ad escaped, and that his mother, in her efforts
to recapture her, had died of rage. At this news a blind fury took
possession of the genius, and he rushed madly upon the princess, who
awaited his onslaught with perfect calmness. As he came on, with his
sabre lifted high in the air, Sunlight bounded right over his head, so
that the sword fell harmless. And when in her turn the princess prepared
to strike, the horse sank upon his knees, so that the blade pierced the
genius's thigh.

The fight was so fierce that it seemed as if the earth would give way
under them, and for twenty miles round the beasts in the forests fled to
their caves for shelter. At last, when her strength was almost gone, the
genius lowered his sword for an instant. The princess saw her chance,
and, with one swoop of her arm, severed her enemy's head from his body.
Still trembling from the long struggle, she turned away, and went to the
meadow where the stud were feeding.

By the advice of Sunlight, she took care not to let them see her, and
climbed a thick tree, where she could see and hear without being seen
herself. Then he neighed, and the mares came galloping up, eager to
see the new comer--all but one horse, who did not like strangers, and
thought they were very well as they were. As Sunlight stood his ground,
well pleased with the attention paid him, this sulky creature suddenly
advanced to the charge, and bit so violently that had it not been for
the nine buffalo skins Sunlight's last moment would have come. When
the fight was ended, the buffalo skins were in ribbons, and the beaten
animal writhing with pain on the grass.

Nothing now remained to be done but to drive the whole stud to the
emperor's court. So the princess came down from the tree and mounted
Sunlight, while the stud followed meekly after, the wounded horse
bringing up the rear. On reaching the palace, she drove them into a
yard, and went to inform the emperor of her arrival.

The news was told at once to Iliane, who ran down directly and called
them to her one by one, each mare by its name. And at the first sight of
her the wounded animal shook itself quickly, and in a moment its wounds
were healed, and there was not even a mark on its glossy skin.

By this time the emperor, on hearing where she was, joined her in the
yard, and at her request ordered the mares to be milked, so that both he
and she might bathe in the milk and keep young for ever. But they would
suffer no one t