on
always put the emperor in a rage.

Petru next went to Costan, but did not succeed any better with him.

'Well, well, as everyone else is afraid, I suppose I must do it myself,'
observed Petru at length. No sooner said than done; the boy went
straight to his father and put his question.

'May you go blind!' exclaimed the emperor in wrath; 'what business is it
of yours?' and boxed Petru's ears soundly.

Petru returned to his brothers, and told them what had befallen him; but
not long after it struck him that his father's left eye seemed to weep
less, and the right to laugh more.

'I wonder if it has anything to do with my question,' thought he.

'I'll try again! After all, what do two boxes on the ear matter?'

So he put his question for the second time, and had the same answer;
but the left eye only wept now and then, while the right eye looked ten
years younger.

'It really MUST be true,' thought Petru. 'Now I know what I have to do.
I shall have to go on putting that question, and getting boxes on the
ear, till both eyes laugh together.'

No sooner said than done. Petru never, never forswore himself.

'Petru, my dear boy,' cried the emperor, both his eyes laughing
together, 'I see you have got this on the brain. Well, I will let you
into the secret. My right eye laughs when I look at my three sons, and
see how strong and handsome you all are, and the other eye weeps
because I fear that after I die you will not be able to keep the empire
together, and to protect it from its enemies. But if you can bring me
water from the spring of the Fairy of the Dawn, to bathe my eyes, then
they will laugh for evermore; for I shall know that my sons are brave
enough to overcome any foe.'

Thus spoke the emperor, and Petru picked up his hat and went to find his
brothers.

The three young men took counsel together, and talked the subject well
over, as brothers should do. And the end of it was that Florea, as the
eldest, went to the stables, chose the best and handsomest horse they
contained, saddled him, and took leave of the court.

'I am starting at once,' said he to his brothers, 'and if after a year,
a month, a week, and a day I have not returned with the water from the
spring of the Fairy of the Dawn, you, Costan, had better come after me.'
So saying he disappeared round a corner of the palace.

For three days and three nights he never drew rein. Like a spirit the
horse flew over mountains and valleys till he ca