‘Oh, just looking round,’ he answered; ‘but though I searched everywhere I could find nothing to eat.’
‘I am very much afraid that it is a robbers’ den,’ said the queen. ‘We had better go on, hungry though we are.’
‘No, it isn’t; but still, we had better not stay here,’ replied the prince, ‘especially as there is nothing to eat. Perhaps we shall find another house.’
They went on for some time, until, sure enough, they came to another house, which also had a light in the window.
‘We’ll go in here,’ said the prince.
‘No, no; I am afraid!’ cried the queen. ‘We shall be attacked and killed! It is a robbers’ den: I am sure it is!’
‘Yes, it looks like it; but we can’t help that,’ said her son. ‘We have had nothing to eat for hours, and I’m nearly as tired as you.’
The poor queen was, indeed, quite worn out; she could hardly stand for fatigue, and in spite of her terror was half anxious to be persuaded.
‘And there’s going to be a storm,’ added the prince; who feared nothing now that he had the sword.
So they went into the house, where they found nobody. In the first room stood a table laid for a meal, with all sorts of good things to eat and drink, though some of the dishes were empty.