'This time I will forgive you, because you brought me the water
when I was in the cask; but beware how you return here, or you
will pay for it with your life.'

Half mad with grief, the prince rode sadly on a little further,
hardly knowing what he was doing. Then he could bear it no
longer and turned back to the palace, in spite of the dragon's
threats. Again the empress was sitting alone, and once more they
began to think of a scheme by which they could escape the
dragon's power.

'Ask the dragon when he comes home,' said the prince, 'where he
got that wonderful horse from, and then you can tell me, and I
will try to find another like it.'

Then, fearing to meet his enemy, he stole out of the castle.

Soon after the dragon came home, and the empress sat down near
him, and began to coax and flatter him into a good humour, and at
last she said:

'But tell me about that wonderful horse you were riding
yesterday. There cannot be another like it in the whole world.
Where did you get it from?'

And he answered:

'The way I got it is a way which no one else can take. On the
top of a high mountain dwells an old woman, who has in her
stables twelve horses, each one more beautiful than the other.