the seventh day, however, the fox appeared. "Thou
dost not deserve that I should take thy part or befriend thee, but do
thou go away and lie down to sleep, and I will do the work for thee."

And the next morning, when he awoke and looked out of the window, the
mountain had disappeared! Then the Prince, quite overjoyed, hastened
to the King and told him that the conditions were fulfilled, so that
the King, whether he would or not, was obliged to keep his word and
give him his daughter.

Then these two went away together, and it was not long before the
faithful fox came to them.

"Thou hast indeed gained the best of all," said he; "but to the maiden
of the golden castle belongs also the golden horse."

"How can I get it?" enquired the youth.

"I will tell thee," answered the fox; "first of all, take the lovely
Princess to the King who sent you to the golden palace. There will
then be unheard-of joy; they will gladly lead the golden horse to thee
and give it thee. Mount it instantly, and give your hand to everyone
at parting, and last of all to the Princess. Grasp her hand firmly;
make her spring into the saddle behind thee, and then gallop away; no
one will be able to overtake thee, for the golden horse runs faster
than the wind."

This was all happily accomplished, and the King's son carried off the
beautiful Princess on the golden horse. The fox did not remain behind,
and spoke thus to the young Prince:

"Now I will help thee to find the golden bird. When thou comest near
the castle where the bird is to be found, let the Princess dismount,
and I will take her under my protection. Then ride on the golden horse
to the courtyard of the palace, where thy coming will cause great joy,
and they will fetch the golden bird for thee. Directly the cage is in
thy hands, gallop back to us and fetch the maiden again."

When this plot was successfully carried out, and the Prince was about
to ride home with his treasure, the fox said, "Now must thou reward me
for all my services."

"What is it that thou dost desire?" enquired the Prince.

"When we come to yonder wood, thou must shoot me dead and cut off my
head and paws."

"That would be a fine sort of gratitude," said the King's son; "that I
cannot possibly promise thee."

"Then," replied the fox, "if thou wilt not, I must leave thee; but
before I go I will give thee again some good advice. Beware of two
things--buy no gallows'-flesh, and see that thou dost not sit on t