The horse replied: "She has gone, and this time we shan't get her
back. The horse from the Red Sea has come, and he will get the better
of us all."
The dragon took no heed of that, but flew after them and caught them
up just by the gate. He was going to snap the princess away, but this
time he could not do it. For the horse from over the Red Sea kicked
his nose with his hoof, so that the dragon fell down from his horse,
and the other two horses fell upon him, and between them they killed
the dragon.
They came to the castle with the princess, and they were congratulating
one another on their victory over their enemy. Then the horse which
had been giving good advice to his rider all the time said: "Now,
dear brother-in-law, take my sword there hanging from the ceiling
and cut my head off."
He was sad and said: "How could I do that, after all the acts of
kindness you have done for me?"
The horse said: "My good friend, I cannot tell you why you must behead
me, but you would do me a great wrong if you did not do it."
So he hesitated no longer, but cut his head off. The blood spurted
up twelve feet high, and instantly the horse became a beautiful
youth. Seeing that, the lad was quick to behead the other horses,
and they all turned into handsome princes like the first one.
They all thanked him for delivering them, and they made him king of
that castle, and there he lived with his wife and her two sisters
in all happiness and harmony till they died. The three brothers took
possession of the dragon's castle.