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the horse than he began to neigh loudly。 The grooms awoke； seized the
youth； and threw him into prison。
The next morning he was sentenced by the court to death； but the king
promised to grant him his life； and the golden horse as well； if he
could bring back the beautiful princess from the golden castle。
With a heavy heart the youth set out； yet luckily for him he soon
found the trusty fox。 I ought only to leave you to your ill…luck；
said the fox； but I pity you； and will help you once more out of your
trouble。 This road takes you straight to the golden castle； you will
reach it by eventide； and at night when everything is quiet the
beautiful princess goes to the bathing…house to bathe。 When she
enters it； run up to her and give her a kiss； then she will follow
you； and you can take her away with you； only do not allow her to
take leave of her parents first； or it will go ill with you。
Then the fox stretched out his tail； the king's son seated himself
upon it； and away went the fox； over stock and stone； till his hair
whistled in the wind。
When he reached the golden castle it was just as the fox had said。 He
waited until midnight； when everything lay in deep sleep； and the
beautiful princess was going to the bathing…house。 Then he sprang out
and gave her a kiss。 She said that she would like to go with him；
but she asked him pitifully； and with tears； to allow her first to
take leave of her parents。 At first he withstood her prayer； but
when she wept more and more； and fell at his feet； he at last gave
in。 But no sooner had the maiden reached the bedside of her father
than he and all the rest in the castle awoke； and the youth was laid
hold of and put into prison。
The next morning the king said to him； your life is forfeited； and
you can only find mercy if you take away the hill which stands in
front of my windows； and prevents my seeing beyond it； and you must
finish it all within eight days。 If you do that you shall have my
daughter as your reward。
The king's son began； and dug and shoveled without stopping； but when
after seven days he saw how little he had done； and how all his work
was as good as nothing； he fell into great sorrow and gave up all
hope。 But on the evening of the seventh day the fox appeared and
said； you do not deserve that I should take my trouble about you； but
just go away and lie down to sleep； and I will do the work for you。
The next morning when he awoke and looked out of the window the hill
had gone。 The youth ran； full of joy； to the king； and told him that
the task was fulfilled； and whether he liked it or not； the king had
to hold to his word and give him his daughter。
So the two set forth together； and it was not long before the trusty
fox came up with them。 You have certainly got what is best； said he；
but the golden horse also belongs to the maiden of the golden castle。
How shall I get it； asked the youth。 That I will tell you； answered
the fox； first take the beautiful maiden to the king who sent you to
the golden castle。 There will be unheard…of rejoicing； they will
gladly give you the golden horse； and will bring it out to you。
Mount it as soon as possible； and offer your hand to all in farewell；
last of all to the beautiful maiden。 And as soon as you have taken
her hand swing her up on to the horse； and gallop away； and no one
will be able to bring you back； for the horse runs faster than the
wind。
All was carried out successfully； and the king's son carried off the
beautiful princess on the golden horse。
The fox did not remain behind； and he said to the youth； now I will
help you to get the golden bird。 When you come near to the castle
where the golden bird is to be found； let the maiden get down； and I
will take her into my care。 Then ride with the golden horse into the
castle…yard； there will be great rejoicing at the sight； and they
will bring out the golden bird for you。 As soon as you have the cage
in your hand gallop back to us； and take the maiden away again。
When the plan had succeeded； and the king's son was about to ride
home with his treasures； the fox said； now you shall reward me for my
help。 What do you require for it； asked the youth。 When you get
into the wood yonder； shoot me dead； and chop off my head and feet。
That would be fine gratitude； said the king's son。 I cannot possibly
do that for you。
The fox said； if you will not do it I must leave you； but before I go
away I will give you a piece of good advice。 Be careful about two
things。 Buy no gallows'…flesh； and do not sit at the edge of any
well。 And then he ran into the wood。
The youth thought； that is a wonderful beast； he has strange whims；
who on earth would want to buy gallows'…flesh。 As for the desire to
sit at the edge of a well it has never yet occurred to me。
He rode on with the beautiful maiden； and his road took him again
through the village in which his two brothers had remained。 There was
a great stir and noise； and； when he asked what was going on； he was
told that two men were going to be hanged。 As he came nearer to the
place he saw that they were his brothers； who had been playing all
kinds of wicked pranks； and had squandered all their wealth。 He
inquired whether they could not be set free。 If you will pay for
them； answered the people； but why should you waste your money on
wicked men； and buy them free。 He did not think twice about it； but
paid for them； and when they were set free they all went on their way
together。
They came to the wood where the fox had first met them； and as it was
a hot day； but cool and pleasant within the wood； the two brothers
said； let us rest a little by the well； and eat and drink。 He
agreed； and whilst they were talking he forgot himself； and sat down
upon the edge of the well without thinking of any evil。 But the two
brothers threw him backwards into the well； took the maiden； the
horse； and the bird； and went home to their father。 Here we bring
you not only the golden bird； said they； we have won the golden horse
also； and the maiden from the golden castle。 Then was there great
joy； but the horse would not eat； the bird would not sing； and the
maiden sat and wept。
But the youngest brother was not dead。 By good fortune the well was
dry； and he fell upon soft moss without being hurt； but he could not
get out again。 Even in this strait the faithful fox did not leave
him； it came and leapt down to him； and upbraided him for having
forgotten its advice。 But yet I cannot give up； he said； I will help
you up again into daylight。 He bade him grasp his tail and keep
tight hold of it； and then he pulled him up。 You are not out of all
danger yet； said the fox。 Your brothers were not sure of your death；
and have surrounded the wood with watchers； who are to kill you if
you let yourself be seen。 But a poor man was sitting upon the road；
with whom the youth changed clothes； and in this way he got to the
king's palace。
No one knew him； but the bird began to sing； the horse began to eat；
and the beautiful maiden left off weeping。 The king； astonished；
asked； what does this mean。 Then the maiden said； I do not know； but
I have been so sorrowful and now I am so happy。 I feel as if my true
bridegroom had come。 She told him all that had