The prince promised to be firm this time . He threw the grains of gold in the proper places , and untied the horse , but with that he caught sight of the golden saddle , and thought that none but it could suit so beautiful a horse , especially as it had golden shoes . But just as he stretched out his hand to take it he received from some invisible being so hard a blow on the arm that it was made quite numb . This recalled to him his promise and his danger , so he led out the horse without looking at the golden saddle again . The fox was waiting for him outside the castle , and the prince confessed to him that he had very nearly given way to temptation this time as well . ' I know that , ' said the fox , ` for it was I who struck you over the arm . ' As they now went on together the prince said that he could not forget the beautiful princess , and asked the fox whether he did not think that she ought to ride home to his father 's palace on this horse with the golden shoes . The fox agreed that this would be excellent ; if the prince would now go and carry her off he would give him three grains of gold for that purpose . The prince was quite ready , and promised to keep better command of himself this time , and not kiss her . He got the grains of gold and entered the castle , where he carried off the princess , set her on the beautiful horse , and held on his way . When they came near to the castle where the bird Grip sat in his cage he again asked the fox for three grains of gold . These he got , and with them he was successful in carrying off the bird . He was now full of joy , for his blind father would now recover his sight , while he himself owned the world 's most beautiful princess and the horse with the golden shoes . The prince and princess travelled on together with mirth and happiness , and the fox followed them until they came to the forest where the prince first met with him . ` Here our ways part , ' said the fox . ` You have now got all that your heart desired , and you will have a prosperous journey to your father 's palace if only you do not ransom anyone 's life with money . ' The prince thanked the fox for all his help , promised to give heed to his warning , said farewell to him , and rode on , with the princess by his side and the bird Grip on his wrist . They soon arrived at the inn where the two eldest brothers had stayed , forgetting their errand . But now no merry song or noise of mirth was heard from it . When the prince came nearer he saw two gallows erected , and when he entered the inn along with the princess he saw that all the rooms were hung with black , and that everything inside foreboded sorrow and death .
He asked the reason of this , and was told that two princes were to be hanged that day for debt ; they had spent all their money XXXXX feasting and playing , and were now deeply in debt to the host , and as no one could be found to ransom their lives they were about to be hanged according to the law .
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