king's son set out, but by great good luck he
soon met with the faithful fox.

"I ought now to leave you to your own ill-luck," said the fox, "but I am
sorry for you, and will once more help you in your need. Your way lies
straight up to the golden castle: you will arrive there in the evening,
and at night, when all is quiet, the beautiful princess goes to the
bath. And as she is entering the bathing-house, go up to her and give
her a kiss, then she will follow you, and you can lead her away; but do
not suffer her first to go and take leave of her parents, or it will go
ill with you."

Then the fox stretched out his tail; the king's son seated himself upon
it, and away they went over stock and stone, so that the wind whistled
through their hair. And when he came to the golden castle, all was as
the fox had said. He waited until midnight, when all lay in deep sleep,
and then as the beautiful princess went to the bathing-house he went up
to her and gave her a kiss, and she willingly promised to go with him,
but she begged him earnestly, and with tears, that he would let her
first go and take leave of her parents. At first he denied her prayer,
but as she wept so much the more, and fell at his feet, he gave in at
last. And no sooner had the princess reached her father's bedside than
he, and all who were in the castle, waked up, and the young man was
seized and thrown into prison.

The next morning the king said to him,

"Thy life is forfeit, but thou shalt find grace if thou canst level that
mountain that lies before my windows, and over which I am not able to
see: and if this is done within eight days thou shalt have my daughter
for a reward."

So the king's son set to work, and dug and shovelled away without
ceasing, but when, on the seventh day, he saw how little he had
accomplished, and that all his work was as nothing, he fell into great
sadness, 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 help you, but go now 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
mountain had disappeared. The young man hastened full of joy to the
king, and told him that his behest was fulfilled, and, whether the king
liked it or not, he had to keep to his word, and let his daughter go.

So they both went away together, and it was not long before the faithful
fox came up to them.