The servant, who was unable to read, took the paper, drew the prince up
out of the well, and then changed clothes with him. Thus disguised, the
two went on for a week, until they entered a large town and came to the
palace of the king. The false prince sent his companion to see to the
horses, while he presented himself boldly to the king, and said to him—
“I am come, sire, to ask the hand of your beautiful and wise daughter,
whose fame has spread even to my father’s court. If you consent I assure
you of our friendship, but if you refuse we shall make war with you.”
“The request and the threat are alike unseasonable,” said the king.
“Listen, prince; I am willing to show my respect for the king, your
father, by granting his request, on one condition. Our enemies, enraged
against us, have assembled a large army, and now threaten our town. If
you deliver us, my daughter is yours.”
“Very well,” replied the false prince, “I will utterly destroy the
hostile army. Let them come as near as possible to the town. I promise
you that I will acquit myself so well, that to-morrow morning you shall
find no traces of them.”
When it was evening, he called his pretended servant to him from his
lodging in the stables, and, when the prince had respectfully saluted
him, said—
“Listen, my friend. Go out at once and destroy the hostile army which is
encamped outside the city, and do it so that folk will think that I am
the vanquisher. In return for this service, I promise to give you back
the writing by which you agree to let me have your title and to serve
me.”
The prince put on his armour, jumped on his horse, and, going out of the
town, called thrice on the Invisible Prince.
“Here I am,” said a voice close to him. “What do you wish? I will do
whatever you tell me, for it was you who saved my daughter from
Koshchei, and that is a service I shall never forget.”
Prince Slugobyl showed him the army he wished destroyed. The Invisible
Prince whistled, and said—
“Magical horse with the golden mane, come to me, not on the ground but
through the air, quick as an arrow, nimble as the lightning’s flash.”
That moment, in the midst of a whirlwind of smoke, there came a
magnificent horse of an iron grey colour, and with a golden mane. It
flew like the wind. Fire came from its nostrils. Its eyes sparkled like
stars, and its ears smoked.