Have you lost your wits ? Fifty years have passed since I was young , and who knows where the bones of my horse may be rotting , or whether a scrap of his reins still lie in his stall ? I have forgotten all about him long ago . ' Petru turned away in anger , and went back to his old nurse . ` Do not be cast down , ' she said with a smile ; ` if that is how the affair stands all will go well . Go and fetch the scrap of the reins ; I shall soon know what must be done . ' The place was full of saddles , bridles , and bits of leather . Petru picked out the oldest , and blackest , and most decayed pair of reins , and brought them to the old woman , who murmured something over them and sprinkled them with incense , and held them out to the young man . ` Take the reins , ' said she , ` and strike them violently against the pillars of the house . ' Petru did what he was told , and scarcely had the reins touched the pillars when something happened -- HOW I have no idea -- that made Petru stare with surprise . A horse stood before him -- a horse whose equal in beauty the world had never seen ; with a saddle on him of gold and precious stones , and with such a dazzling bridle you hardly dared to look at it , lest you should lose your sight . A splendid horse , a splendid saddle , and a splendid bridle , all ready for the splendid young prince ! ` Jump on the back of the brown horse , ' said the old woman , and she turned round and went into the house . The moment Petru was seated on the horse he felt his arm three times as strong as before , and even his heart felt braver . ` Sit firmly in the saddle , my lord , for we have a long way to go and no time to waste , ' said the brown horse , and Petru soon saw that they were riding as no man and horse had ever ridden before . On the bridge stood a dragon , but not the same one as he had tried to fight with , for this dragon had twelve heads , each more hideous and shooting forth more terrible flames than the other . But , horrible though he was , he had met his match . Petru showed no fear , but rolled up his sleeves , that his arms might be free . ` Get out of the way ! ' he said when he had done , but the dragon 's heads only breathed forth more flames and smoke .
Petru wasted no more words , but drew his sword and prepared to throw himself XXXXX the bridge .
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