will fall down dead. Caw, caw!"

"But is there nothing to remedy that?" asked the first raven.

"Only if some one dashes the glass from his hand, or tells of the
danger; but if he tells he will become marble up to his waist. Caw,
caw!"

"Caw, caw!" said the third raven. "There is still another danger. On
the wedding night a dreadful dragon will creep into the bridal chamber
and kill both King and Princess. And there is no remedy against that
unless some one drives off the dragon or tells of the danger. But if
he tells he will become marble from head to foot. Caw, caw!"

When John the True heard all this he made up his mind he would save
his brother the King without telling him of the dangers that
threatened him. And when they neared the shore he caused a trumpet to
be sounded three times, which was the signal agreed upon between
himself and the King, that he had succeeded in bringing back the
Princess of the Golden Horde.

So the King came quickly down to the ship in all his glory and
received with joy the Princess, and thanked John the True for his
faithful service.

When it came time for the King to lead the Princess to his palace,
some one brought forth a noble bay horse richly caparisoned and with a
pillion at the back of the saddle for the Princess to ride on. And
just as the King gave her his hand and was about to mount the horse,
John the True drew his sword and cut off the head of the bay horse.

"Treason, treason!" cried the courtiers. "John the True has drawn his
sword in the King's presence."

But the King said, "What John the True does is done for me. Let a
coach be brought and we will return to the palace."

So the King and the Princess and John the True went to the palace, and
preparations were made for a grand wedding. And on the day of the
wedding there was a great banquet held, and at the beginning a glass
of wine was brought forth and presented to the King, and just as he
was lifting it to his lips John the True, who stood behind the King's
throne, rushed forward and dashed the goblet to the ground.

"Treason, treason!" cried the courtiers. "John the True is mad."

"Nay, nay," said the King; "what John the True does is for our good.
Wherefore did'st thou do that, John?"

"That I must not say," said John the True.

"Well, well," said the King; "doubtless thou hadst thy reasons; let
the banquet proceed."

On the night of the wedding John the True took his place with drawn
sword before