1 -LRB- 3 -RRB- Hollenmadchen .
2 ` But where is he to find the Witch-maiden ? '
3 said the first bird .
4 ` She has no settled dwelling , but is here to-day and gone to-morrow .
5 He might as well try to catch the wind . '
6 The other replied , ' I do not know , certainly , where she is at present , but in three nights from now she will come to the spring to wash her face , as she does every month when the moon is full , in order that she may never grow old nor wrinkled , but may always keep the bloom of youth . '
7 ` Well , ' said the first bird , ` the spring is not far from here .
8 Shall we go and see how it is she does it ? '
9 ` Willingly , if you like , ' said the other .
10 The youth immediately resolved to follow the birds to the spring , only two things made him uneasy : first , lest he might be asleep when the birds went , and secondly , lest he might lose sight of them , since he had not wings to carry him along so swiftly .
11 He was too tired to keep awake all night , yet his anxiety prevented him from sleeping soundly , and when with the earliest dawn he looked up to the tree-top , he was glad to see his feathered companions still asleep with their heads under their wings .
12 He ate his breakfast , and waited until the birds should start , but they did not leave the place all day .
13 They hopped about from one tree to another looking for food , all day long until the evening , when they went back to their old perch to sleep .
14 The next day the same thing happened , but on the third morning one bird said to the other , ` To-day we must go to the spring to see the Witch-maiden wash her face . '
15 They remained on the tree till noon ; then they flew away and went towards the south .
16 The young man 's heart beat with anxiety lest he should lose sight of his guides , but he managed to keep the birds in view until they again perched upon a tree .
17 The young man ran after them until he was quite exhausted and out of breath , and after three short rests the birds at length reached a small open space in the forest , on the edge of which they placed themselves on the top of a high tree .
18 When the youth had overtaken them , he saw that there was a clear spring in the middle of the space .
19 He sat down at the foot of the tree upon which the birds were perched , and listened attentively to what they were saying to each other .
20 ` The sun is not down yet , ' said the first bird ; ` we must wait yet awhile till the moon rises and the maiden comes to the spring .
21 Do you think she will see that young XXXXX sitting under the tree ? '	man		birds|food|maiden|man|middle|place|sight|south|wash|wings

