horse of fire before her.

'This is your master, O my steed of flame,' cried she; 'and you will
serve him as you have served me.' And kissing him between his eyes,
she placed the bridle in the hand of her husband.

The horse looked for a moment at the young man, and then bent his
head, while the king patted his neck and smoothed his tail, till they
felt themselves old friends. After this he mounted to do Zoulvisia's
bidding, but before he started she gave him a case of pearls
containing one of her hairs, which he tucked into the breast of his
coat.

He rode along for some time, without seeing any game to bring home for
dinner. Suddenly a fine stag started up almost under his feet, and he
at once gave chase. On they sped, but the stag twisted and turned so
that the king had no chance of a shot till they reached a broad river,
when the animal jumped in and swam across. The king fitted his
cross-bow with a bolt, and took aim, but though he succeeded in
wounding the stag, it contrived to gain the opposite bank, and in his
excitement he never observed that the case of pearls had fallen into
the water.

* * * * *

The stream, though deep, was likewise rapid, and the box was swirled
along miles, and miles, and miles, till it was washed up in quite
another country. Here it was picked up by one of the water-carriers
belonging to the palace, who showed it to the king. The workmanship of
the case was so curious, and the pearls so rare, that the king could
not make up his mind to part with it, but he gave the man a good
price, and sent him away. Then, summoning his chamberlain, he bade him
find out its history in three days, or lose his head.

But the answer to the riddle, which puzzled all the magicians and wise
men, was given by an old woman, who came up to the palace and told the
chamberlain that, for two handfuls of gold, she would reveal the
mystery.

Of course the chamberlain gladly gave her what she asked, and in
return she informed him that the case and the hair belonged to
Zoulvisia.

'Bring her hither, old crone, and you shall have gold enough to stand
up in,' said the chamberlain. And the old woman answered that she
would try what she could do.

She went back to her hut in the middle of the forest, and standing in
the doorway, whistled softly. Soon the dead leaves on the ground began
to move and to rustle, and from underneath them there came a long
train of serpents. They wrigg