he top, it will take root again from below. But
listen to what I say. You must steal out at daybreak to-morrow and
bring out the white horse and some good strong ropes. Then get on the
hay-stack, put the ropes round it, and harness the horse to the ropes.
When you are ready, climb up the hay-stack and begin to count one, two,
three.

The horse will ask you what you are counting, and you must be sure to
answer what I whisper to you.'

So the maiden whispered something in his ear, and left the room. And the
prince knew nothing better to do than to get into bed.

He slept soundly, and it was still almost dark when he got up and
proceeded to carry out the instructions given him by the girl. First he
chose some stout ropes, and then he led the horse out of the stable and
rode it to the hay-stack, which was made up of fifty cartloads, so that
it could hardly be called 'a little one.' The prince did all that the
maiden had told him, and when at last he was seated on top of the rick,
and had counted up to twenty, he heard the horse ask in amazement: 'What
are you counting up there, my son?'

'Oh, nothing,' said he, 'I was just amusing myself with counting the
packs of wolves in the forest, but there are really so many of them that
I don't think I should ever be done.'

The word 'wolf' was hardly out of his mouth than the white horse was
off like the wind, so that in the twinkling of an eye it had reached
the shed, dragging the hay-stack behind it. The master was dumb with
surprise as he came in after breakfast and found his man's day's work
quite done.

'Was it really you who were so clever?' asked he. 'Or did some one give
you good advice?'

'Oh, I have only myself to take counsel with,' said the prince, and the
old man went away, shaking his head.

Late in the evening the prince went to his master to learn what he was
to do next day.

'To-morrow,' said the old man, 'you must bring the white-headed calf to
the meadow, and, as you value your life, take care it does not escape
from you.'

The prince answered nothing, but thought, 'Well, most peasants of
nineteen have got a whole herd to look after, so surely I can manage
one.' And he went towards his room, where the maiden met him.

'To morrow I have got an idiot's work,' said he; 'nothing but to take
the white-headed calf to the meadow.'

'Oh, you unlucky being!' sighed she. 'Do you know that this calf is so
swift that in a single day he can run three times roun