In the forest, a man heard a raven tell him she was an enchanted princess, and he could deliver her if he went to a certain cottage and accepted no food from the old woman there.

On the final day, the raven left the sleeping man a bottle of wine, a loaf, and a piece of meat, all three of which were inexhaustible and put a gold ring with her name on his finger.

One day he met three robbers fighting over three magical items: a stick that opened doors, an invisibility mantle, and a horse that could ride up the glass-mountain.

The man offered them a mysterious reward in exchange for the items, but he insisted on first trying them out, to see if they worked as promised.

She couldn't find her rescuer though she searched the entire castle, until he finally revealed himself by throwing off the mantle.