Then the brothers had gone to consult old Birscha , who told them that Petru was already on his way home bearing the water . They had set out to meet him , and would try to take the magic water from him , and then claim as their reward the government of the emperor . ` You are lying ! ' cried Petru angrily , throwing the box on the ground , where it broke into a thousand pieces . It was not long before he began to catch glimpses of his native land , and he drew rein near a bridge , the better to look at it . He was still gazing , when he heard a sound in the distance as if some one was calling hit by his name . ` You , Petru ! ' it said . ` On ! on ! ' cried the horse ; ` it will fare ill with you if you stop . ' ` No , let us stop , and see who and what it is ! ' answered Petru , turning his horse round , and coming face to face with his two brothers . He had forgotten the warning given him by the Goddess of Thunder , and when Costan and Florea drew near with soft and flattering words he jumped straight off his horse , and rushed to embrace them . He had a thousand questions to ask , and a thousand things to tell . But his brown horse stood sadly hanging his head . ` Petru , my dear brother , ' at length said Florea , ` would it not be better if we carried the water for you ? Some one might try to take it from you on the road , while no one would suspect us . ' ` So it would , ' added Costan . ` Florea speaks well . '
But XXXXX shook his head , and told them what the Goddess of Thunder had said , and about the cloth she had given him .
Birscha Costan Florea Petru bridge ground head horse questions things