第9章

Butitwasnotlongbeforethisstoryalsocametotheearsoftheirenviousneighbour，andhelostnotimeingoingtotheoldpeopleandaskingiftheyhappenedtohaveamortarwhichtheycouldlendhim。Theoldmandidnotatalllikepartingwithhisprecioustreasure，buthenevercouldsayno，sotheneighbourwentoffwiththemortarunderhisarm。

Themomenthegotintohisownhousehetookagreathandfulofrice，andbegantoshelloffthehusks，withthehelpofhiswife。But，insteadofthegoldpiecesforwhichtheylooked，thericeturnedintoberrieswithsuchahorriblesmellthattheywereobligedtorunaway，aftersmashingthemortarinarageandsettingfiretothebits。

Theoldpeoplenextdoorwerenaturallyverymuchputoutwhentheylearnedthefateoftheirmortar，andwerenotatallcomfortedbytheexplanationsandexcusesmadebytheirneighbour。Butthatnightthedogagainappearedinadreamtohismaster，andtoldhimthathemustgoandcollecttheashesoftheburntmortarandbringthemhome。Then，whenheheardthattheDaimio，orgreatlordtowhomthispartofthecountrybelonged，wasexpectedatthecapital，hewastocarrytheashestothehighroad，throughwhichtheprocessionwouldhavetopass。Andassoonasitwasinsighthewastoclimbupallthecherry—treesandsprinkletheashesonthem，andtheywouldsoonblossomastheyhadneverblossomedbefore。

Thistimetheoldmandidnotwaittoconsulthiswifeastowhetherhewastodowhathisdoghadtoldhim，butdirectlyhegotuphewenttohisneighbour’shouseandcollectedtheashesoftheburntmortar。Heputthemcarefullyinachinavase，andcarriedittothehighroad，SittingdownonaseattilltheDaimioshouldpass。Thecherry—treeswerebare，foritwastheseasonwhensmallpotsofthemweresoldtorichpeople，whokepttheminhotplaces，sothattheymightblossomearlyanddecoratetheirrooms。Astothetreesintheopenair，noonewouldeverthinkoflookingforthetiniestbudformorethanamonthyet。

Theoldmanhadnotbeenwaitingverylongbeforehesawacloudofdustinthefardistance，andknewthatitmustbetheprocessionoftheDaimio。Ontheycame，everymandressedinhisfinestclothes，andthecrowdthatwasliningtheroadbowedtheirfacestothegroundastheywentby。Onlytheoldmandidnotbowhimself，andthegreatlordsawthis，andbadeoneofhiscourtiers，inanger，goandinquirewhyhehaddisobeyedtheancientcustoms。Butbeforethemessengercouldreachhimtheoldmanhadclimbedthenearesttreeandscatteredhisashesfarandwide，andinaninstantthewhiteflowershadflashedintolife，andtheheartoftheDaimiorejoiced，andhegaverichpresentstotheoldman，whomhesentfortohiscastle。

Wemaybesurethatinaverylittlewhiletheenviousneighbourhadheardthisalso，andhisbosomwasfilledwithhate。Hehastenedtotheplacewherehehadburnedthemortar，collectedafewoftheasheswhichtheoldmanhadleftbehind，andtookthemtotheroad，hopingthathisluckmightbeasgoodastheoldman’s，orperhapsevenbetter。HisheartbeatwithpleasurewhenhecaughtthefirstglimpsesoftheDaimio’strain，andheheldhimselfreadyfortherightmoment。AstheDaimiodrewnearheflungagreathandfulofashesoverthetrees，butnobudsorflowersfollowedtheaction:instead，theasheswereallblownbackintotheeyesoftheDaimioandhiswarriors，tilltheycriedoutfrompain。Thentheprinceorderedtheevil—doertobeseizedandboundandthrownintoprison，wherehewaskeptformanymonths。Bythetimehewassetfreeeverybodyinhisnativevillagehadfoundouthiswickedness，andtheywouldnotlethimlivethereanylonger;andashewouldnotleaveoffhisevilwayshesoonwentfrombadtoworse，andcametoamiserableend。

[JapanischeMarchen。]

THEFAIRYOFTHEDAWN

OnceuponatimewhatshouldhappenDIDhappen;andifithadnothappenedthistalewouldneverhavebeentold。

Therewasonceanemperor，verygreatandmighty，andheruledoveranempiresolargethatnooneknewwhereitbeganandwhereitended。Butifnobodycouldtelltheexactextentofhissovereigntyeverybodywasawarethattheemperor’srighteyelaughed，whilehislefteyewept。Oneortwomenofvalourhadthecouragetogoandaskhimthereasonofthisstrangefact，butheonlylaughedandsaidnothing;andthereasonofthedeadlyenmitybetweenhistwoeyeswasasecretonlyknowntothemonarchhimself。

Andallthewhiletheemperor’ssonsweregrowingup。Andsuchsons！Allthreelikethemorningstarsinthesky！

Florea，theeldest，wassotallandbroad—shoulderedthatnomaninthekingdomcouldapproachhim。

Costan，thesecond，wasquitedifferent。Smallofstature，andslightlybuilt，hehadastrongarmandstrongerwrist。

Petru，thethirdandyoungest，wastallandthin，morelikeagirlthanaboy。Hespokeverylittle，butlaughedandsang，sangandlaughed，frommorningtillnight。Hewasveryseldomserious，butthenhehadawaywhenhewasthinkingofstrokinghishairoverhisforehead，whichmadehimlookoldenoughtositinhisfather’scouncil！

’Youaregrownup，Florea，’saidPetruonedaytohiseldestbrother;’dogoandaskfatherwhyoneeyelaughsandtheotherweeps。’

ButFloreawouldnotgo。Hehadlearntbyexperiencethatthisquestionalwaysputtheemperorinarage。

PetrunextwenttoCostan，butdidnotsucceedanybetterwithhim。

’Well，well，aseveryoneelseisafraid，IsupposeImustdoitmyself，’observedPetruatlength。Nosoonersaidthandone;theboywentstraighttohisfatherandputhisquestion。

’Mayyougoblind！’exclaimedtheemperorinwrath;’whatbusinessisitofyours？’andboxedPetru’searssoundly。

Petrureturnedtohisbrothers，andtoldthemwhathadbefallenhim;butnotlongafteritstruckhimthathisfather’slefteyeseemedtoweepless，andtherighttolaughmore。

’Iwonderifithasanythingtodowithmyquestion，’thoughthe。

’I’lltryagain！Afterall，whatdotwoboxesontheearmatter？’

Soheputhisquestionforthesecondtime，andhadthesameanswer;butthelefteyeonlyweptnowandthen，whiletherighteyelookedtenyearsyounger。

’ItreallyMUSTbetrue，’thoughtPetru。’NowIknowwhatIhavetodo。Ishallhavetogoonputtingthatquestion，andgettingboxesontheear，tillbotheyeslaughtogether。’

Nosoonersaidthandone。Petrunever，neverforsworehimself。

’Petru，mydearboy，’criedtheemperor，bothhiseyeslaughingtogether，’Iseeyouhavegotthisonthebrain。Well，Iwillletyouintothesecret。MyrighteyelaughswhenIlookatmythreesons，andseehowstrongandhandsomeyouallare，andtheothereyeweepsbecauseIfearthatafterIdieyouwillnotbeabletokeeptheempiretogether，andtoprotectitfromitsenemies。ButifyoucanbringmewaterfromthespringoftheFairyoftheDawn，tobathemyeyes，thentheywilllaughforevermore;forIshallknowthatmysonsarebraveenoughtoovercomeanyfoe。’

Thusspoketheemperor，andPetrupickeduphishatandwenttofindhisbrothers。

Thethreeyoungmentookcounseltogether，andtalkedthesubjectwellover，asbrothersshoulddo。AndtheendofitwasthatFlorea，astheeldest，wenttothestables，chosethebestandhandsomesthorsetheycontained，saddledhim，andtookleaveofthecourt。

’Iamstartingatonce，’saidhetohisbrothers，’andifafterayear，amonth，aweek，andadayIhavenotreturnedwiththewaterfromthespringoftheFairyoftheDawn，you，Costan，hadbettercomeafterme。’Sosayinghedisappearedroundacornerofthepalace。

Forthreedaysandthreenightsheneverdrewrein。Likeaspiritthehorseflewovermountainsandvalleystillhecametothebordersoftheempire。Herewasadeep，deeptrenchthatgirdleditthewholewayround，andtherewasonlyasinglebridgebywhichthetrenchcouldbecrossed。Floreamadeinstantlyforthebridge，andtherepulleduptolookaroundhimoncemore，totakeleaveofhisnativelandThenheturned，butbeforehimwasstandingadragon——oh！SUCHadragon！——adragonwiththreeheadsandthreehorriblefaces，allwiththeirmouthswideopen，onejawreachingtoheavenandtheothertoearth。

AtthisawfulsightFloreadidnotwaittogivebattle。Heputspurstohishorseanddashedoff，WHEREheneitherknewnorcared。

Thedragonheavedasighandvanishedwithoutleavingatracebehindhim。

Aweekwentby。Floreadidnotreturnhome。Twopassed;andnothingwasheardofhim。AfteramonthCostanbegantohauntthestablesandtolookoutahorseforhimself。Andthemomenttheyear，themonth，theweek，andthedaywereoverCostanmountedhishorseandtookleaveofhisyoungestbrother。

’IfIfail，thenyoucome，’saidhe，andfollowedthepaththatFloreahadtaken。

Thedragononthebridgewasmorefearfulandhisthreeheadsmoreterriblethanbefore，andtheyoungherorodeawaystillfasterthanhisbrotherhaddone。

NothingmorewasheardeitherofhimorFlorea;andPetruremainedalone。

’Imustgoaftermybrothers，’saidPetruonedaytohisfather。

’Go，then，’saidhisfather，’andmayyouhavebetterluckthanthey’;andhebadefarewelltoPetru，whorodestraighttothebordersofthekingdom。

ThedragononthebridgewasyetmoredreadfulthantheoneFloreaandCostanhadseen，forthisonehadsevenheadsinsteadofonlythree。

Petrustoppedforamomentwhenhecaughtsightofthisterriblecreature。Thenhefoundhisvoice。

’Getoutoftheway！’criedhe。’Getoutoftheway！’herepeatedagain，asthedragondidnotmove。’Getoutoftheway！’andwiththislastsummonshedrewhisswordandrusheduponhim。Inaninstanttheheavensseemedtodarkenroundhimandhewassurroundedbyfire——firetorightofhim，firetoleftofhim，firetofrontofhim，firetorearofhim;nothingbutfirewhicheverwayhelooked，forthedragon’ssevenheadswerevomitingflame。

Thehorseneighedandrearedatthehorriblesight，andPetrucouldnotusetheswordhehadinreadiness。

’Bequiet！thiswon’tdo！’hesaid，dismountinghastily，butholdingthebridlefirmlyinhislefthandandgraspinghisswordinhisright。

Butevensohegotonnobetter，forhecouldseenothingbutfireandsmoke。

’Thereisnohelpforit;Imustgobackandgetabetterhorse，’

saidhe，andmountedagainandrodehomewards。

Atthegateofthepalacehisnurse，oldBirscha，waswaitingforhimeagerly。

’Ah，Petru，myson，Iknewyouwouldhavetocomeback，’shecried。’Youdidnotsetaboutthematterproperly。’

’HowoughtItohavesetaboutit？’askedPetru，halfangrily，halfsadly。

’Lookhere，myboy，’repliedoldBirscha。’YoucanneverreachthespringoftheFairyoftheDawnunlessyouridethehorsewhichyourfather，theemperor，rodeinhisyouth。Goandaskwhereitistobefound，andthenmountitandbeoffwithyou。’

Petruthankedherheartilyforheradvice，andwentatoncetomakeinquiriesaboutthehorse。

’Bythelightofmyeyes！’exclaimedtheemperorwhenPetruhadputhisquestion。’Whohastoldyouanythingaboutthat？ItmusthavebeenthatoldwitchofaBirscha？Haveyoulostyourwits？FiftyyearshavepassedsinceIwasyoung，andwhoknowswherethebonesofmyhorsemayberotting，orwhetherascrapofhisreinsstilllieinhisstall？Ihaveforgottenallabouthimlongago。’

Petruturnedawayinanger，andwentbacktohisoldnurse。

’Donotbecastdown，’shesaidwithasmile;’ifthatishowtheaffairstandsallwillgowell。Goandfetchthescrapofthereins;Ishallsoonknowwhatmustbedone。’

Theplacewasfullofsaddles，bridles，andbitsofleather。

Petrupickedouttheoldest，andblackest，andmostdecayedpairofreins，andbroughtthemtotheoldwoman，whomurmuredsomethingoverthemandsprinkledthemwithincense，andheldthemouttotheyoungman。

’Takethereins，’saidshe，’andstrikethemviolentlyagainstthepillarsofthehouse。’

Petrudidwhathewastold，andscarcelyhadthereinstouchedthepillarswhensomethinghappened——HOWIhavenoidea——thatmadePetrustarewithsurprise。Ahorsestoodbeforehim——ahorsewhoseequalinbeautytheworldhadneverseen;withasaddleonhimofgoldandpreciousstones，andwithsuchadazzlingbridleyouhardlydaredtolookatit，lestyoushouldloseyoursight。Asplendidhorse，asplendidsaddle，andasplendidbridle，allreadyforthesplendidyoungprince！

’Jumponthebackofthebrownhorse，’saidtheoldwoman，andsheturnedroundandwentintothehouse。

ThemomentPetruwasseatedonthehorsehefelthisarmthreetimesasstrongasbefore，andevenhisheartfeltbraver。

’Sitfirmlyinthesaddle，mylord，forwehavealongwaytogoandnotimetowaste，’saidthebrownhorse，andPetrusoonsawthattheywereridingasnomanandhorsehadeverriddenbefore。

Onthebridgestoodadragon，butnotthesameoneashehadtriedtofightwith，forthisdragonhadtwelveheads，eachmorehideousandshootingforthmoreterribleflamesthantheother。

But，horriblethoughhewas，hehadmethismatch。Petrushowednofear，butrolleduphissleeves，thathisarmsmightbefree。

’Getoutoftheway！’hesaidwhenhehaddone，butthedragon’sheadsonlybreathedforthmoreflamesandsmoke。Petruwastednomorewords，butdrewhisswordandpreparedtothrowhimselfonthebridge。

’Stopamoment;becareful，mylord，’putinthehorse，’andbesureyoudowhatItellyou。Digyourspursinmybodyuptotherowel，drawyoursword，andkeepyourselfready，forweshallhavetoleapoverbothbridgeanddragon。Whenyouseethatwearerightabovethedragoncutoffhisbiggesthead，wipethebloodoffthesword，andputitbackcleaninthesheathbeforewetouchearthagain。’

SoPetruduginhisspurs，drewhissword，cutofthehead，wipedtheblood，andputtheswordbackinthesheathbeforethehorse’shoofstouchedthegroundagain。

Andinthisfashiontheypassedthebridge。

’Butwehavegottogofurtherstill，’saidPetru，afterhehadtakenafarewellglanceathisnativeland。

’Yes，forwards，’answeredthehorse;’butyoumusttellme，mylord，atwhatspeedyouwishtogo。Likethewind？Likethought？Likedesire？orlikeacurse？’

Petrulookedabouthim，upattheheavensanddownagaintotheearth。Adesertlayspreadoutbeforehim，whoseaspectmadehishairstandonend。

’Wewillrideatdifferentspeeds，’saidhe，’notsofastastogrowtirednorsoslowastowastetime。’

Andsotheyrode，onedaylikethewind，thenextlikethought，thethirdandfourthlikedesireandlikeacurse，tilltheyreachedthebordersofthedesert。

’Nowwalk，sothatImaylookabout，andseewhatIhaveneverseenbefore，’saidPetru，rubbinghiseyeslikeonewhowakesfromsleep，orlikehimwhobeholdssomethingsostrangethatitseemsasif……BeforePetrulayawoodmadeofcopper，withcoppertreesandcopperleaves，withbushesandflowersofcopperalso。

Petrustoodandstaredasamandoeswhenheseessomethingthathehasneverseen，andofwhichhehasneverheard。

Thenheroderightintothewood。OneachsideofthewaytherowsofflowersbegantopraisePetru，andtotryandpersuadehimtopicksomeofthemandmakehimselfawreath。

’Takeme，forIamlovely，andcangivestrengthtowhoeverplucksme，’saidone。

’No，takeme，forwhoeverwearsmeinhishatwillbelovedbythemostbeautifulwomanintheworld，’pleadedthesecond;andthenoneafteranotherbestirreditself，eachmorecharmingthanthelast，allpromising，insoftsweetvoices，wonderfulthingstoPetru，ifonlyhewouldpickthem。

Petruwasnotdeaftotheirpersuasion，andwasjuststoopingtopickonewhenthehorsesprangtooneside。

’Whydon’tyoustaystill？’askedPetruroughly。

’Donotpicktheflowers;itwillbringyoubadluck;answeredthehorse。

’Whyshoulditdothat？’

’Theseflowersareunderacurse。WhoeverplucksthemmustfighttheWelwa[1]ofthewoods。’

[1]Agoblin。

’WhatkindofagoblinistheWelwa？’

’Oh，doleavemeinpeace！Butlisten。Lookattheflowersasmuchasyoulike，butpicknone，’andthehorsewalkedonslowly。

Petruknewbyexperiencethathewoulddowelltoattendtothehorse’sadvice，sohemadeagreateffortandtorehismindawayfromtheflowers。

Butinvain！Ifamanisfatedtobeunlucky，unluckyhewillbe，whateverhemaydo！

Theflowerswentonbeseechinghim，andhisheartgreweverweakerandweaker。

’Whatmustcomewillcome，’saidPetruatlength;’atanyrateI

shallseetheWelwaofthewoods，whatsheislike，andwhichwayIhadbestfighther。Ifsheisordainedtobethecauseofmydeath，well，thenitwillbeso;butifnotIshallconquerherthoughsheweretwelvehundredWelwas，’andoncemorehestoopeddowntogathertheflowers。

’Youhavedoneverywrong，’saidthehorsesadly。’Butitcan’tbehelpednow。Getyourselfreadyforbattle，forhereistheWelwa！’

Hardlyhadhedonespeaking，scarcelyhadPetrutwistedhiswreath，whenasoftbreezearoseonallsidesatonce。Outofthebreezecameastormwind，andthestormwindswelledandswelledtilleverythingaroundwasblottedoutindarkness，anddarknesscoveredthemaswithathickcloak，whiletheearthswayedandshookundertheirfeet。

’Areyouafraid？’askedthehorse，shakinghismane。

’Notyet，’repliedPetrustoutly，thoughcoldshiverswererunningdownhisback。’Whatmustcomewillcome，whateveritis。’

’Don’tbeafraid，’saidthehorse。’Iwillhelpyou。Takethebridlefrommyneck，andtrytocatchtheWelwawithit。’

Thewordswerehardlyspoken，andPetruhadnotimeeventounbucklethebridle，whentheWelwaherselfstoodbeforehim;andPetrucouldnotbeartolookather，sohorriblewasshe。

Shehadnotexactlyahead，yetneitherwasshewithoutone。Shedidnotflythroughtheair，butneitherdidshewalkupontheearth。Shehadamanelikeahorse，hornslikeadeer，afacelikeabear，eyeslikeapolecat;whileherbodyhadsomethingofeach。AndthatwastheWelwa。

Petruplantedhimselffirmlyinhisstirrups，andbegantolayabouthimwithhissword，butcouldfeelnothing。

Adayandanightwentby，andthefightwasstillundecided，butatlasttheWelwabegantopantforbreath。

’Letuswaitalittleandrest，’gaspedshe。

Petrustoppedandloweredhissword。

’Youmustnotstopaninstant，’saidthehorse，andPetrugatheredupallhisstrength，andlaidabouthimharderthanever。

TheWelwagaveaneighlikeahorseandahowllikeawolf，andthrewherselfafreshonPetru。Foranotherdayandnightthebattleragedmorefuriouslythanbefore。AndPetrugrewsoexhaustedhecouldscarcelymovehisarm。

’Letuswaitalittleandrest，’criedtheWelwaforthesecondtime，’forIseeyouareaswearyasIam。’

’Youmustnotstopaninstant，’saidthehorse。

AndPetruwentonfighting，thoughhebarelyhadstrengthtomovehisarm。ButtheWelwahadceasedtothrowherselfuponhim，andbegantodeliverherblowscautiously，asifshehadnolongerpowertostrike。

Andonthethirddaytheywerestillfighting，butasthemorningskybegantoreddenPetrusomehowmanaged——howIcannottell——tothrowthebridleovertheheadofthetiredWelwa。Inamoment，fromtheWelwasprangahorse——themostbeautifulhorseintheworld。

’Sweetbeyourlife，foryouhavedeliveredmefrommyenchantment，’saidhe，andbegantorubhisnoseagainsthisbrother’s。AndhetoldPetruallhisstory，andhowhehadbeenbewitchedformanyyears。

SoPetrutiedtheWelwatohisownhorseandrodeon。Wheredidheride？ThatIcannottellyou，butherodeonfasttillhegotoutofthecopperwood。

’Staystill，andletmelookabout，andseewhatIneverhaveseenbefore，’saidPetruagaintohishorse。Forinfrontofhimstretchedaforestthatwasfarmorewonderful，asitwasmadeofglisteningtreesandshiningflowers。Itwasthesilverwood。

Asbefore，theflowersbegantobegtheyoungmantogatherthem。

’Donotpluckthem，’warnedtheWelwa，trottingbesidehim，’formybrotherisseventimesstrongerthanI’;butthoughPetruknewbyexperiencewhatthismeant，itwasnouse，andafteramoment’shesitationhebegantogathertheflowers，andtotwisthimselfawreath。

Thenthestormwindhowledlouder，theearthtrembledmoreviolently，andthenightgrewdarker，thanthefirsttime，andtheWelwaofthesilverwoodcamerushingonwithseventimesthespeedoftheother。Forthreedaysandthreenightstheyfought，butatlastPetrucastthebridleovertheheadofthesecondWelwa。

’Sweetbeyourlife，foryouhavedeliveredmefromenchantment，’

saidthesecondWelwa，andtheyalljourneyedonasbefore。

Butsoontheycametoagoldwoodmorelovelyfarthantheothertwo，andagainPetru’scompanionspleadedwithhimtoridethroughitquickly，andtoleavetheflowersalone。ButPetruturnedadeafeartoalltheysaid，andbeforehehadwovenhisgoldencrownhefeltthatsomethingterrible，thathecouldnotsee，wascomingnearhimrightoutoftheearth。Hedrewhisswordandmadehimselfreadyforthefight。’Iwilldie！’criedhe，’orheshallhavemybridleoverhishead。’

Hehadhardlysaidthewordswhenathickfogwrappeditselfaroundhim，andsothickwasitthathecouldnotseehisownhand，orhearthesoundofhisvoice。Foradayandanighthefoughtwithhissword，withouteveronceseeinghisenemy，thensuddenlythefogbegantolighten。Bydawnoftheseconddayithadvanishedaltogether，andthesunshonebrightlyintheheavens。ItseemedtoPetruthathehadbeenbornagain。

AndtheWelwa？Shehadvanished。

’Youhadbettertakebreathnowyoucan，forthefightwillhavetobeginalloveragain，’saidthehorse。

’Whatwasit？’askedPetru。

’ItwastheWelwa，’repliedthehorse，’changedintoafog’Listen！Sheiscoming！’

AndPetruhadhardlydrawnalongbreathwhenhefeltsomethingapproachingfromtheside，thoughwhathecouldnottell。A

river，yetnotariver，foritseemednottoflowovertheearth，buttogowhereitliked，andtoleavenotraceofitspassage。

’Woebetome！’criedPetru，frightenedatlast。

’Beware，andneverstandstill，’calledthebrownhorse，andmorehecouldnotsay，forthewaterwaschokinghim。

Thebattlebegananew。ForadayandanightPetrufoughton，withoutknowingatwhomorwhathestruck。Atdawnonthesecond，hefeltthatbothhisfeetwerelame。

’NowIamdonefor，’thoughthe，andhisblowsfellthickerandharderinhisdesperation。Andthesuncameoutandthewaterdisappeared，withouthisknowinghoworwhen。

’Takebreath，’saidthehorse，’foryouhavenotimetolose。

TheWelwawillreturninamoment。’

Petrumadenoreply，onlywonderedhow，exhaustedashewas，heshouldeverbeabletocarryonthefight。Buthesettledhimselfinhissaddle，graspedhissword，andwaited。

Andthensomethingcametohim——WHATIcannottellyou。Perhaps，inhisdreams，amanmayseeacreaturewhichhaswhatithasnotgot，andhasnotgotwhatithas。Atleast，thatwaswhattheWelwaseemedliketoPetru。Sheflewwithherfeet，andwalkedwithherwings;herheadwasinherback，andhertailwasontopofherbody;hereyeswereinherneck，andherneckinherforehead，andhowtodescribeherfurtherIdonotknow。

Petrufeltforamomentasifhewaswrappedinagarmentoffear;thenheshookhimselfandtookheart，andfoughtashehadneveryetfoughtbefore。

Asthedayworeon，hisstrengthbegantofail，andwhendarknessfellhecouldhardlykeephiseyesopen。Bymidnightheknewhewasnolongeronhishorse，butstandingontheground，thoughhecouldnothavetoldhowhegotthere。Whenthegreylightofmorningcame，hewaspaststandingonhisfeet，butfoughtnowuponhisknees。

’Makeonemorestruggle;itisnearlyovernow，’saidthehorse，seeingthatPetru’sstrengthwaswaningfast。

Petruwipedthesweatfromhisbrowwithhisgauntlet，andwithadesperateeffortrosetohisfeet。

’StriketheWelwaonthemouthwiththebridle，’saidthehorse，andPetrudidit。

TheWelwautteredaneighsoloudthatPetruthoughthewouldbedeafforlife，andthen，thoughshetoowasnearlyspent，flungherselfuponherenemy;butPetruwasonthewatchandthrewthebridleoverherhead，assherushedon，sothatwhenthedaybroketherewerethreehorsestrottingbesidehim。

’Mayyourwifebethemostbeautifulofwomen，’saidtheWelwa，’foryouhavedeliveredmefrommyenchantment。’Sothefourhorsesgallopedfast，andbynightfalltheywereatthebordersofthegoldenforest。

ThenPetrubegantothinkofthecrownsthathewore，andwhattheyhadcosthim。

’Afterall，whatdoIwantwithsomany？Iwillkeepthebest，’

hesaidtohimself;andtakingofffirstthecoppercrownandthenthesilver，hethrewthemaway。

’Stay！’criedthehorse，’donotthrowthemaway！Perhapsweshallfindthemofuse。Getdownandpickthemup。’SoPetrugotdownandpickedthemup，andtheyallwenton。

Intheevening，whenthesunisgettinglow，andallthemidgesarebeginningtobite，Petersawawideheathstretchingbeforehim。

Atthesameinstantthehorsestoodstillofitself。

’Whatisthematter？’askedPetru。

’Iamafraidthatsomethingevilwillhappentous，’answeredthehorse。

’Butwhyshouldit？’

’WearegoingtoenterthekingdomofthegoddessMittwoch，[2]

andthefurtherwerideintoitthecolderweshallget。Butallalongtheroadtherearehugefires，andIdreadlestyoushouldstopandwarmyourselfatthem。’

[2]InGerman’Mittwoch，’thefeminineformofMercury。

’AndwhyshouldInotwarmmyself？’

’Somethingfearfulwillhappentoyouifyoudo，’repliedthehorsesadly。

’Well，forward！’criedPetrulightly，’andifIhavetobearcold，Imustbearit！’

WitheverysteptheywentintothekingdomofMittwoch，theairgrewcolderandmoreicy，tilleventhemarrowintheirboneswasfrozen。ButPetruwasnocoward;thefighthehadgonethroughhadstrengthenedhispowersofendurance，andhestoodthetestbravely。

Alongtheroadoneachsideweregreatfires，withmenstandingbythem，whospokepleasantlytoPetruashewentby，andinvitedhimtojointhem。Thebreathfrozeinhismouth，buthetooknonotice，onlybadehishorserideonthefaster。

HowlongPetrumayhavewagedbattlesilentlywiththecoldonecannottell，foreverybodyknowsthatthekingdomofMittwochisnottobecrossedinaday，buthestruggledon，thoughthefrozenrocksburstaround，andthoughhisteethchattered，andevenhiseyelidswerefrozen。

AtlengththeyreachedthedwellingofMittwochherself，and，jumpingfromhishorse，Petruthrewthereinsoverhishorse’sneckandenteredthehut。

’Good—day，littlemother！’saidhe。

’Verywell，thankyou，myfrozenfriend！’

Petrulaughed，andwaitedforhertospeak。

’Youhaveborneyourselfbravely，’wentonthegoddess，tappinghimontheshoulder。’Nowyoushallhaveyourreward，’andsheopenedanironchest，outofwhichshetookalittlebox。

’Look！’saidshe;’thislittleboxhasbeenlyinghereforages，waitingforthemanwhocouldwinhiswaythroughtheIceKingdom。Takeit，andtreasureit，forsomedayitmayhelpyou。

Ifyouopenit，itwilltellyouanythingyouwant，andgiveyounewsofyourfatherland。’

Petruthankedhergratefullyforhergift，mountedhishorse，androdeaway。

Whenhewassomedistancefromthehut，heopenedthecasket。

’Whatareyourcommands？’askedavoiceinside。

’Givemenewsofmyfather，’hereplied，rathernervously。

’Heissittingincouncilwithhisnobles，’answeredthecasket。

’Ishewell？’

’Notparticularly，forheisfuriouslyangry。’

’Whathasangeredhim？’

’YourbrothersCostanandFlorea，’repliedthecasket。’Itseemstometheyaretryingtorulehimandthekingdomaswell，andtheoldmansaystheyarenotfittodoit。’

’Pushon，goodhorse，forwehavenotimetolose！’criedPetru;