An aged king, aware of his impending death, urges his only son, the prince, to find a bride. The prince, unsure of whom to choose, is given a golden key to explore a tower where he discovers twelve beautiful princesses depicted in windows. One princess, draped in white and exuding sadness, captivates him. The king warns that she is held captive by a black magician in an iron castle, and many have failed to rescue her. Determined, the prince sets off on his quest. In a forest, he meets Longshanks, a man who can stretch his body to great heights. Longshanks helps the prince find his way out of the forest. They soon encounter Girth, a stout man who can widen himself, and Keen, a blind man whose sight is so keen it can destroy objects. The prince recruits them, and together they navigate obstacles toward the iron castle. Upon reaching the castle, they find it filled with stone figures, victims of the magician's curse. The magician arrives with the princess and challenges the prince to keep her safe for three nights. If she escapes, he and his companions will be turned to stone. Despite their efforts to guard her, the prince and his men fall asleep, and the princess vanishes each night. Keen uses his abilities to locate the princess, who is transformed into an acorn, a precious stone, and finally a golden ring. Each time, Longshanks retrieves her with the help of Girth, who drinks the black sea to allow Longshanks to reach the shell containing the ring. The magician, enraged by their success, loses his power and transforms into a crow. With the magician defeated, the castle and its inhabitants are restored to life. The prince returns home with the princess and his loyal companions, where a grand wedding is held. Longshanks, Girth, and Keen choose to leave and seek new adventures, preferring a life of exploration over idleness. Their story concludes with their departure, leaving their fate open-ended.
By Parker Fillmore · First published 1930 · Genre: Fantasy, Fairy Tale, Adventure