` Hardly an hour 's walk from here , ' answered the fox , and offered to show the Prince the way to it . While they were walking along the fox asked him what he wanted to do at the royal hen-house . The Prince told him of the misfortune that had befallen him , and of the necessity of recovering the mare and foal . ` That is no easy matter , ' replied the fox . ` But wait a moment . I have an idea . Stand at the door of the hen-house , and wait there for your horses . In the meantime I will slip in among the hens through a hole in the wall and give them a good chase , so that the noise they make will arouse the royal henwives , and they will come to see what is the matter . When they see the horses they will at once imagine them to be the cause of the disturbance , and will drive them out . Then you must lay hands on the mare and foal and catch them . All turned out exactly as the sly fox had foreseen . The Prince swung himself on the mare , seized the foal by its bridle , and hurried home . While he was riding over the heath in the highest of spirits the mare suddenly said to her rider : ` You are the first person who has ever succeeded in outwitting the old witch Corva , and now you may ask what reward you like for your service . If you promise never to betray me I will give you a piece of advice which you will do well to follow . ' The Prince promised never to betray her confidence , and the mare continued : ` Ask nothing else as a reward than my foal , for it has not its like in the world , and is not to be bought for love or money ; for it can go from one end of the earth to another in a few minutes . Of course the cunning Corva will do her best to dissuade you from taking the foal , and will tell you that it is both idle and sickly ; but do not believe her , and stick to your point . ' Iwanich longed to possess such an animal , and promised the mare to follow her advice . This time Corva received him in the most friendly manner , and set a sumptuous repast before him . As soon as he had finished she asked him what reward he demanded for his year 's service . ` Nothing more nor less , ' replied the Prince , ` than the foal of your mare . '
The witch pretended to be much astonished at his request , and said that he deserved something much better than the foal , for the beast was lazy and nervous , blind in one eye , and , XXXXX short , was quite worthless .
While along as before by in of on over that