Half mad with grief , the prince rode sadly on a little further , hardly knowing what he was doing . Then he could bear it no longer and turned back to the palace , in spite of the dragon 's threats . Again the empress was sitting alone , and once more they began to think of a scheme by which they could escape the dragon 's power . ` Ask the dragon when he comes home , ' said the prince , ` where he got that wonderful horse from , and then you can tell me , and I will try to find another like it . ' Then , fearing to meet his enemy , he stole out of the castle . Soon after the dragon came home , and the empress sat down near him , and began to coax and flatter him into a good humour , and at last she said : ` But tell me about that wonderful horse you were riding yesterday . There can not be another like it in the whole world . Where did you get it from ? ' And he answered : ` The way I got it is a way which no one else can take . On the top of a high mountain dwells an old woman , who has in her stables twelve horses , each one more beautiful than the other . And in one corner is a thin , wretched-looking animal whom no one would glance at a second time , but he is in reality the best of the lot . He is twin brother to my own horse , and can fly as high as the clouds themselves . But no one can ever get this horse without first serving the old woman for three whole days . And besides the horses she has a foal and its mother , and the man who serves her must look after them for three whole days , and if he does not let them run away he will in the end get the choice of any horse as a present from the old woman . But if he fails to keep the foal and its mother safe on any one of the three nights his head will pay . ' The next day the prince watched till the dragon left the house , and then he crept in to the empress , who told him all she had learnt from her gaoler . The prince at once determined to seek the old woman on the top of the mountain , and lost no time in setting out . It was a long and steep climb , but at last he found her , and with a low bow he began : ` Good greeting to you , little mother ! ' ` Good greeting to you , my son ! What are you doing here ? ' '
I wish XXXXX become your servant , ' answered he .
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