And in one corner is a thin , wretched-looking animal whom no one would glance at a second time , but he is in reality the best of the lot . He is twin brother to my own horse , and can fly as high as the clouds themselves . But no one can ever get this horse without first serving the old woman for three whole days . And besides the horses she has a foal and its mother , and the man who serves her must look after them for three whole days , and if he does not let them run away he will in the end get the choice of any horse as a present from the old woman . But if he fails to keep the foal and its mother safe on any one of the three nights his head will pay . ' The next day the prince watched till the dragon left the house , and then he crept in to the empress , who told him all she had learnt from her gaoler . The prince at once determined to seek the old woman on the top of the mountain , and lost no time in setting out . It was a long and steep climb , but at last he found her , and with a low bow he began : ` Good greeting to you , little mother ! ' ` Good greeting to you , my son ! What are you doing here ? ' ' I wish to become your servant , ' answered he . ` So you shall , ' said the old woman . ` If you can take care of my mare for three days I will give you a horse for wages , but if you let her stray you will lose your head ' ; and as she spoke she led him into a courtyard surrounded with palings , and on every post a man 's head was stuck . 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 XXXXX a little river .
If as besides by for into till to with without