Greedy for carrion , and sure that this must be a fresh corpse , the bird swooped down upon the boy . But he was awake now , and perceiving the eagle , he determined by its help to save himself . The eagle dug its sharp claws into the tender flesh of the youth , but he bore the pain without a sound , and seized the bird 's two feet with his hands . The creature in terror lifted him high up into the air and began to circle round the tower of the castle . The youth held on bravely . He saw the glittering palace , which by the pale rays of the moon looked like a dim lamp ; and he saw the high windows , and round one of them a balcony in which the beautiful Princess sat lost in sad thoughts . Then the boy saw that he was close to the apple-tree , and drawing a small knife from his belt , he cut off both the eagle 's feet . The bird rose up in the air in its agony and vanished into the clouds , and the youth fell on to the broad branches of the apple-tree . Then he drew out the claws of the eagle 's feet that had remained in his flesh , and put the peel of one of the golden apples on the wound , and in one moment it was healed and well again . He pulled several of the beautiful apples and put them in his pocket ; then he entered the castle . The door was guarded by a great dragon , but as soon as he threw an apple at it , the beast vanished . At the same moment a gate opened , and the youth perceived a courtyard full of flowers and beautiful trees , and on a balcony sat the lovely enchanted Princess with her retinue . As soon as she saw the youth , she ran towards him and greeted him as her husband and master . She gave him all her treasures , and the youth became a rich and mighty ruler . But he never returned to the earth , for only the mighty eagle , who had been the guardian of the Princess and of the castle , could have carried on his wings the enormous treasure down to the world . But as the eagle had lost its feet it died , and its body was found in a wood on the Glass Mountain . ... . . One day when the youth was strolling about in the palace garden with the Princess , his wife , he looked down over the edge of the Glass Mountain and saw to his astonishment a great number of people gathered there . He blew his silver whistle , and the swallow who acted as messenger in the golden castle flew past .
` Fly down and ask what the matter is , ' he said to the little XXXXX , who sped off like lightning and soon returned saying : ` The blood of the eagle has restored all the people below to life .
air apple-tree bird body corpse door dragon knife messenger trees