d to
be more than cautious this time, went cheerfully to work. He found all
the guards fast asleep, and, slipping into the horse's stall, he seized
it by the bridle and led it out; but, unfortunately, before they had got
quite clear of the stables a gadfly stung the horse and caused it to
switch its tail, whereby it touched the wall. In a moment all the guards
awoke, seized the Prince and beat him mercilessly with their
horse-whips, after which they bound him with chains, and flung him into
a dungeon. Next morning they brought him before the Emperor, who treated
him exactly as the King with the golden bird had done, and commanded him
to be beheaded on the following day.

When the wolf-magician saw that the Prince had failed this time too, he
transformed himself again into a mighty king, and proceeded with an even
more gorgeous retinue than the first time to the Court of the Emperor.
He was courteously received and entertained, and once more after dinner
he led the conversation on to the subject of slaves, and in the course
of it again requested to be allowed to see the bold robber who had dared
to break into the Emperor's stable to steal his most valuable
possession. The Emperor consented, and all happened exactly as it had
done at the court of the Emperor with the golden bird; the prisoner's
life was to be spared only on condition that within three days he should
obtain possession of the golden mermaid, whom hitherto no mortal had
ever approached.

Very depressed by his dangerous and difficult task, the Prince left his
gloomy prison; but, to his great joy, he met his friend the wolf before
he had gone many miles on his journey. The cunning creature pretended he
knew nothing of what had happened to the Prince, and asked him how he
had fared with the horse. The Prince told him all about his
misadventure, and the condition on which the Emperor had promised to
spare his life. Then the wolf reminded him that he had twice got him out
of prison, and that if he would only trust in him, and do exactly as he
told him, he would certainly succeed in this last undertaking. Thereupon
they bent their steps towards the sea, which stretched out before them,
as far as their eyes could see, all the waves dancing and glittering in
the bright sunshine. 'Now,' continued the wolf, 'I am going to turn
myself into a boat full of the most beautiful silken merchandise, and
you must jump boldly into the boat, and steer with my tail in your
hand