouonsuchauselessquest？\'