` Warriors , ' he told her , ` only rest when they have won the victory . You have still another battle to fight , and it is the hardest of all . ' This time it was neither a wolf nor a lion that was waiting for her at the end of the third day 's journey , but a dragon with twelve heads , and a golden bridge behind it . The princess rode up without seeing anything to frighten her , when a sudden puff of smoke and flame from beneath her feet , caused her to look down , and there was the horrible creature twisted and writhing , its twelve heads reared up as if to seize her between them . The bridle fell from her hand : and the sword which she had just grasped slid back into its sheath , but the horse bade her fear nothing , and with a mighty effort she sat upright and spurred straight on the dragon . The fight lasted an hour and the dragon pressed her hard . But in the end , by a well-directed side blow , she cut off one of the heads , and with a roar that seemed to rend the heavens in two , the dragon fell back on the ground , and rose as a man before her . Although the horse had informed the princess the dragon was really her own father , the girl had hardly believed him , and stared in amazement at the transformation . But he flung his arms round her and pressed her to his heart saying , ` Now I see that you are as brave as the bravest , and as wise as the wisest . You have chosen the right horse , for without his help you would have returned with a bent head and downcast eyes . You have filled me with the hope that you may carry out the task you have undertaken , but be careful to forget none of my counsels , and above all to listen to those of your horse . ' When he had done speaking , the princess knelt down to receive his blessing , and they went their different ways . The princess rode on and on , till at last she came to the mountains which hold up the roof of the world . There she met two Genii who had been fighting fiercely for two years , without one having got the least advantage over the other . Seeing what they took to be a young man seeking adventures , one of the combatants called out , ` Fet-Fruners ! deliver me from my enemy , and I will give you the horn that can be heard the distance of a three days ' journey ; ' while the other cried , ` Fet-Fruners ! help me to conquer this pagan thief , and you shall have my horse , Sunlight . ' Before answering , the princess consulted her own horse as to which offer she should accept , and he advised her to side with the genius who was master of Sunlight , his own younger brother , and still more active than himself . So the girl at once attacked the other genius , and soon clove his skull ; then the one who was left victor begged her to come back with him to his house and he would hand her over Sunlight , as he had promised . The mother of the genius was rejoiced to see her son return safe and sound , and prepared her best room for the princess , who , after so much fatigue , needed rest badly .
But the girl declared that she must first make her horse comfortable XXXXX his stable ; but this was really only an excuse , as she wanted to ask his advice on several matters .
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