lready they were in retreat when the lad rode forth upon
the field. But at sight of him they took heart again, and he led them
on and did not stop or stay till he came to where the enemy's leader
was, and with one blow of his sword cut off his head.

Then all the enemy's forces fled back, and the King's men pursued
after them and cut many of them to pieces, and the rest were glad to
get safely back into their own country.

After that the lad would have ridden away as before, but this the King
would not allow. He called to him and rode up to where he was, and
when he saw the bloody kerchief tied about the stranger's leg he knew
he must be the very one he had left sitting on the old nag in the
swamp awhile back.

This the lad could not deny, and when the King questioned him he told
him everything.

Then the King said, "Though you are only a gardener's lad still you
are a mighty hero, and the hand of the Princess shall be yours. You
shall marry her, and after I die you shall rule over the kingdom in my
stead."

You may guess the lad did not say no to that, for he had seen the
Princess sitting at her window, and just from looking at her there he
loved her with all his heart.

So the King and the courtiers rode home with the lad in their midst,
and when the Princess heard she was to marry him she was filled with
joy, for she recognized him at once as the gardener's boy who had
worked beneath her window.

Then all was joy and happiness. A great feast was prepared, and the
lad and the Princess were married with the greatest magnificence. But
first the lad rubbed his leg with the ointment and then it became
quite well again; for it would never have done for him to go limping
to his own wedding.

Now as soon as he was married he went out to the stable to tell it to
the black steed. He found the horse sad and sorrowful. It stood
drooping and would not raise its head or speak when he entered the
stall.

The lad was troubled at this. "What ails you, my steed, that you stand
there so sorrowful when all around rejoice?" asked he.

"I am sick at heart," answered the steed, "and you alone can cure me
of my sickness."

"How is that?" asked the lad.

"Promise to do whatsoever I ask of you, and I will tell you."

"I promise," replied the lad, "for there is nothing I would not do for
you."

"Then take your sword and cut off my head," said the steed.

When the lad heard this he was horrified. "What is this you ask of
m