“Tell me how I can reach you?” cried he; but Wildrose smiled and shook her head, and sat down quietly. The prince saw that it was no use, and turned and made his way out of the forest. But he might as well have stayed there, for any good he was to his father, so full was his heart of longing for Wildrose. Twice he returned to the forest in the hopes of finding her, but this time fortune failed him, and he went home as sad as ever. At length the emperor, who could not think what had caused this change, sent for his son and asked him what was the matter. Then the prince confessed that the image of Wildrose filled his soul, and that he would never be happy without her. At first the emperor felt rather distressed. He doubted whether a girl from a tree top would make a good empress; but he loved his son so much that he promised to do all he could to find her. So the next morning heralds were sent forth throughout the whole land to inquire if anyone knew where a maiden could be found who lived in a forest on the top of a tree, and to promise great riches and a place at court to any person who should find her. But nobody knew. All the girls in the kingdom had their homes on the ground, and laughed at the notion of being brought up in a tree. “A nice kind of empress she would make,” they said, as the emperor had done, tossing their heads with disdain; for, having read many books, they guessed what she was wanted for. The heralds were almost in despair, when an old woman stepped out of the crowd and came and spoke to them. She was not only very old, but she was very ugly, with a hump on her back and a bald head, and when the heralds saw her they broke into rude laughter. “I can show you the maiden who lives in the tree-top,” she said, but they only laughed the more loudly. “Get away, old witch!” they cried, “you will bring us bad luck”; but the old woman stood firm, and declared that she alone knew where to find the maiden. “Go with her,” said the eldest of the heralds at last. “The emperor’s orders are clear, that whoever knew anything of the maiden was to come at once to court. Put her in the coach and take her with us.” So in this fashion the old woman was brought to court. “You have declared that you can bring hither the maiden from the wood?” said the emperor, who was seated on his throne. “Yes, your Majesty, and I will keep my word,” said she. “Then bring her at once,” said the emperor. “Give me first a kettle and a tripod,” asked the old w omen, and the emperor ordered them to be brought instantly. The old woman picked them up, and tucking them under her arm went on her way, keeping at a little distance behind the royal huntsmen, who in their turn followed the prince.