such lovely
maidens! such angels! such fairy souls!" Then hold the wreath high in
the air and cry, "Oh! if I knew whether any one would accept this wreath
from me... if I knew! if I knew!" and throw the wreath from you!'

'And why should I do all this?' said Petru.

'Ask no questions, but go and do it,' replied the horse. And Petru did.

Scarcely had he flung away the copper wreath than the whirlwind flung
himself upon it, and tore it in pieces.

Then Petru turned once more to the horse.

'Stop!' cried the horse again. 'I have other things to tell you.

Take the silver wreath and knock at the windows of the goddess Venus.
When she says, "Who is there?" answer that you have come on foot and
lost your way on the heath. She will then tell you to go your way back
again; but take care not to stir from the spot. Instead, be sure you say
to her, "No, indeed I shall do nothing of the sort, as from my childhood
I have heard stories of the beauty of the goddess Venus, and it was not
for nothing that I had shoes made of leather with soles of steel, and
have travelled for nine years and nine months, and have won in battle
the silver wreath, which I hope you may allow me to give you, and have
done and suffered everything to be where I now am." This is what you
must say. What happens after is your affair.'

Petru asked no more, but went towards the house.

By this time it was pitch dark, and there was only the ray of light
that streamed through the windows to guide him, and at the sound of his
footsteps two dogs began to bark loudly.

'Which of those dogs is barking? Is he tired of life?' asked the goddess
Venus.

'It is I, O goddess!' replied Petru, rather timidly. 'I have lost my way
on the heath, and do not know where I am to sleep this night.'

'Where did you leave your horse?' asked the goddess sharply.

Petru did not answer. He was not sure if he was to lie, or whether he
had better tell the truth.

'Go away, my son, there is no place for you here,' replied she, drawing
back from the window.

Then Petru repeated hastily what the horse had told him to say, and no
sooner had he done so than the goddess opened the window, and in gentle
tones she asked him:

'Let me see this wreath, my son,' and Petru held it out to her.

'Come into the house,' went on the goddess; 'do not fear the dogs, they
always know my will.' And so they did, for as the young man passed they
wagged their tails to him.

'Good evening,' said