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you have nothing to do but to lead them out to the fields every
day； and to see that neither of them runs away from you。 If you
look after them both for a whole year I will give you anything
you like to ask； but if； on the other hand； you let either of the
animals escape you； your last hour is come； and your head shall
be stuck on the last spike of my fence。 The other spikes； as you
see； are already adorned； and the skulls are all those of
different servants I have had who have failed to do what I
demanded。'
Iwanich； who thought he could not be much worse off than he was
already； agreed to the witch's proposal。
At daybreak nest morning he drove his horses to the field； and
brought them back in the evening without their ever having
attempted to break away from him。 The witch stood at her door
and received him kindly； and set a good meal before him。
So it continued for some time； and all went well with the Prince。
Early every morning he led the horses out to the fields； and
brought them home safe and sound in the evening。
One day； while he was watching the horses； he came to the banks
of a river； and saw a big fish； which through some mischance had
been cast on the land； struggling hard to get back into the
water。
Iwanich； who felt sorry for the poor creature； seized it in his
arms and flung it into the stream。 But no sooner did the fish
find itself in the water again； than； to the Prince's amazement；
it swam up to the bank and said：
'My kind benefactor； how can I reward you for your goodness？'
'I desire nothing；' answered the Prince。 'I am quite content to
have been able to be of some service to you。'
'You must do me the favour；' replied the fish； 'to take a scale
from my body； and keep it carefully。 If you should ever need my
help； throw it into the river； and I will come to your aid at
once。'
Iwanich bowed； loosened a scale from the body of the grateful
beast； put it carefully away； and returned home。
A short time after this； when he was going early one morning to
the usual grazing place with his horses； he noticed a flock of
birds assembled together making a great noise and flying wildly
backwards and forwards。
Full of curiosity； Iwanich hurried up to the spot； and saw that a
large number of ravens had attacked an eagle； and although the
eagle was big and powerful and was making a brave fight； it was
overpowered at last by numbers； and had to give in。
But the Prince； who was sorry for the poor bird； seized the
branch of a tree and hit out at the ravens with it； terrified at
this unexpected onslaught they flew away； leaving many of their
number dead or wounded on the battlefield。
As soon as the eagle saw itself free from its tormentors it
plucked a feather from its wing； and； handing it to the Prince；
said： 'Here； my kind benefactor； take this feather as a proof of
my gratitude； should you ever be in need of my help blow this
feather into the air； and I will help you as much as is in my
power。'
Iwanich thanked the bird； and placing the feather beside the
scale he drove the horses home。
Another day he had wandered farther than usual； and came close to
a farmyard； the place pleased the Prince； and as there was plenty
of good grass for the horses he determined to spend the day
there。 Just as he was sitting down under a tree he heard a cry
close to him； and saw a fox which had been caught in a trap
placed there by the farmer。
In vain did the poor beast try to free itself； then the
good…natured Prince came once more to the rescue； and let the fox
out of the trap。
The fox thanked him heartily； tore two hairs out of his bushy
tail； and said： 'Should you ever stand in need of my help throw
these two hairs into the fire； and in a moment I shall be at your
side ready to obey you。'
Iwanich put the fox's hairs with the scale and the feather； and
as it was getting dark he hastened home with his horses。
In the meantime his service was drawing near to an end； and in
three more days the year was up； and he would be able to get his
reward and leave the witch。
On the first evening of these last three days； when he came home
and was eating his supper； he noticed the old woman stealing into
the stables。
The Prince followed her secretly to see what she was going to do。
He crouched down in the doorway and heard the wicked witch
telling the horses to wait next morning till Iwanich was asleep；
and then to go and hide themselves in the river； and to stay
there till she told them to return； and if they didn't do as she
told them the old woman threatened to beat them till they bled。
When Iwanich heard all this he went back to his room； determined
that nothing should induce him to fall asleep next day。 On the
following morning he led the mare and foal to the fields as
usual； but bound a cord round them both which he kept in his
hand。
But after a few hours； by the magic arts of the old witch； he was
overpowered by sleep； and the mare and foal escaped and did as
they had been told to do。 The Prince did not awake till late in
the evening； and when he did； he found； to his horror； that the
horses had disappeared。 Filled with despair； he cursed the
moment when he had entered the service of the cruel witch； and
already he saw his head sticking up on the sharp spike beside the
others。
Then he suddenly remembered the fish's scale； which； with the
eagle's feather and the fox's hairs； he always carried about with
him。 He drew the scale from his pocket； and hurrying to the
river he threw it in。 In a minute the grateful fish swam towards
the bank on which Iwanich was standing； and said： 'What do you
command； my friend and benefactor？'
The Prince replied： 'I had to look after a mare and foal； and
they have run away from me and have hidden themselves in the
river； if you wish to save my life drive them back to the land。'
'Wait a moment；' answered the fish； 'and I and my friends will
soon drive them out of the water。' With these words the creature
disappeared into the depths of the stream。
Almost immediately a rushing hissing sound was heard in the
waters； the waves dashed against the banks； the foam was tossed
into the air； and the two horses leapt suddenly on to the dry
land； trembling and shaking with fear。
Iwanich sprang at once on to the mare's back； seized the foal by
its bridle； and hastened home in the highest spirits。
When the witch saw the Prince bringing the horses home she could
hardly conceal her wrath； and as soon as she had placed Iwanich's
supper before him she stole away again to the stables。 The
Prince followed her； and heard her scolding the beasts harshly
for not having hidden themselves better。 She bade them wait next
morning till Iwanich was asleep and then to hide themselves in
the clouds； and to remain there till she called。 If they did not
do as she told the