you shall have your reward,' and she opened an iron
chest, out of which she took a little box.

'Look!' said she; 'this little box has been lying here for ages, waiting
for the man who could win his way through the Ice Kingdom. Take it, and
treasure it, for some day it may help you.

If you open it, it will tell you anything you want, and give you news of
your fatherland.'

Petru thanked her gratefully for her gift, mounted his horse, and rode
away.

When he was some distance from the hut, he opened the casket.

'What are your commands?' asked a voice inside.

'Give me news of my father,' he replied, rather nervously.

'He is sitting in council with his nobles,' answered the casket.

'Is he well?'

'Not particularly, for he is furiously angry.'

'What has angered him?'

'Your brothers Costan and Florea,' replied the casket. 'It seems to me
they are trying to rule him and the kingdom as well, and the old man
says they are not fit to do it.'

'Push on, good horse, for we have no time to lose!' cried Petru; then he
shut up the box, and put it in his pocket.

They rushed on as fast as ghosts, as whirlwinds, as vampires when they
hunt at midnight, and how long they rode no man can tell, for the way is
far.

'Stop! I have some advice to give you,' said the horse at last.

'What is it?' asked Petru.

'You have known what it is to suffer cold; you will have to endure heat,
such as you have never dreamed of. Be as brave now as you were then. Let
no one tempt you to try to cool yourself, or evil will befall you.'

'Forwards!' answered Petru. 'Do not worry yourself. If I have escaped
without being frozen, there is no chance of my melting.'

'Why not? This is a heat that will melt the marrow in your bones--a heat
that is only to be felt in the kingdom of the Goddess of Thunder.'(3)

(3) In the German 'Donnerstag'--the day of the Thunder God, i.e.
Jupiter.

And it WAS hot. The very iron of the horse's shoes began to melt, but
Petru gave no heed. The sweat ran down his face, but he dried it with
his gauntlet. What heat could be he never knew before, and on the way,
not a stone's throw from the road, lay the most delicious valleys, full
of shady trees and bubbling streams. When Petru looked at them his heart
burned within him, and his mouth grew parched. And standing among the
flowers were lovely maidens who called to him in soft voices, till he
had to shut his eyes against their spells.

'Come, my hero, co