the palm-branch at the King's feet.

"Thou art right," cried the King; "thy enchanted horse is the most
wonderful thing I have yet seen. What is its price? I must have it for
my own."

The Indian shook his head.

"Your Majesty," he said, "this horse can never be sold for money, but
can only be exchanged for something of equal value. It shall be thine
only if thou wilt give me instead the Princess, your daughter, for my
wife."

At these words the King's son sprang to his feet.

"Sire," he cried, "thou wilt never dream of granting such a request."

"My son," answered the King, "at whatever cost I must have this
wonderful horse. But before I agree to the exchange, I would wish thee
to try the horse, and tell me what thou thinkest of it."

The Indian, who stood listening to what they said, was quite willing
that the Prince should try the Enchanted Horse, and began to give him
directions how to guide it. But as soon as the Prince was in the
saddle and saw the peg which made the horse start, he never waited to
hear more. He turned the screw at once, and went flying off through
the air.

"Alas!" cried the Indian, "he has gone off without learning how to
come back. Never will he be able to stop the horse unless he finds the
second peg."

The King was terribly frightened when he heard the Indian's words,
for, by this time, the Prince had disappeared from sight.

"Wretch," he cried, "thou shalt be cast into prison, and unless my son
returns in safety, thou shalt be put to death."

Meanwhile the Prince had gone gaily sailing up into the air until he
reached the clouds, and could no longer see the earth below. This was
very pleasant, and he felt that he had never had such a delicious ride
in his life before. But presently he began to think it was time to
descend. He screwed the peg round and round, backwards and forwards,
but it seemed to make no difference. Instead of coming down he sailed
higher and higher, until he thought he was going to knock his head
against the blue sky.

What was to be done? The Prince began to grow a little nervous, and he
felt over the horse's neck to see if there was another peg to be found
anywhere. To his joy, just behind the ear. He touched a small screw,
and when he turned it, he felt he was going slower and slower, and
gently turning round. Then he shouted with joy as the Enchanted Horse
flew downwards through the starry night, and he saw, stretched out
before him, a beautiful city