“But why not?” asked Isabelle. “Couldn’t I go to the old woman’s enchanted castle and take the stick while she was asleep?”
“But she never sleeps,” said the crow, “and she never lets the stick out of her hand.”
“Then I don’t see how we could ever get it,” cried Isabelle sorrowfully. The poor crow looked very sad, and Isabelle was quiet for a long time thinking hard. “I am going to try,” she cried all at once. “I shall go to the enchanted castle and see if I can get the crooked staff.”
The crow shook her head saying, “I’m afraid you’ll never find the castle, and even if you did, you could never get the crooked staff.”
“There is nothing like trying, you know,” replied the brave little girl; and the next morning, bright and early, the beautiful Princess Isabelle started out on a long journey to find the old woman’s enchanted castle.
She walked a long distance, then she came to a little red house. Isabelle knocked on the door and a fox with a bushy tail opened it.
“Will you please tell me how to find the enchanted castle of the old woman with the pointed hat and crooked staff?” asked the Princess.
“If I tell you,” said the fox, “will you promise to come back?”
“I promise,” answered Isabelle.
“Turn to your right,” said the fox, “and climb the first hill you see.”