If thou dost succeed thou shalt have my
daughter as a reward."
So the Prince commenced at once to dig and to shovel away the earth
without cessation, but when after seven days he saw how little he had
been able to accomplish, and that all his labor was as nothing, he
fell into a great grief and gave up all hope.
On the evening of the seventh day, however, the fox appeared. "Thou
dost not deserve that I should take thy part or befriend thee, but do
thou go away and lie down to sleep, and I will do the work for thee."
And the next morning, when he awoke and looked out of the window, the
mountain had disappeared! Then the Prince, quite overjoyed, hastened
to the King and told him that the conditions were fulfilled, so that
the King, whether he would or not, was obliged to keep his word and
give him his daughter.
Then these two went away together, and it was not long before the
faithful fox came to them.
"Thou hast indeed gained the best of all," said he; "but to the maiden
of the golden castle belongs also the golden horse."
"How can I get it?" enquired the youth.
"I will tell thee," answered the fox; "first of all, take the lovely
Princess to the King who sent you to the golden palace.
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