There a horse will come up to you , but take no notice of him . Soon another will appear , and this also you must leave alone , but when the third horse shows itself , throw my bridle over it . ' Everything happened just as the horse had said , and the third horse was safely bridled . Then the other horse spoke again : ` The magician 's raven will try to eat us as we ride away , but throw it some of the oxen 's flesh , and then I will gallop like the wind , and carry you safe out of the dragon 's clutches . ' So the young man did as he was told , and brought the horse back to the king . The old stableman was very jealous , when he heard of it , and wondered what he could do to injure the youth in the eyes of his royal master . At last he hit upon a plan , and told the king that the young man had boasted that he could bring home the king 's wife , who had vanished many months before , without leaving a trace behind her . Then the king bade the young man come into his presence , and desired him to fetch the queen home again , as he had boasted he could do . And if he failed , his head would pay the penalty . The poor youth 's heart stood still as he listened . Find the queen ? But how was he to do that , when nobody in the palace had been able to do so ! Slowly he walked to the stable , and laying his head on his horse 's shoulder , he said : ` The king has ordered me to bring his wife home again , and how can I do that when she disappeared so long ago , and no one can tell me anything about her ? ' ` Cheer up ! ' answered the horse , ` we will manage to find her . You have only got to ride me back to the same river that we went to yesterday , and I will plunge into it and take my proper shape again . For I am the king 's wife , who was turned into a horse by the magician from whom you saved me . ' Joyfully the young man sprang into the saddle and rode away to the banks of the river . Then he threw himself off , and waited while the horse plunged in . The moment it dipped its head into the water its black skin vanished , and the most beautiful woman in the world was floating on the water .
She came smiling towards the youth , and held out her hand , and he took it and led her back XXXXX the palace .
At about behind from in of over that to while