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 . Oh , what a noise that old woman made as she walked along ! She chattered to herself so fast and clattered her kettle so loudly that you would have thought that a whole campful of gipsies must be coming round the next corner . But when they reached the forest , she bade them all wait outside , and entered the dark wood by herself . She stopped underneath the tree where the maiden dwelt and , gathering some dry sticks , kindled a fire .
Next , she placed the XXXXX over it , and the kettle on top .
arm back despair hump kettle luck maiden prince tripod word