asked Petru . ' I am afraid that something evil will happen to us , ' answered the horse . ` But why should it ? ' ` We are going to enter the kingdom of the goddess Mittwoch , -LRB- 2 -RRB- and the further we ride into it the colder we shall get . But all along the road there are huge fires , and I dread lest you should stop and warm yourself at them . ' -LRB- 2 -RRB- In German ` Mittwoch , ' the feminine form of Mercury . ` And why should I not warm myself ? ' ` Something fearful will happen to you if you do , ' replied the horse sadly . ` Well , forward ! ' cried Petru lightly , ` and if I have to bear cold , I must bear it ! ' With every step they went into the kingdom of Mittwoch , the air grew colder and more icy , till even the marrow in their bones was frozen . But Petru was no coward ; the fight he had gone through had strengthened his powers of endurance , and he stood the test bravely . Along the road on each side were great fires , with men standing by them , who spoke pleasantly to Petru as he went by , and invited him to join them . The breath froze in his mouth , but he took no notice , only bade his horse ride on the faster . How long Petru may have waged battle silently with the cold one can not tell , for everybody knows that the kingdom of Mittwoch is not to be crossed in a day , but he struggled on , though the frozen rocks burst around , and though his teeth chattered , and even his eyelids were frozen . At length they reached the dwelling of Mittwoch herself , and , jumping from his horse , Petru threw the reins over his horse 's neck and entered the hut . ` Good-day , little mother ! ' said he . ` Very well , thank you , my frozen friend ! ' Petru laughed , and waited for her to speak .
` You have borne yourself bravely , ' went XXXXX the goddess , tapping him on the shoulder .
At along from in into lest of on over with