"All right, don't be afraid!" replied the king, and went on, hardly knowing what to do for hunger.
At last he came to a curious-looking little hut, round which stood twelve poles, on eleven of which were human skulls.
"Good-day, old lady!" said King Vladimir, entering the hut, in which sat an old fairy.
"Good-day, King Vladimir! Why have you come?" Is it of your own free will, or on business?"
"I have come to serve you, and earn one of your good horses."
"Very well, King Vladimir; but you need not serve me longer than three days."
"All right, old lady; but now give me something to eat and drink. I am dying!"
The old fairy did as she was told, and then showed King Vladimir what he was to do.
Early next morning the king went to the stables, and let all the horses out; but he had hardly done so when the animals whisked their tails, and made off as hard as ever they could, into the meadows and far away. Before King Vladimir knew what had happened, they were out of sight. The king sat down on a stone, wondering what he had better do; he thought and thought, until he fell fast sleep. The sun was just setting when the king awoke, and found the beautiful foreign bird sitting on his shoulder.
"Get up, King Vladimir!" she said; "the horses are all at home and safe."
The king returned to the old fairy's hut, and heard her scolding the horses.
