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On the other side of the lake stood a fine illuminated castle,

from which came the merry music of horns and trumpets. There they

all landed, and went into the castle, and each prince danced with

his princess; and the soldier, who was all the time invisible,

danced with them too; and when any of the princesses had a cup of

wine set by her, he drank it all up, so that when she put the cup

to her mouth it was empty. At this, too, the youngest sister was

terribly frightened, but the eldest always silenced her. They

danced on till three o'clock in the morning, and then all their

shoes were worn out, so that they were obliged to leave off. The

princes rowed them back again over the lake (but this time the

soldier placed himself in the boat with the eldest princess); and

on the opposite shore they took leave of each other, the

princesses promising to come again the next night.