when a hundred years were gone and passed the son of the king then reigning , and who was of another family from that of the sleeping princess , being gone a - hunting on that side of the country , asked : what those towers were which he saw in the middle of a great thick wood ? everyone answered according as they had heard . some said : that it was a ruinous old castle , haunted by spirits . others , that all the sorcerers and witches of the country kept there their sabbath or night 's meeting . the common opinion was : that an ogre lived there , and that he carried thither all the little children he could catch , that he might eat them up at his leisure , without anybody being able to follow him , as having himself only the power to pass through the wood . the prince was at a stand , not knowing what to believe , when a very good countryman spake to him thus : " may it please your royal highness , it is now about fifty years since i heard from my father , who heard my grandfather say , that there was then in this castle a princess , the most beautiful was ever seen ; that she must sleep there a hundred years , and should be waked by a king 's son , for whom she was reserved . " the young prince was all on fire at these words , believing , without weighing the matter , that he could put an end to this rare adventure ; and , pushed on by love and honor , resolved that moment to look into it . 
what did people believe the tower in the middle of the great thick wood was ?
ruinous old castle haunted by spirits .
ruinous old castle haunted by spirits .