Go , and take care , for the way is long , the world is bad , and you hold something very precious . But I will give you this cloth to help you . It is not much to look at , but it is enchanted , and whoever carries it will never be struck by lightning , pierced by a lance , or smitten with a sword , and the arrows will glance off his body . ' Petru thanked her and rode off , and , taking out his treasure box , inquired how matters were going at home . Not well , it said . The emperor was blind altogether now , and Florea and Costan had besought him to give the government of the kingdom into their hands ; but he would not , saying that he did not mean to resign the government till he had washed his eyes from the well of the Fairy of the Dawn . Then the brothers had gone to consult old Birscha , who told them that Petru was already on his way home bearing the water . They had set out to meet him , and would try to take the magic water from him , and then claim as their reward the government of the emperor . ` You are lying ! ' cried Petru angrily , throwing the box on the ground , where it broke into a thousand pieces . It was not long before he began to catch glimpses of his native land , and he drew rein near a bridge , the better to look at it . He was still gazing , when he heard a sound in the distance as if some one was calling hit by his name . ` 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 XXXXX ask , and a thousand things to tell .
On as at before by from if till to with