The place was full of saddles , bridles , and bits of leather . Petru picked out the oldest , and blackest , and most decayed pair of reins , and brought them to the old woman , who murmured something over them and sprinkled them with incense , and held them out to the young man . ` Take the reins , ' said she , ` and strike them violently against the pillars of the house . ' Petru did what he was told , and scarcely had the reins touched the pillars when something happened -- HOW I have no idea -- that made Petru stare with surprise . A horse stood before him -- a horse whose equal in beauty the world had never seen ; with a saddle on him of gold and precious stones , and with such a dazzling bridle you hardly dared to look at it , lest you should lose your sight . A splendid horse , a splendid saddle , and a splendid bridle , all ready for the splendid young prince ! ` Jump on the back of the brown horse , ' said the old woman , and she turned round and went into the house . The moment Petru was seated on the horse he felt his arm three times as strong as before , and even his heart felt braver . ` Sit firmly in the saddle , my lord , for we have a long way to go and no time to waste , ' said the brown horse , and Petru soon saw that they were riding as no man and horse had ever ridden before . On the bridge stood a dragon , but not the same one as he had tried to fight with , for this dragon had twelve heads , each more hideous and shooting forth more terrible flames than the other . But , horrible though he was , he had met his match . Petru showed no fear , but rolled up his sleeves , that his arms might be free . ` Get out of the way ! ' he said when he had done , but the dragon 's heads only breathed forth more flames and smoke . Petru wasted no more words , but drew his sword and prepared to throw himself on the bridge . ` Stop a moment ; be careful , my lord , ' put in the horse , ` and be sure you do what I tell you . Dig your spurs in my body up to the rowel , draw your sword , and keep yourself ready , for we shall have to leap over both bridge and dragon . When you see that we are right above the dragon cut off his biggest head , wipe the blood off the sword , and put it back clean in the sheath before we touch earth again . ' So Petru dug in his spurs , drew his sword , cut of the head , wiped the blood , and put the sword back in the sheath before the horse 's hoofs touched the ground again . And in this fashion they passed the bridge .
` But we have got to go further still , ' said XXXXX , after he had taken a farewell glance at his native land .
Petru bridge bridles earth gold house idea reins right rowel