And in one corner is a thin, wretched-looking animal whom no one
would glance at a second time, but he is in reality the best of
the lot. He is twin brother to my own horse, and can fly as high
as the clouds themselves. But no one can ever get this horse
without first serving the old woman for three whole days. And
besides the horses she has a foal and its mother, and the man who
serves her must look after them for three whole days, and if he
does not let them run away he will in the end get the choice of
any horse as a present from the old woman. But if he fails to
keep the foal and its mother safe on any one of the three nights
his head will pay.'

The next day the prince watched till the dragon left the house,
and then he crept in to the empress, who told him all she had
learnt from her gaoler. The prince at once determined to seek
the old woman on the top of the mountain, and lost no time in
setting out. It was a long and steep climb, but at last he found
her, and with a low bow he began:

'Good greeting to you, little mother!'

'Good greeting to you, my son! What are you doing here?'

'I wish to become your servant,' answered he.

'So you shall,' said the old woman. 'If you can take care of my
mare for three days I will give you a horse for wages, but if you
let her stray you will lose your head'; and as she spoke she led
him into a courtyard surrounded with palings, and on every post a
man's head was stuck. One post only was empty, and as they