found them dressed
in black and looking ghastly pale. They were sitting in a row and
bewailing their fate most piteously. Bayaya tried to comfort them,
telling them by signs that surely some one would appear to rescue
them. But they paid no heed to him and kept on moaning and weeping.

Grief and confusion spread throughout the city, for every one loved
the royal family. Every house as well as the palace was soon draped in
black and the sound of mourning was heard on every side.

Bayaya hurried secretly out of the city and across the field to the
rock where his magic horse was stabled. He knocked three times, the
rock opened, and he entered.

He stroked the horse's shining mane and kissed his muzzle in greeting.

"My dear horse," he said, "I have come to you for advice. Help me and
I shall be happy forever."

So he told the horse the story of the dragons.

"Oh, I know all about those dragons," the horse answered. "In fact, it
was that you might rescue the princesses that I brought you here in
the first place. Early tomorrow morning come back and I will tell you
what to do."

Bayaya returned to the castle with such joy shining in his face that
if any one had noticed him he would have been severely rebuked. He
spent the day with the princesses trying to comfort and console them,
but in spite of all he could do they felt only more terrified as the
hours went by.

The next day at the first streak of dawn he was at the rock.

The horse greeted him and said: "Lift up the stone under my trough and
take out what you find there."

Bayaya obeyed. He lifted the stone and under the stone he found a
large chest. Inside the chest he found three beautiful suits of
clothing, with caps and plumes to match, a sword, and a horse's
bridle. The first suit was red embroidered in silver and studded with
diamonds, the second was pure white embroidered in gold, and the third
was light blue richly embroidered with silver and studded with
diamonds and pearls.

For all three suits there was but one mighty sword. Its blade was
beautifully inlaid and its scabbard shone with precious stones. The
horse's bridle was also richly jeweled.

"All three suits are for you," the horse said. "For the first day,
put on the red one."

So Bayaya dressed himself in the red suit, buckled on his sword, and
threw the bridle over the horse's head.

"Have no fear," the horse said as they left the rock. "Cut bravely
into the monster, trusting to your s