They dismounted and waited. Nothing happened for a long time. "I do wish She were here!" sighed George.
There was a whizz! overhead, and down swooped the witch on her broomstick.
"What a long time it takes for little boys to learn to ask nicely for what they want," she said, with a smile. "Jump up! You can leave your horses behind. They will look after themselves."
Up they climbed without delay, for Sir Tristram was too astonished to say a single word.
Whizz!—off they went again. Up—up—up—and then, in the twinkling of an eye, there they were on top!
"Here we are!" said the witch. "Off you get! I expect we shall meet again before long. Don't forget to ask for what you want"—and, with a smile which was more crooked than ever, she disappeared.
"This is indeed a mighty adventure," said Sir Tristram. "See, yonder lies the magician's castle!"
George looked in the direction in which the knight pointed, and there was indeed the strangest castle he had ever seen. It was built of polished glass, and all the windows looked like great wide-open eyes which were staring at them. The gates were made of brass in the shape of letters of the alphabet, all mixed up together.
On the top of the highest tower stood a weathercock, a fierce-looking bird with green eyes and a long black beak. But fiercer still looked the two guardians of the gate. These were two enormous dogs with two great round eyes like blazing fires. They were almost as large as elephants.