breathe with excitement lest it should make some noise, and bring
all the people in the castle running to see what was the matter.
But the sword slid swiftly and silently along the case till only
the point was left touching it. Then a low sound was heard, as of
the edge of a knife touching a silver plate, and the king was so
startled that he nearly dropped the knob.

'Quick! quick!' cried the horse, and the king scrambled hastily
through the small window, and leapt into the saddle.

'He has heard and he will follow,' said the horse; 'but we have a
good start,' And on they sped, on and on, leaving the winds
behind them.

At length the horse slackened its pace. 'Look and see who is
behind you,' it said; and the young man looked.

'I see a swarm of brown horses racing madly after us,' he
answered.

'We are swifter than those,' said the horse, and flew on again.

'Look again, O king! Is anyone coming now?'

'A swarm of black horses, and one has a white face, and on that
horse a man is seated. He is the king of the oak windows.'

'That is my brother, and swifter still than I,' said the horse,
'and he will fly past me with a rush. Then you must have your
sword ready, and take off the head of the man who sits on him, as