Page:The Allies Fairy Book.djvu/181

 can you be so foolish as to choose that leprous thing whilst there are such very fine horses here?” But he remained firm by his first choice, and said to the old woman: “You ought to give me what I choose, for so you promised.” So, when the old woman found she could not make him change his mind, she gave him the scabby horse, and he took leave of her and went away, leading the horse by the halter.

When he came to a forest, he curried and rubbed down the horse, and it shone as bright as gold. He then mounted, and the horse flew as quickly as a bird, and in a few seconds brought him to the dragon’s palace. The king’s son went in and said to the queen: “Get ready as soon as possible!” She was soon ready, when they both mounted the horse and began their journey home. Soon after the dragon came home, and when he saw the queen had disappeared, said to his horse: “What shall we do? Shall we eat and drink first, or shall we pursue them at once?” The horse answered: “Whether we eat and drink or not it is all one, we shall never reach them.”

When the dragon heard that, he got quickly on his horse and galloped after them. When they saw the dragon following them they pushed on quicker, but their horse said: “Do not be afraid! There is no need to run away.” In a very few moments the dragon came very near to them, and his horse said to their horse: “For God’s sake, my brother, wait a moment! I shall kill myself running after you!” Their horse answered: “Why are you so stupid as to carry that monster? Fling your heels up and throw him off, and come along with me!” When the dragon’s horse heard that he shook his head angrily and flung his feet high in the air, so that the dragon fell off and brake in pieces, and his horse came up to them. Then the queen mounted him and returned with the king’s son happily to her kingdom, where they reigned together in great prosperity until the day of their death.