ran to the courtyard of the castle； and filled a jug with water；
which he poured over the man in the cauldron。
In a moment a most fearful crash was heard； as if all the pillars
of the palace were giving way； and the palace itself； with towers
and doors； windows and the cauldron； whirled round the bewildered
Prince's head。 This continued for a few minutes； and then
everything vanished into thin air； and Iwanich found himself
suddenly alone upon a desolate heath covered with rocks and
stones。
The Prince； who now realised what his heedlessness had done；
cursed too late his spirit of curiosity。 In his despair he
wandered on over the heath； never looking where he put his feet；
and full of sorrowful thoughts。 At last he saw a light in the
distance； which came from a miserable…looking little hut。
The owner of it was none other than the kind…hearted gaunt grey
beggar who had given the Prince the bag of bread…crumbs and the
hare。 Without recognising Iwanich； he opened the door when he
knocked and gave him shelter for the night。
On the following morning the Prince asked his host if he could
get him any work to do； as he was quite unknown in the
neighbourhood； and had not enough money to take him home。
'My son；' replied the old man； 'all this country round here is
uninhabited； I myself have to wander to distant villages for my
living； and even then I do not very often find enough to satisfy
my hunger。 But if you would like to take service with the old
witch Corva； go straight up the little stream which flows below
my hut for about three hours； and you will come to a sand…hill on
the left…hand side； that is where she lives。'
Iwanich thanked the gaunt grey beggar for his information； and
went on his way。
After walking for about three hours the Prince came upon a
dreary…looking grey stone wall； this was the back of the building
and did not attract him； but when he came upon the front of the
house he found it even less inviting； for the old witch had
surrounded her dwelling with a fence of spikes； on every one of
which a man's skull was stuck。 In this horrible enclosure stood
a small black house； which had only two grated windows； all
covered with cobwebs； and a battered iron door。
The Prince knocked； and a rasping woman's voice told him to
enter。
Iwanich opened the door； and found himself in a smoke…begrimed
kitchen； in the presence of a hideous old woman who was warming
her skinny hands at a fire。 The Prince offered to become her
servant； and the old hag told him she was badly in want of one；
and he seemed to be just the person to suit her。
When Iwanich asked what his work； and how much his wages would
be； the witch bade him follow her； and led the way through a
narrow damp passage into a vault； which served as a stable。 Here
he perceived two pitch…black horses in a stall。
'You see before you；' said the old woman； 'a mare and her foal；
you have nothing to do but to lead them out to the fields every
day； and to see that neither of them runs away from you。 If you
look after them both for a whole year I will give you anything
you like to ask； but if； on the other hand； you let either of the
animals escape you； your last hour is come； and your head shall
be stuck on the last spike of my fence。 The other spikes； as you
see； are already adorned； and the skulls are all those of
different servants I have had who have failed to do what I
demanded。'
Iwanich； who thought he could not be much worse off than he was
already； agreed to the witch's proposal。
At daybreak nest morning he drove his horses to the field； and
brought them back in the evening without their ever having
attempted to break away from him。 The witch stood at her door
and received him kindly； and set a good meal before him。
So it continued for some time； and all went well with the Prince。
Early every morning he led the horses out to the fields； and
brought them home safe and sound in the evening。
One day； while he was watching the horses； he came to the banks
of a river； and saw a big fish； which through some mischance had
been cast on the land； struggling hard to get back into the
water。
Iwanich； who felt sorry for the poor creature； seized it in his
arms and flung it into the stream。 But no sooner did the fish
find itself in the water again； than； to the Prince's amazement；
it swam up to the bank and said：
'My kind benefactor； how can I reward you for your goodness？'
'I desire nothing；' answered the Prince。 'I am quite content to
have been able to be of some service to you。'
'You must do me the favour；' replied the fish； 'to take a scale
from my body； and keep it carefully。 If you should ever need my
help； throw it into the river； and I will come to your aid at
once。'
Iwanich bowed； loosened a scale from the body of the grateful
beast； put it carefully away； and returned home。
A short time after this； when he was going early one morning to
the usual grazing place with his horses； he noticed a flock of
birds assembled together making a great noise and flying wildly
backwards and forwards。
Full of curiosity； Iwanich hurried up to the spot； and saw that a
large number of ravens had attacked an eagle； and although the
eagle was big and powerful and was making a brave fight； it was
overpowered at last by numbers； and had to give in。
But the Prince； who was sorry for the poor bird； seized the
branch of a tree and hit out at the ravens with it； terrified at
this unexpected onslaught they flew away； leaving many of their
number dead or wounded on the battlefield。
As soon as the eagle saw itself free from its tormentors it
plucked a feather from its wing； and； handing it to the Prince；
said： 'Here； my kind benefactor； take this feather as a proof of
my gratitude； should you ever be in need of my help blow this
feather into the air； and I will help you as much as is in my
power。'
Iwanich thanked the bird； and placing the feather beside the
scale he drove the horses home。
Another day he had wandered farther than usual； and came close to
a farmyard； the place pleased the Prince； and as there was plenty
of good grass for the horses he determined to spend the day
there。 Just as he was sitting down under a tree he heard a cry
close to him； and saw a fox which had been caught in a trap
placed there by the farmer。
In vain did the poor beast try to free itself； then the
good…natured Prince came once more to the rescue； and let the fox
out of the trap。
The fox thanked him heartily； tore two hairs out of his bushy
tail； and said： 'Should you ever stand in need of my help throw
these two hairs into the fire； and in a moment I shall be at your
side ready to obey you。'
Iwanich put the fox's hairs with the scale and the feather； and
as it was getting dark he hastened home with his horses。
In the meantime his service was drawing near to an end； and in
three more days the year was up； and he would be able to get his
reward and leave the witch。
On the first evening of these last three days； when he came home
and was eating his supper； he noticed the old woman stealing into
the stables。
The Prince followed her secretly to see what she was going to do。
He crouched down in the doorway and heard the wicked witch
telling the horses to wait next morning till Iwanich was asleep；
and then to go and hide themselves in the river； and to stay
there till she told them to return； and if they didn't do as she
told them the old woman threatened to beat them till they bled。
When Iwanich heard all this he went back to his room； determined
that nothing should induce him to fall asleep next day。 On the
following morning he led the mare and foal to the fields as
usual； but bound a cord round them both which he kept in his
hand。
But after a few hours； by the magic arts of the old witch； he was
overpowered by sleep； and the mare and foal escaped and did as
they had been told to do。 The Prince did not awake till late in
the evening； and when he did； he found； to his horror； that the
horses had disappeared。 Filled with despair； he cursed the
moment when he had entered the service of the cruel witch； and
already he saw his head sticking up on the sharp spike beside the
others。
Then he suddenly remembered the fish's scale； which； with the
eagle's feather and the fox's hairs； he always carried about with
him。 He drew the scale from his pocket； and hurrying to the
river he threw it in。 In a minute the grateful fish swam towards
the bank on which Iwanich was standing； and said： 'What do you
command； my friend and benefactor？'
The Prince replied： 'I had to look after a mare and foal； and
they have run away from me and have hidden themselves in the
river； if you wish to save my life drive them back to the land。'
'Wait a moment；'