Page:The Allies Fairy Book.djvu/179

 woman! The prince did as he was told, and immediately the mare came, with the foal, out of the water to the shore. Then he put on her the bridle and mounted and rode away to the old woman’s house, and the foal followed. When he got there the old woman gave him his breakfast; she, however, took the mare into the stable and beat her with a poker, saying: “Why did you not go down among the fishes, you cursed mare?” And the mare answered: “I have been down to the fishes, but the fish are his friends and they told him about me.” Then the old woman said: “Then go among the foxes!”

When evening came the king’s son mounted the mare and rode to the field, and the foal followed the mare. Again he sat on the mare’s back until near midnight, when he fell asleep as before. When he awoke, he found himself riding on the rail and holding the bridle in his hand. So he was much frightened, and went to look after the mare. As he went he remembered the words the old woman had said to the mare, and he took from the handkerchief the fox’s hair and rubbed it a little between his fingers. All at once the fox stood before him, and asked: “What is the matter, half-brother?” And he said: “The old woman’s mare has run away, and I do not know where she can be.” Then the fox answered: “Here she is with us; she has turned into a fox, and the foal into a cub; but strike once with the bridle on the earth and cry out: ‘Heigh! you old woman’s mare!’”

So the king’s son struck with the bridle on the earth and cried, “Heigh! old woman’s mare!” and the mare came and stood, with her foal, near him. He put on the bridle and mounted and rode off home, and the foal followed the mare. When he arrived the old woman gave him his break¬ fast, and took the mare into the stable and beat her with the poker, crying: “To the foxes, cursed one! To the foxes!” And the mare answered: “1 have been with the foxes, but they are his friends, and told him I was there!” Then the