But the horse made one bound forward , and the princess was forced to hold tight by his mane , lest she should fall off . And as they dashed past the stone where Ciccu was waiting for them , he swung himself up and held her round the waist . As he put his arms round her waist , the fairest in the world unwound the veil from her head and cast it to the ground , and then she drew a ring from her finger and flung it into the stream . But she said nothing , and they rode on fast , fast . The king of Ciccu 's country was watching for them from the top of a tower , and when he saw in the distance a cloud of dust , he ran down to the steps so as to be ready to receive them . Bowing low before the fairest in the world , he spoke : ` Noble lady , will you do me the honour to become my wife ? ' But she answered , ` That can only be when Ciccu brings me the veil that I let fall on my way here . ' And the king turned to Ciccu and said , ` Ciccu , if you do not find the veil at once , you shall lose your head . ' Ciccu , who by this time had hoped for a little peace , felt his heart sink at this fresh errand , and he went into the stable to complain to the faithful horse . ` It will be all right , ' answered the horse when he had heard his tale ; ` just take enough food for the day for both of us , and then get on my back . ' They rode back all the way they had come till they reached the place where they had found the eagle caught in the snare ; then the horse bade Ciccu to call three times on the king of the birds , and when he replied , to beg him to fetch the veil which the fairest in the world had let fall . ` Wait a moment , ' answered a voice that seemed to come from somewhere very high up indeed . ` An eagle is playing with it just now , but he will be here with it in an instant ; ' and a few minutes after there was a sound of wings , and an eagle came fluttering towards them with the veil in his beak . And Ciccu saw it was the very same eagle that he had freed from the snare . So he took the veil and rode back to the king . Now the king was enchanted to see him so soon , and took the veil from Ciccu and flung it over the princess , crying , ` Here is the veil you asked for , so I claim you for my wife . ' ` Not so fast , ' answered she . ' I can never be your wife till Ciccu puts on my finger the ring I threw into the stream . Ciccu , who was standing by expecting something of the sort , bowed his head when he heard her words , and went straight to the horse . ` Mount at once , ' said the horse ; ` this time it is very simple , ' and he carried Ciccu to the banks of the little stream .
` Now , call three times on the emperor of the fishes , and beg him to restore you the ring XXXXX the princess dropped .
As by from in lest on past so that towards