place she went to was the stable, where she fed and watered the
shaggy brown horse and put the saddle on it. Most people thought
this saddle was of wood, and did not see the little sparkles of
gold and silver that were hidden in it. She strapped it lightly
on the horse's back, and then led it down before the house, where
the king waited.

'Good luck to you, and victories in all your battles,' she said,
as she kissed him before he mounted. 'I need not be telling you
anything. Take the advice of the horse, and see you obey it.'

So he waved his hand and set out on his journey, and the wind was
not swifter than the brown horse--no, not even the March wind
which raced it and could not catch it. But the horse never
stopped nor looked behind, till in the dark of the night he
reached the castle of the king of the oak windows.

'We are at the end of the journey,' said the horse, 'and you will
find the Sword of Light in the king's own chamber. If it comes to
you without scrape or sound, the token is a good one. At this
hour the king is eating his supper, and the room is empty, so
none will see you. The sword has a knob at the end, and take heed
that when you grasp it, you draw it softly out of its sheath. Now
go! I will be under the window.'

Stealthily the young man crept along the passage, pausing now and
then to make sure that no man was following him, and entered the
king's chamber. A strange white line of light told him where the
sword was, and crossing the room on tiptoe, he seized the knob,
and drew it slowly out of the sheath. The king could hardly