` 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 Petru shook his head , and told them what the Goddess of Thunder had said , and about the cloth she had given him . And both brothers understood there was only one way in which they could kill him . At a stone 's throw from where they stood ran a rushing stream , with clear deep pools . ` Do n't you feel thirsty , Costan ? ' asked Florea , winking at him . ` Yes , ' replied Costan , understanding directly what was wanted .
` Come , Petru , let us drink now we have the chance , and then we will set out XXXXX our way home .
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