Next morning the King said to him, ‘Your life is forfeited, and it can only be spared if you clear away the mountain in front of my window, which shuts out the view. It must be done in eight days, and if you accomplish the task you shall have my daughter as a reward.’
So the Prince began his labours, and he dug and shovelled without ceasing. On the seventh day, when he saw how little he had done, he became very sad, and gave up all hope. However, in the evening the Fox appeared and said, ‘You do not deserve any help from me, but lie down and go to sleep; I will do the work.’ In the morning when he woke and looked out of the window, the mountain had disappeared.
Overjoyed, the Prince hurried to the King and told him that his condition was fulfilled, and, whether he liked it or not, he must keep his word and give him his daughter.
So they both went away together, and before long the faithful Fox joined them.
‘You certainly have got the best thing of all,’ said he; ‘but to the Maiden of the golden palace the Golden Horse belongs.’
‘How am I to get it?’ asked the Prince.
‘Oh! I will tell you that,’ answered the Fox. ‘First take the beautiful Maiden to the King who sent you to the golden palace. There will be great joy when you appear, and they will bring out the Golden Horse to you. Mount it at once, and shake hands with everybody, last of all with the beautiful Maiden; and when you have taken her hand firmly, pull her up beside you with a swing and gallop away. No one will be able to catch you, for the horse goes faster than the wind.’
All this was successfully done, and the Prince carried off the beautiful Maiden on the Golden Horse.
The Fox was not far off, and he said to the Prince, ‘Now I will help you to get the Golden Bird, too. When you approach the castle where the Golden Bird lives, let the Maiden dismount, and I will take care of her. Then ride with the Golden Horse into the courtyard of the castle; there will be great rejoicing when they see you, and they will bring out the