Not a day passed without his bringing some story against the youth to his master , but the king understood all about the matter and paid no attention . At last the groom declared that the young man had boasted that he could find the king 's war horse which had strayed into the forest several years ago , and had not been heard of since . Now the king had never ceased to mourn for his horse , so this time he listened to the tale which the groom had invented , and sent for the youth . ` Find me my horse in three days , ' said he , ` or it will be the worse for you . ' The youth was thunderstruck at this command , but he only bowed , and went off at once to the stable . ` Do not worry yourself , ' answered his own horse . ` Ask the king to give you a hundred oxen , and to let them be killed and cut into small pieces . Then we will start on our journey , and ride till we reach a certain river . There a horse will come up to you , but take no notice of him . Soon another will appear , and this also you must leave alone , but when the third horse shows itself , throw my bridle over it . ' Everything happened just as the horse had said , and the third horse was safely bridled . Then the other horse spoke again : ` The magician 's raven will try to eat us as we ride away , but throw it some of the oxen 's flesh , and then I will gallop like the wind , and carry you safe out of the dragon 's clutches . ' So the young man did as he was told , and brought the horse back to the king . The old stableman was very jealous , when he heard of it , and wondered what he could do to injure the youth in the eyes of his royal master . At last he hit upon a plan , and told the king that the young man had boasted that he could bring home the king 's wife , who had vanished many months before , without leaving a trace behind her . Then the king bade the young man come into his presence , and desired him to fetch the queen home again , as he had boasted he could do . And if he failed , his head would pay the penalty . The poor youth 's heart stood still as he listened . Find the queen ? But how was he to do that , when nobody in the palace had been able to do so !
Slowly he walked to the stable , and laying his head on his horse 's shoulder , he said : ` The king has ordered me to bring his wife home again , and how can I do that when she disappeared so long ago , and no one can tell me anything XXXXX her ? '
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