ope?" "O nothing
at all," he answered; "I am only going to bind you up so tightly that
you won't care to eat more than I choose to give you, or to drop more
litter than I choose to carry away." The white mare looked at him, and
sighed deeply once or twice, but it was clear that she understood him,
for long after midday there was still fodder in the manger and the floor
remained clean. Presently the master came to inspect the work, and when
he found everything in good order he was much surprised, and asked, "Are
you clever enough to do this yourself, or did any one give you good
advice?" But the prince was on his guard, and answered at once, "I have
no one to help me but my own poor head and a mighty God in heaven." The
old man was silenced, and left the stable grumbling, but the prince was
delighted that everything had succeeded so well.

In the evening the master said, "I have no particular work for you
to-morrow, but as the maid has plenty to do in the house, you must milk
the black cow. But take care not to leave a drop of milk in the udder.
If I find that you have done so, it might cost you your life." As the
prince went away, he thought, "If there is not some trick in this, I
cannot find the work hard. Thank God, I have strong fingers, and will
not leave a drop of milk behind." But when he was about to retire to
rest, the maiden came to him again, and asked, "What work have you to do
to-morrow?" "I've a whole holiday to-morrow," answered the prince. "All
I have to do to-morrow is to milk the black cow, and not leave a drop of
milk in the udder." "O you unfortunate fellow!" sighed she, "how will
you ever accomplish it? Know, dear young stranger, that if you were to
milk the black cow from morning till evening, the milk would continue to
flow in one unbroken stream. I am convinced that the old man is bent on
your ruin. But fear nothing, for as long as I am alive no harm shall
happen to you, if you will remember my advice, and follow it exactly.
When you go milking, take a pan full of hot coals, and a smith's tongs
with you. When you reach the place, put the tongs in the fire, and blow
the coals to a bright flame. If the black cow asks what this is for,
answer her as I am about to whisper in your ear." Then the maiden crept
out of the room on tiptoe as she had come, and the prince lay down to
sleep.

The prince got up almost before dawn next day, and went to the cowhouse
with the milk-pail in one hand, and a pan of l