It had hardly touched his fingers when the fish appeared in the stream beside him . ` What is it , my brother ? ' asked the fish anxiously . ` The old woman 's mare strayed last night , and I do n't know where to look for her . ' ` Oh , I can tell you that : she has changed herself into a big fish , and her foal into a little one . But strike the water with the halter and say , `` Come here , O mare of the mountain witch ! '' and she will come . ' The prince did as he was bid , and the mare and her foal stood before him . Then he put the halter round her neck , and rode her home , the foal always trotting behind them . The old woman was at the door to receive them , and gave the prince some food while she led the mare back to the stable . ` You should have gone among the fishes , ' cried the old woman , striking the animal with a stick . ' I did go among the fishes , ' replied the mare ; ` but they are no friends of mine , for they betrayed me at once . ' ` Well , go among the foxes this time , ' said she , and returned to the house , not knowing that the prince had overheard her . So when it began to grow dark the prince mounted the mare for the second time and rode into the meadows , and the foal trotted behind its mother . Again he managed to stick on till midnight : then a sleep overtook him that he could not battle against , and when he woke up he found himself , as before , sitting on the log , with the halter in his hands . He gave a shriek of dismay , and sprang up in search of the wanderers . As he went he suddenly remembered the words that the old woman had said to the mare , and he drew out the fox hair and twisted it in his fingers . ` What is it , my brother ? ' asked the fox , who instantly appeared before him . ` The old witch 's mare has run away from me , and I do not know where to look for her . '
` She is with us , ' replied the fox , ` and has changed herself into a big fox , and her foal into a little one , but strike the ground with a halter and say , `` Come here , O mare XXXXX the mountain witch ! '' '
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