But the Blockhead said: "Leave the little creatures alone; I will not allow you to disturb them."
Then they went on farther till they came to a lake in which a great many ducks were swimming about. The two wanted to catch and roast a pair.
But the Blockhead would not allow it, and said: "Leave the creatures alone. You shall not kill them."
At last they came to a bee's nest, containing such a quantity of honey that it flowed around the trunk of the tree.
The two princes wanted to set fire to the tree and suffocate the bees, so as to remove the honey.
But the Blockhead stopped them again, and said: "Leave the creatures alone. I will not let you burn them."
At last the three brothers came to a castle, where the stables were full of stone horses, but not a soul was to be seen. They went through all the rooms till they came to a door quite at the end, fastened with three bolts. In the middle of the door was a lattice, through which one could see into the room.
There they saw a little gray man sitting at a table. They called to him once, twice; but he did not hear them. Finally, when they had called him the third time, he stood up and opened the door and came out. He said not a word, but led them to a richly spread table, and when they had eaten and drunk, he took them each to a bedroom.
The next morning the little Gray Man came to the eldest Prince, beckoned, and led him to a stone tablet whereon were inscribed three tasks by means of which the castle should be freed from enchantment.
This was the first task: in the wood, under the moss, lay the Princess's pearls, a thousand in number. These had all to be found, and if at sunset a single one were missing, the seeker would be turned to stone.