One post only was empty , and as they passed it cried out : ` Woman , give me the head I am waiting for ! ' The old woman made no answer , but turned to the prince and said : ` Look ! all those men took service with me , on the same conditions as you , but not one was able to guard the mare ! ' But the prince did not waver , and declared he would abide by his words . When evening came he led the mare out of the stable and mounted her , and the colt ran behind . He managed to keep his seat for a long time , in spite of all her efforts to throw him , but at length he grew so weary that he fell fast asleep , and when he woke he found himself sitting on a log , with the halter in his hands . He jumped up in terror , but the mare was nowhere to be seen , and he started with a beating heart in search of her . He had gone some way without a single trace to guide him , when he came to a little river . The sight of the water brought back to his mind the fish whom he had saved from death , and he hastily drew the scale from his pocket . It had hardly touched his fingers when the fish appeared in the stream beside him . ` What is it , my brother ? ' asked the fish anxiously . ` The old woman 's mare strayed last night , and I do n't know where to look for her . ' ` Oh , I can tell you that : she has changed herself into a big fish , and her foal into a little one . But strike the water with the halter and say , `` Come here , O mare of the mountain witch ! '' and she will come . ' The prince did as he was bid , and the mare and her foal stood before him . Then he put the halter round her neck , and rode her home , the foal always trotting behind them . The old woman was at the door to receive them , and gave the prince some food while she led the mare back to the stable . ` You should have gone among the fishes , ' cried the old woman , striking the animal with a stick . '
I did go among the fishes , ' replied the mare ; ` but they are no friends of mine , XXXXX they betrayed me at once . '
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